Red Chard Saag Recipes

RED CHARD SAAG

Steps:

• Finely chop (or process) chard leaves.
• Set aside.
• Heat oil or ghee in heavy bottomed saute pan at med-high.
• When oil is hot, add onion (be careful, as the oil may splatter) and sauté until transparent.
• Add chopped chard and let wilt.
• Add vindaloo and reduce heat.
• Simmer covered, stirring occasionally, for 10-20 minutes or until desired consistency is reached.
• If you find the mixture is getting dry, add water.
• After simmering, raise heat and add garlic and ginger.
• Stir and heat for 5 minutes.
• Serve with Naan bread and/or basamati rice.
• (NOTE: If you want to add paneer or potatoes, etc, fold them into the mixture along with garlic and ginger).

RED CHARD AND RICE

Steps:

• Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a saucepot over medium heat. Add the bacon, cook 2 minutes, then add the garlic and stir 1 minute. Add the chard and season with a little nutmeg, salt, pepper, and paprika. When the chard is wilted add the rice and stir 1 minute more. Add the stock or water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cover the pot. Cook 15 to18 minutes, or until the rice is tender. Fluff with a fork and serve.

SEARED RED CHARD

Steps:

• Make sure your greens are very dry before preparing recipe. Also, wash and chop them when you come in from market, then they are ready for you to cook up even quicker.
• Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and toss 2 minutes, then add chard in bunches and keep it moving as it wilts up a bit - you are just searing it up. The greens should remain crisp and crunchy. Wilting them all and searing them up should take no more than 3 to 4 minutes. Season the greens with nutmeg and salt and pepper, to taste. Douse the pan with a little vinegar and remove from heat. Toss to cook off vinegar and serve the greens hot.

SAUTEED RED SWISS CHARD WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Cut stems and center ribs away from Swiss chard leaves. Slice stems and center ribs thin and reserve. Chop leaves coarse and reserve separately.
• In a 10- to 12-quart heavy kettle heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté reserved stems and ribs, stirring, until crisp-tender. Add garlic and sauté, stirring, until garlic is fragrant. Add reserved leaves with water clinging to them and cook, turning with tongs, until wilted. Add 1/2 cup water and cook, covered, over moderate heat until leaves are tender, about 4 minutes. Season chard with salt and pepper. Chard may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

INDIAN SAAG

Steps:

• In a large skillet or wok, melt butter over medium-high heat, and cook and stir cumin seed, chile pepper, garlic, and turmeric until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the chopped mustard greens and spinach a little at a time, adding the tougher parts first (the stems and thicker leaves). Continue to add greens, and cook and stir until all greens have been added and all are thoroughly wilted. Stir in the cumin, coriander, and salt. Cover; reduce heat and simmer until greens are tender, about 10 minutes, adding water as needed to keep the greens moist.

RED CHARD AND CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• In a cast iron skillet, cook onions in olive oil over medium-high heat until they begin to brown. Stir in brown sugar, and continue cooking for a few minutes.
• When onions are brown and tender, stir in chard and olives. Cook until chard is slightly wilted. Stir in capers and salt, and continue cooking until chard is completely wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with black pepper and squeeze lemon over the top.