Description
Ina Garten’s sautéed rainbow chard recipe brings color and nutrition to weeknight dinners with simple Mediterranean-inspired techniques. Crisp greens complement protein dishes, and home cooks can easily recreate this healthful side in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) rainbow chard, washed, with some water still on the leaves
- 2 tbsps good olive oil
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) minced garlic (6 cloves)
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup (60 g) grated Italian Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously separate rainbow chard stems from leaves, slicing stems into 1-inch segments and tearing green leafy portions into substantial pieces.
- Sautéing Stems: Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over moderate temperature until shimmering, then introduce chopped chard stems and simmer for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure even cooking.
- Aromatics and Seasoning: Add finely minced garlic, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, quickly sautéing for 60 seconds to release fragrant notes without scorching.
- Wilting Leaves: Gradually incorporate chard leaves in batches using tongs, gently folding and distributing across the skillet over medium-high heat until completely wilted and tender.
- Finishing Touches: Remove skillet from heat, sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan cheese over cooked chard, and conduct a final seasoning assessment to balance flavors.
- Serving: Transfer aromatic chard to a serving dish, presenting warm to allow residual heat to continue melding complex flavor profiles.
Notes
- Prep with Precision: Carefully separate chard stems from leaves for optimal texture and even cooking.
- Oil Temperature Matters: Heat olive oil until shimmering to create the perfect sautéing environment.
- Layering Technique: Add stems first, then leaves in batches to ensure proper softening and wilting.
- Cheese Finale: Sprinkle Parmesan just before serving to enhance flavor and add a luxurious finish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 5mg