Topic: Swiss chard

[petefj]

I've grown some Swiss Chard in the allotment this year, and I must say it looks most attractive in it's red and green leaves.  It has also been most prolific, but what do I do with it now.
Has  anyone got any good ways of cooking it, other than boiling it until it screams for mercy?

Peter

[tim]

1. In Saag Aloo.

2. In Oliver's Fish Pie etc

3. Puréed with white sauce.

Prefer steaming - stems separate, a few minutes longer. Or I do it in a pressure cooker - up yo 5lb then cool.

Big thing is to press ALL the water out after cooking.

[compostbin]

 ;D........i have been growing swiss chard now for years,......i find it faultless,......it's great,.....

[pg]

Tim, love the recipe ideas.

I use the small leaves in salads. They've got a really high vit C content apparently. To keep getting the small leaves I deliberately deleaf the larger ones regularly.

And yes compostbin, I agree faultless. No signs of any fungal or animal attack. One of the few things the rabbits won't eat.

[grannyjanny]

The chickens love it too ;D.

[tim]

Faultless?

Much of this this year.

[grannyjanny]

Much like yourself then Tim  ;) ;D.

[tim]

What - dry rot??

[OllieC]

Faultless?

Much of this this year.

Cold comfort to see you have that too Tim - worst year ever for whatever it is.

p.s. - Does anything taste as good as chard alongside roast beef, mopping up the gravy?

[grannyjanny]

 :o. Nooooooooooooo you're faultless ;) ;D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Digeroo]

Does anything taste as good as chard alongside roast beef, mopping up the gravy?

Maybe the mop?

I have a lovely looking row of rainbow chard.  Very attractive, I have yet to find any way of making any part of it at all edible. 

[tim]

Oh, dear - plant Passion Fruit instead?

[grawrc]

I love Swiss chard. It's both beautiful and tasty. It brightens up the plot especially in winter and does everything that spinach can in the kitchen.

[tim]

Survives the winter & gives better bulk for space taken.

[Ruth Rocket]

I love swiss chard, not sure why it is not available in the supermarkets?  It has been one of the more successful things we have grown.

We have grown loads this year, been chopping it finely into salads and also putting it into veggie bakes, on top of the broccoli/veggie layer but under the cheesy topping.  I have read that you can cut the stems off the larger leaves and steam them and put with white sauce which sounds nice and I will try soon as there is so much of it!  Just planted some golden chard which looks really pretty already even though tiny seedlings at the moment.

[Hector]

When you folk remove as much water as possible...how do you do it?

[tim]

Squeeeeze in a colander.

Or in your hands!!

[Hector]

Thanks Tim, my hand is a bit dodgy/creaky. Will try pressing in a collander. I wondered if folk were referring to a nifty gadget :)

[pumkinlover]

Try wrapping in an old tea towel and the rolling on the kitchen table- may be easier :)

[tim]

Oh, if you're going that way, just screw up the tea towel. If your hands allow!

Doesn't have to be old - it's got to be washed anyway!

Clear the kitchen table first - I won't show you ours!!