Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (2024)

(updated January 11, 2024) // by Phoebe Lapine // 19 comments

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I’ve been fortunate this fall that thanks to all my recipe development projects, my fridge has been constantly packed to the gills with good food. But that also means that I’m constantly serving my guests leftovers.

My friend Sarah (queen of toast) had a dinner party earlier this week. In the days leading up to it I helped her talk through the menu. There were lots of boys involved, so despite her own vegetarianism, she wanted to serve meat (and ended up making the menu a literal sausagefest).

After the main course was decided, I asked what I could bring. Though I always try to be helpful, my secret goal was to pawn off a rather large bowl of beet and wild rice salad that had been sitting in my fridge since Friday. I tried to finesse this as best I could. But ultimately Sarah said: your rice, your problem. But in a much nicer way.

Since that same rice is still sitting in my fridge, now accompanied by 3 more types of wild rice salads, I got to reflecting on some of the weirder menus I’ve inflicted on my friends in recent months. Which brings me to girls dinner.

Last month, I gathered a random mix of ladies together for a meeting of the minds and stomachs, and to share in the glow of one another. Sarah and I are obsessed with Ann Friedman’s column on NYMag. And her article on Shine Theory has spawned a near daily mention of ways we can shine on one another, or ladies we know who so are or so aren’t shine theory. Look it up.

Anyway, out of shine theory, came this dinner. I agreed to host. And despite the fact that many of the girls involved had never come over before or eaten my food, I decided to serve them 10 different types of casseroles and call it a meal. This swiss chard gratin was among the lot. And like the others, it was delicious. But given most hostess’ attention to dinner party detail and calculated menu planning – things that I’ve always subscribed to – I couldn’t help but feel a little guilty about holding people hostage to my hosting by forcing them to eat two types of mashed potatoes and five creamy baked greens.

Girls dinner 2.0 is tonight. In the meantime, I have to finish my project for Food & Wine, which means adding even more wild rice to the mix. I haven’t yet decided what to do about tonight’s menu or those beets in my fridge. Something tells me that serving 10 different types of wild rice might be a little less shine theory than 10 different types of casseroles.

But that’s neither here nor there. What’s on the menu for you guys right now is this gratin. It makes for an especially delicious Thanksgiving side, even if your table might include just as many casseroles as mine did a few weeks ago.

What are you guys making for TDay? Shine on me in the comments section with some inspiration!

xo
Phoebe

Swiss Chard Gratin

Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (8)

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Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Servings 4

Author Phoebe Lapine

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 large sweet onion diced
  • 12 cups thinly sliced chard leaves about 2 large bunches, thick stems removed
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Sea salt and pepper
  • 1 cup coarsely grated gruyere
  • ½ cup gluten-free breadcrumbs

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.

  • In a large nonstick skillet, heat the butter. Saute the onion over medium-high heat until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the chard and cook until wilted and the stems are tender, about 5 minutes.

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and cornstarch. Add to the pan and simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Season with the nutmeg and 1 teaspoon salt.

  • Transfer the greens to a 3-quart ceramic baking dish and sprinkle the cheese over the top, followed by the breadcrumbs. Bake for 15 minutes, until heated through and the top is lightly golden brown.

Nutrition

Serving: 4g

Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (9)If you make this, tag @phoebelapine and #feedmephoebe - I'd love to see it!

Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (10)

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Comments

  1. Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (11)Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking says

    This looks absolutely lovely! I wish I had more control over Thanksgiving dinner or was able to host. I would so be making this! PS I LOVE the shine theory. I read that whole article. So interesting why women must tear each other down in order to “feel better” about themselves. My friend and I were just talking about that. I can’t wait to email her the article.

    Reply

    • Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (12)Phoebe Lapine says

      I’m so glad you read!! I loved the part that if someone seems super confident but has the tendency to make you feel bad about yourself, she’s probably faking it. Some of the most arrogant people – men too! – are often the most insecure. It’s so important to remember that I think. Cheers to you Stefanie – you are SO shine theory!!!! xxx

      Reply

  2. Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (13)Frankie says

    In my imaginary girls-only Thanksgiving, I’d make a salad of course. Butter lettuce with endive slices and whole-leaf fresh tarragon, and a simple transparent sunflower oil-white vinegar-salt dressing. Since you asked.

    Reply

  3. Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (14)Amy says

    Made this for Thanksgiving. Absolutely wonderful! Have lots of swiss chard growing in my winter garden. This will be making a frequent appearance over the next several months. Thank you!

    Reply

    • Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (15)Phoebe Lapine says

      That’s so wonderful to heat Amy!! Thank you for making it apart of your special holiday meal and for reporting back!

      Reply

  4. Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (16)Heather says

    I have never had swiss chard before, and got some in my farm share. I made a version of this with what I had onhand and really enjoyed it! Very tasty! Thanks for the idea!

    Reply

    • Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (17)Phoebe Lapine says

      so glad you liked it heather! chard is one of my favorites. Try the green or regular shakshuka next time! xo

      Reply

Swiss Chard Gratin Recipe | Feed Me Phoebe (2024)

FAQs

How do you cook Swiss chard with Martha Stewart? ›

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, ginger, and chile and cook until tender and fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Add chard leaves, coconut milk, and water. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until chard is tender, 4 to 5 minutes.

What are 3 ways you can eat Swiss chard? ›

Chard can be steamed or sauteed, and it's great in soups, stews, casseroles, frittatas and quiches. Young leaves can be eaten raw in salads.

Is Swiss chard supposed to be cooked? ›

Not quite as intense as kale, chard can be on the bitter side when eaten raw, but it becomes a pleasant, tender green when cooked. Because of its mild, slightly bitter taste, it pairs well with an acid (like lemon) and a bit of salt (like pecorino or parmesan) to balance it out.

What does chard mean in cooking? ›

Also known simply as 'chard', Swiss chard has large, fleshy, tender, deep-green leaves and thick, crisp stalks. Although they're unrelated, chard is similar to spinach, but with a stronger, more assertive (or, as some think, bitter) flavour.

How do you get the bitterness out of chard? ›

Blanch Them

Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

What is the healthiest way to eat Swiss chard? ›

Boil Swiss chard for a healthier side dish.

Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove, and add several generous pinches of salt. Add the chopped stems from 3-4 leaves, and cook for 2-4 minutes until they're mostly tender. Place the leaves in the pot, and cover for 1-2 minutes. The leaves should be wilted.

When should you not eat Swiss chard? ›

Kidney stone:

Swiss chard contains oxalates that may increase urinary oxalate excretion and predispose some individuals to calcium oxalate stones. As a result, anyone with kidney stones should avoid Swiss chard because oxalates may increase symptoms in certain people.

Is Swiss chard good or bad for you? ›

Health benefits of Swiss chard. Swiss chard is a highly nutritious vegetable. It is a rich source of vitamin K and may help people maintain healthy blood sugar levels and support heart health. It is also commonly known as silverbeet, spinach beet, perpetual spinach, crab beet, and mangold.

What does Swiss chard do for your body? ›

Consuming Swiss chard may lower your risk of certain chronic diseases, help promote weight loss, help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and support heart health. Plus, it's a versatile vegetable that pairs well with many foods and can be added to a variety of recipes.

Should you eat the stems of Swiss chard? ›

Chard stems are edible, too, so don't toss them when you're cooking the leaves! If I'm making sautéed Swiss chard, I simply add the stems to the pan a few minutes before I add the leaves so that they have a chance to soften.

Why is Swiss chard a super food? ›

Swiss chard is an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin K and a good source of vitamin C and magnesium. Swiss chard also contains the antioxidants beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin. Vitamin A plays a significant role in normal formation and maintenance of many organs including the heart, lungs and kidneys.

Why is chard so bitter? ›

Chard has a bitter taste when raw because of an acid known as oxalic acid. When cooked, chard's bitter taste and vibrant color tend to diminish. Chard can reach up to 28 inches in height and will produce stems that are white, yellow, orange, or crimson in color.

Is chard better than spinach? ›

Spinach have significantly more Vitamins A than chard. Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron. Spinach is a great source of Thiamin, Niacin, Zinc, Phosphorus.

Is there a difference between chard and Swiss chard? ›

Chard and swiss chard are actually the same vegetable. Swiss chard is just the common name for chard in the U.S.

Can I eat Swiss chard raw? ›

Swiss chard is a type of leafy green packed full of nutrients like fibre, vitamin K and magnesium. It can be eaten raw or cooked. Try adding Swiss chard to your next soup or salad!

How do you cook and eat Swiss chard? ›

But like spinach, you can easily sauté it in some olive oil in just a few minutes. The stems can be tough. You can either remove them and discard, or boil and toss with butter: if some of the stems are tender, just sauté them first before adding the leaves, to give them more cooking time.

How do you prepare and eat chard? ›

Instructions
  1. Slice the stems off the chard leaves and chop the stems into 1/4-inch slices. Coarsely chop the leaves.
  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chard stems and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, or until they begin to soften. ...
  3. Turn off the heat, squeeze a little lemon juice over the chard, and toss.

How do you cut and cook Swiss chard? ›

How To Cut Swiss Chard. Pro Tip: Both the leaves and chard stems are edible, but the key to cutting Swiss chard is to cut the stems and leaves separately. They cook at different rates so it is important to separate them.

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