Swiss chard is a leafy green that is quite healthy. It can be steamed or boiled and used in a wide variety of dishes.

Swiss chard is a bright red and green leafy vegetable. Sometimes it is white and green depending on the variety.  I got mine at my CSA (community supported agriculture) but it is available at farmers' markets in the United States and Canada in cooler climates like southern Ontario. Most people boil or steam Swiss chard and eat with lots of butter, salt and pepper. Swiss chard needs to be kept in your fridge and should last for about a week.

Swiss chard has a tough stalk. It is good in dishes like pasta or as a pizza bagel topping when chopped up into bite size pieces. Some people even discard the stalks. The Swiss chard stalks are worth keeping. Swiss chard should be roughly chopped or finely chopped. Often Swiss chard is braised in a sauce like a tomato sauce or a garlic oil sauce. However, there is lots more you can do with this leafy green.

If you like Chinese food, try swiss chard in chow mein. Rough chop it and steam it. Combine with steamed carrots, broccoli and mushrooms. You can put in some cubes of chicken or tofu or strips of beef. Use your favorite stir fry sauce. You can even put some cashews or peanuts in it. Garnish with finely chopped green onions and cilantro. Serve over chow mein noodles.

If you like Indian food, try making saag panir, which is a creamed spinach dish. You obviously won't get the same consistency as you would with spinach because it is a different vegetable. You will replace the spinach with Swiss chard completely. Cook swiss chard in spices like curry and garam masala. Boil it in equal parts of milk and buttermilk. To make it even creamier, you can add a few tablespoons of sour cream. Stir frequently to avoid it from burning. Dairy burns very quickly. If you cannot get painr (Indian cheese), use your favorite fresh cheese. Fresh mozzarella and bocconcini are some cheeses that work well. This dish is basically like creamed Swish chard but with an Indian twist. If you want, you can remove the Indian spices and use celery salt, oregano and basil instead.

Try Swiss chard in a soup. Boil Swiss chard with the stalks. Combined the Swiss chard with sauteed onions, garlic and mushrooms. Sauté vegetables in butter. Use a handheld blender to puree it. Season it with salt and black pepper. For a creamier soup, garnish with a dollop of fresh cream.

Steam Swiss chard and use it in a sandwich. Try it in a panini with goats cheese and crushed walnuts. You can also try it in a pizza sub. Use your favorite submarine sandwich bread. Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce or tomato sauce. Cover with shredded mozzarella. Steam rough chopped Swish chard. Drain well. Cover the mozzarella and bake until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.

Swiss chard is a healthy vegetable. It contains large quantities of vitamins A, K, E and C. Because it is high in vitamin A, it is high in betacarotene. It contains lesser amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B6. It also contains magnesium, manganese, potassium and iron. Even if you don't like Swish chard steamed with butter, salt and pepper, try it in a dish.