Swiss Chard ?

[Cold Canadian]

So someone told me to plant these this year and I did and I had a awesome crop ! ....but I had no idea what to do with them ?? Ended up feeding the whole crop to my chickens ? So what is it good for ? tried it in a salad and it tasted musty ? We are willing to try anything new ,but this stuff has me lost as to what it's good for .

 

[HEChicken]

DH and I love to use it as the greens in a salad. If you are used to lettuce in a salad, it has a much stronger flavor that takes some getting used to, but we really enjoyed it (we made a mixed green salad from chard, kale, mustard and collard greens). Alternately, chard is wonderful used in place of spinach in recipes. I.e., any recipe that calls for cooked spinach, just substitute the chard. Wilt/cook it in the same way and you'll hardly know the difference. For that of course you only want to use the green leaves - not the stems.

Chickens do love it too and it is great for producing lovely orange, healthy yokes. I usually try to plant enough for the family AND the chickens.

 

[mickey328]

I'm not fond of it either, but DH loves it...both in a salad and cooked like spinach. He gets some, but most of ours goes to the chickens...they love it and it's so good for them!

 

[Going Bhonkers]

I read it tastes better if you cook it. I tried growing some, but something got to my seedlings and left the leaves in terrible condition, until they died out. Going to try again!

 

[wekiva bird]

Like it in soups and cook dips.

 

[Eggcessive]

I've grown it for years. The chickens like it okay but they will devour kale. I cook chard for about 10 minutes with just a touch of bacon grease. My German friend mixes it in with cooked potatoes, a touch of balsalmic vinegar, and bacon.

 

[mickey328]

That sounds tasty...do you wilt it like cooking spinach? DH would likely love it but I'd have to leave the bacon out...anything from a pig gives him horrible tummy issues

 

[Happy Chooks]

I cook it just like spinach. I don't care for it raw in salads as it does have a strong flavor. I mostly cook mine in olive oil with minced garlic.

 

[Cold Canadian]

Sounds like I might have to give it another try next year ? some of the ways that it is being prepared sounds awesome !

 

[smilingcat]

Chopped into bite sized. Washed of course.

Bacon fat is the best, but you can substitute peanut or safflower oil. just enough to coat the frying pan. Cook the chard in frying pan on very high heat. No need to add water or any liquid. The chard will give off enough liquid. Salt, Pepper and add apple vinegar to taste.

Very healthy and good eats.We love the stuff. No need to be taking vitamin and mineral supplement if you eat plenty of chard.

We pass on the salad. too strong of flavor. We like rainbow colored chard and red or yellow chard. We pass on the plain old white chard.