Seared Chard Recipes

SEARED SOY-SESAME ARCTIC CHAR

Steps:

• In a small bowl, stir together the soy sauce, honey, and sesame oil. Season the fish with salt and pepper and brush with half of the sauce.
• Heat a small cast-iron skillet over high heat. Sear the fish skin side up for 4 minutes. Pour the remaining sauce over the fish and swirl the sauce around the pan. Carefully turn the fish, spoon the sauce over the top, and cook for 3 more minutes, until the fish is just cooked through. Serve immediately.

SEARED CHARD

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute the bacon until crisp; remove bacon when crisp and drain all but 1 to 2 teaspoons bacon fat.
• Add the onion to the skillet and cook for a few minutes in the hot fat, toss in the chard, cover pan with a tight fitting lid and steam until the chard wilts, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the vinegar, sugar, and salt and pepper to taste, serve immediately sprinkled lightly with crumbled feta cheese if desired.

SEARED HALIBUT WITH SAUTEED SWISS CHARD AND SALSA CRUDA

Steps:

• Coat a saute pan with olive oil. Toss in the garlic clove, crushed red pepper, bacon, and a couple drops of olive oil. Bring the pan to a medium heat. When the garlic is golden and very aromatic, remove it and discard. When the bacon has become crispy, toss in the Swiss chard stems, half of the chicken stock, and season with salt. When the chicken stock has reduced, toss in the Swiss chard leaves and season with salt. Cook the leaves until they are just wilted, about 3 to 4 minutes.
• Coat another saute pan with olive oil and bring to a high heat. Pat the halibut fillet dry with a paper towel and season with salt.
• When the oil in the pan is very hot but not yet smoking, place the fish flesh side down and cook for 3 to 4 minutes. As the fish cooks it will turn from translucent to opaque. Turn the fish over and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes. When the fish is done it should be golden and firm but still moist.
• Place the Swiss chard in the center of the serving plate. Lay the fish directly on top. Top the fish with the Salsa Cruda.
• Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Season generously with salt. Taste to make sure it is delicious. Adjust seasonings if needed.

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.

SEARED RAINBOW CHARD WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Cut stems from chard (if leaves are large, cut out coarse portions of rib), then cut stems crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Stack chard leaves and roll into cylinders. Cut cylinders crosswise to make 1-inch-thick strips of leaves.
• Heat butter and oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté chard stems and leeks with sea salt and pepper to taste, stirring occasionally, until slightly soft, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add chard leaves and continue to sauté, stirring frequently, until wilted. (If greens begin to brown before they wilt, sprinkle with a few drops of water.)

SAUTE-STEAMED SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• With a chef's knife or your hands, separate leaves from stems. Cut stems crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces; set aside. Stack leaves, roll them, and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch ribbons. Set aside, keeping separate from stems.
• In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until golden, about 1 minute. Stir in chard stems; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally until stems have softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add damp chard leaves and 1/2 cup of water. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are completely wilted and tender, 3 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately on a platter or in a bowl, with lemon wedges on the side.

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.

SEARED RAINBOW CHARD WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Cut stems from chard (if leaves are large, cut out coarse portions of rib), then cut stems crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• Stack chard leaves and roll into cylinders. Cut cylinders crosswise to make 1-inch-thick strips of leaves.
• Heat butter and oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté chard stems and leeks with sea salt and pepper to taste, stirring occasionally, until slightly soft, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Add chard leaves and continue to sauté, stirring frequently, until wilted. (If greens begin to brown before they wilt, sprinkle with a few drops of water.).

SEARED SHRIMP WITH CHARD, CHILES AND GINGER

Steps:

• Season shrimp generously with salt. Wash and trim chard, thinly slicing the stems.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil, then add shrimp and sear until lightly browned, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer shrimp to a plate. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet, let heat for a few seconds, then add garlic, chile peppers, shallot and ginger and sauté until slightly browned, about 3 minutes. Stir in sugar, pepper and salt and cook for 1 minute longer. Stir in chard stems and sauté until they start to soften, about 2 minutes.
• Add the greens to the skillet along with 2 tablespoons water and immediately cover the pan. Keep it covered for 2 to 3 minutes to allow the greens to wilt. Once the greens have cooked down, remove the lid and continue cooking for a few more minutes to allow the water to evaporate. Add the shrimp and any liquid accumulated on the plate and cook just until the shrimp are heated through, about 1 minute longer. Drizzle with the sherry vinegar and gently toss to coat. Serve hot, garnished with the cilantro.