Grannie’s French Swiss Chard

The French love their chard (“blettes” in their language), and my Grannie (who was French and Swiss, among other things) used to make this recipe for me when I was little because she knew how good it was for me (chard is a fabulous source of many antioxidant vitamins and minerals)–and because this was one way I would actually eat it and enjoy it!

The secret is adding raisins and pine nuts to the chard. I recently bought a drop-dead gorgeous book of French Provincial recipes, and in it was a recipe that looked just like the chard my Grannie used to make for me. It was even called “Blettes Grand-mere!” Try making it for your little ones: the sweetness of the raisins and the nutty, buttery crunch of the pine nuts make chard completely irresistible–and it cooks in about 3 minutes.

INGREDIENTS
1 bunch Swiss chard
3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1/3 cup raisins or golden raisins
2 tablespoons pine nuts
salt and freshly-ground black pepper, to taste

1. Remove the chard stems and the thick central vein from each leaf. Chop the leaves very coarsely.

2. Using a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan over medium high heat, melt the butter with the oil until sizzling. Add the chard and the rosemary, stirring well to coat the chard with the butter mixture. Cook, stirring constantly, for another minute until the chard has wilted to about half its original volume.

3. Add raisins and pine nuts, stirring to combine evenly, and continue cooking until any moisture has evaporated. The entire cooking process should take no more than about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

Read more: Food, All recipes, Side Dishes

By Cait Johnson, Assistant Producer, Care2 Healthy Living Channels.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Michele W.

4:14AM PST on Jan 19, 2012

Thank you

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Jennifer C.

1:28AM PDT on Sep 13, 2011

Yummy! The recipe sounds good! Thanks.

Robert O.

7:04PM PST on Nov 28, 2010

Thanks. It sounds interesting. I've never had chard before.

KS G.

5:13AM PST on Nov 15, 2010

Thanks for the article.

Mervi R.

7:01PM PDT on Jul 15, 2010

Lovely, thanks!

NO EMAILS P.

2:15AM PST on Jan 31, 2010

thanks

Past Member .

2:50AM PST on Jan 19, 2010

The recipe is good but I don't think it is healthy. It may have a bit less butter.

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2:42AM PST on Jan 19, 2010

These are 'really really good.' I've had many different French Swiss Chard but these beat all. Very easy to make too.

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Beatrice W.

1:29PM PST on Jan 10, 2008

I just discovered Swiss chard a couple years ago, and have been planting it in my garden ever since. If you do have a garden, PLEASE plant some. Not only does it weather the summers here in NC, but with a row cover, it usually survives the winter as well. I just pulled up some swiss chard in my garden that was a year and a half old! And it's sooo delicious to cook up with some kale and spinach!