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    Home » Side-Dish and Vegetables » Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes

    Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes

    June 30, 2020 , Updated January 15, 2021 Maria 52 Comments

    Jump to Recipe
    Swiss chard and potatoes sauteed in a pan.

    Naturally vegan, this Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes makes a great Italian side dish that goes with almost any meal. It’s an easy Italian recipe just like nonna used to make. 

    Potatoes and Swiss chard being sauteed together.

    Do you like to create amazing side dishes with simple foods that just scream comfort food? 

    Italian regional cooking provides endless examples when it comes to green leafy vegetables and potatoes.

    Whether it is sauteed escarole, rapini, spinach or Italian roasted potatoes, some of these classic Italian side dishes have stood the test of time. 

    In this Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes, the vegetables are first boiled and then quickly sauteed together with garlic to make one of the best comfort food recipes. This easy side dish is not only healthy but delicious as well. 

    The longest part of the recipe is cleaning the Swiss chard so let’s get started! 

    Swiss chard and potatoes in a white bowl.

    Mise en place

    Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. While we wait, let’s start chopping.

    Prep the potatoes: You need about 4 medium yellow potatoes or about 2 pounds. Peel and dice into ¾-inch cubes.

    When the water begins to boil, add the diced potatoes and a teaspoon of salt. 

    Turn down the heat and gently simmer the potatoes for about 15-20 minutes, until they become tender and can be easily pierced with a knife.

    While the cubed potatoes are simmering, let’s prep the other two main ingredients.

    Prep the garlic: Remove the papery skin of 3-4 garlic cloves and cut off the tips. Give them a rough chop. Feel free to use more (or less) according to your personal preference and the size of your cloves. Set aside.

    A big leaf of Swiss chard growing outdoors.

    Prep the Swiss chard: You need about 2 pounds of Swiss or rainbow chard for this recipe. 

    With a sharp knife, trim off the bottom of the individual stems. If there are other visible dark spots on the stem, use a vegetable peeler to remove them. 

    Cut the thick ribs from the green leafy part and keep them in two separate piles. 

    The ribs of chard soaking in water.

    Fill a large mixing bowl with water and gently rub off the dirt and sand from the ribs and then the leaves. Keep them separated. 

    You may have to change the water a couple of times in order to properly remove all the dirt. Give them a final rinse.

    Chard ribs cut into one half inch strips

    Cut the ribs into 1/2 inch strips. Set aside.

    Swiss chard cit into one half inch strips.

    Next, cut the leaves into 1/2 inch strips. Set aside.

    Swiss chard and potatoes simmering in a pot of water.

    By this time, the potatoes should be tender. Add the chopped ribs.

    Boil for 3-5 minutes or until just beginning to soften. The total time depends on their size.

    Next, add the leafy portion of the chard and boil for approximately 30 seconds. Drain all the vegetables in a colander. 

    Instructions for sauteeing

    Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or cast iron pan. Add the 3-4 cloves of coarsely chopped garlic and red pepper flakes (if using).
     
    Sauteed garlic in a pan.
     
    Turn on the heat to medium-high.
     
    Once the garlic begins to sizzle and starts turning golden brown, reduce heat to medium.
     
    Swiss chard and potatoes in a pan.
    Add the mixture of swiss chard and potatoes.
     
    Season with salt and pepper, taste and adjust. 
     
    Sauté until most of the liquid evaporates. Stir often.

    Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice (from half a lemon)  and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

    Serve immediately and enjoy the best-cooked swiss chard recipe any time of the year!

    Tips

    • Season your water properly with salt.
    • Add the oil, garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) to the pan first, and then turn on the heat. This allows the garlic to slowly cook, preventing it from burning. 
    • Start cooking your potatoes in a pot of boiling water as we want to exterior to be soft. 
    • Add the lemon juice once the pan is off the heat to preserve its bright flavor. 

    How can I make this a complete meal?

    The addition of a can of chickpeas transforms this simple side dish into a high fiber, healthy and complete meal. 

    What foods go well with this Swiss chard recipe?

    These sauteed greens with potatoes make a great side dish to almost any main meal. One of my favorite ways to serve it is alongside this baked cod recipe. It’s also great with this recipe for pan seared lamb.

    A close up photo of cooked Swiss chard mixed with potatoes.

    Recipe inspiration

    Vegetables have always played a major role in Italian cuisine.

    When my grandparents and parents immigrated from rural Italy, having a backyard garden was very important to them.

    It was just one way to provide their family with simple foods while maintaining their values and traditions.

    As a result, I grew up eating A LOT of greens. 

    My dad planted them all –broccoli rabe, escarole, spinach, collard greens and of course Swiss chard. If you are interested, I shared a photo of my dad’s garden in this recipe post for Italian-Style sauteed Swiss chard. 

    Swiss chard and potatoes are referred to as bietola e patate in Italian. This was a side dish that was often made by my paternal nonna, especially in the summer.

    It really is the perfect example of a simple, humble side dish.

    Today, my goal was to document my nonna’s recipe the way she made it.

    Over the years, I have sauteed this dish with onions and other vegetables. It really is very versatile and always comes out great. 

    I have also created a swiss chard hash that I plan on sharing with you in the coming weeks. But first, my garden chard needs to grow a little…

    What about you? Do you have a favorite recipe you make with Swiss chard and potatoes? 

    I would love to hear about it! 

    THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist. 

    And if you are new here, welcome! You may want to sign up for my weekly e-mail newsletter. This way, you won’t miss any of my new recipes. 

    Ciao for now,

    Maria 

    ★★★★★ If you have made this Italian swiss chard recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

    Swiss chard and potatoes in a white dish.

    Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes

    Naturally vegan, this Swiss Chard Recipe with Potatoes makes a great Italian side dish that goes with almost any meal. It's an easy Italian recipe just like nonna used to make.
    5 from 20 votes
    Print Save RecipeSaved! Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 377kcal
    Author: Maria Vannelli RD
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds yellow potatoes about 4 medium, peeled and diced (¾ inch)
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 2 pounds Swiss chard ends trimmed, cleaned, ribs separated from the leafy part, cut into ½-inch pieces
    • 4 tablespoons olive oil separated
    • 3-4 cloves garlic fresh, roughly chopped
    • pinch red pepper flakes optional, or more
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • 1-2 tablespoons lemon juice from ½ lemon and olive oil optional, to garnish, from ½ lemon
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil optional, to drizzle over the top

    Instructions

    • Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil.
    • Add the diced potatoes and the salt. 
    • Reduce heat to a simmer for about 15-20 minutes, until they become tender and can be easily pierced with a knife.
    • While the potatoes are simmering, properly clean and chop the chard into ½ inch strips. (refer to details in post).
    • When the potatoes are tender, add the chopped chard stems.
    • Boil for 3-5 minutes or until just beginning to soften. The total time depends on their size.
    • Next, add the leafy chopped portion of the chard and boil for approximately 30 seconds. Gently drain all the vegetables in a colander. 

    Sauteeing:

    • Drizzle 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet or cast iron pan.
    • Add the coarsely chopped garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). 
    • Turn on the heat to medium-high. Once the garlic begins to sizzle and starts turning golden, reduce the heat to medium. Add the mixture of boiled chard and potatoes. 
    • Season with salt and pepper according to taste. 
    • Sauté until most of the liquid evaporates. Stir often.
    • Transfer to a serving dish and drizzle with freshly squeezed lemon juice and olive oil.
    • Serve immediately.
    Scroll UP for the STEP by STEP PhotosDon't miss the process shots and videos included in most posts. Simply scroll up the post to find them. Those were created especially for you so that you can make the recipe perfectly every single time you try it.

    Notes

    • Season your water properly with salt.
    • Add the oil, garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) to the pan first, and then turn on the heat. This allows the garlic to slowly cook, preventing it from burning. 
    • Start cooking your potatoes in a pot of boiling water as we want to exterior to be soft. 
    • Add the lemon juice once the pan is off the heat to preserve its bright flavor. 
    How can I make this a complete meal? The addition of a can of chickpeas transforms this simple side dish into a high fiber, healthy and complete meal. 
    What foods go well with this Swiss chard recipe? These sauteed greens with potatoes make a great side dish to almost any main meal. One of my favorite ways to serve it is alongside this baked cod recipe. It’s also great with this recipe for pan seared lamb.
    Please keep in mind that the nutritional information provided below is just a rough estimate and variations can occur depending on the specific ingredients used. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 377kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 1079mg | Potassium: 1823mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 13871IU | Vitamin C: 115mg | Calcium: 147mg | Iron: 6mg
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    Filed Under: Side-Dish and Vegetables, Vegetarian

    About Maria

    Maria Vannelli is a registered dietitian who lives in a suburb just outside Montreal, Canada. She's the founder of the food blog She Loves Biscotti. Maria hopes to inspire you and bring you and your loved ones closer together at meal times enabling you to create some memorable moments.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jane Harbour

      October 28, 2022 at 11:44 am

      5 stars
      This is a delicious side dish. I liked that I could do all the prep early and then just sautéed it all at the last minute. Only change I made was to use garlic infused oil to sauté instead of the chopped garlic. We had it with pork tenderloin in a mustard sauce. Great way to eat Swiss chard!

      Reply
      • Maria

        October 28, 2022 at 9:02 pm

        So thrilled to read this! Thanks for sharing Jane!

        Reply
    2. anna sipinski

      September 24, 2022 at 8:18 pm

      Thank you Maria,
      I have made this 2 days in a row (end of season for fresh swiss chard). Absolutely, delicious, the pepper flakes is what makes it ! I have used pasta and greens for this type of dish, but potatoes are Awesome !
      Thanks Anna from Manitoba

      Reply
      • Maria

        September 25, 2022 at 10:52 pm

        My pleasure Anna! Thanks so much for sharing!

        Reply
    3. Marianne Halpin

      August 20, 2022 at 10:02 pm

      5 stars
      Swiss chard and potatoes were wonderful! We had them with salmon teriyaki!

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 23, 2022 at 1:43 pm

        So happy to read this! Thanks for sharing Marianne!

        Reply
    4. Maripat

      August 08, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      I have never before had a more delicious dish featuring Chard! I sautéed 1/2 cup of diced onion, then added the garlic cooking until that was done. To make it a complete vegan meal I added 2 crumbled Field Roast Vegan Italian Sausages and sautéed until the sausage was hot before adding the chard and potato to the skillet. The lemon juice and olive oil drizzle were the perfect finish for the dish! This recipe is definitely a keeper!!

      Reply
      • Maria

        August 11, 2022 at 9:16 am

        I am so thrilled to read this! Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing Maripat!

        Reply
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    Maria from She loves biscotti

    Hi, I'm Maria! a dietitian and full-time content creator. Join me as I share traditional Italian recipes from my youth to modern twists on classics using fresh and seasonal ingredients.

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