swiss chard identification

The edible leaves are large, smooth, beet-like and grow upright from a central crown. Each leaf has a long, usually white, fleshy petiole or stem although novel varieties exist that have yellow, reddish or orange petioles. Leaf color varies from medium to deep green. Seeds are corky, similar to beet seeds.

What is the difference between Chard and Swiss chard?

Chard is perhaps most commonly referred to as Swiss chard (which is one varietal), and it's related to beets. Chard greens look similar to beet greens, but unlike beets, the root of chard is inedible. ... White, gold, and red are the most common—Swiss chard is the white-stemmed variety.

What's the difference between collard greens and Swiss chard?

Collard greens, or collards, are popular in Southern cuisine. Both are members of the cabbage family. Swiss chard has thick, dark leaves and a flavor similar to spinach.

What does Swiss chard look like?

What Does Swiss Chard Look Like? The leaves are large and dark green, with pronounced ribbing, httand sometimes the stalks will be all one color, usually red or white, and sometimes they will be a blend of colors, with stems of red, pink, orange, yellow and white.

How many types of Swiss chard are there?

The major varieties of Swiss chard include Bright Lights, Bright Yellow, Fordhook Giant, Lucullus, Rhubarb Chard, Rhubarb Red, and Ruby. The different kinds of chard bunched together are known as Rainbow Chard, which is the common name to describe the bright stalks.

Can I eat chard raw?

Swiss chard leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Raw Swiss chard is less bitter than cooked. ... The stalks are thicker than the leaves so they take longer to cook. Chop the stalks into 1 inch pieces.

Is chard better than kale?

As you can see in the chart above, kale does exceed the other greens in vitamins A and C, but Swiss chard has 16 percent more iron than kale. ... All four types of greens are also rich in many other nutrients, including manganese, folate, copper, choline, magnesium, potassium and vitamins E, K, B2 and B6.

What is a substitute for Swiss chard?

Substitute for Swiss Chard

Mature spinach.
OR - Mustard greens.
OR - Cavalo Nero (Black Tuscan) kale, longer cooking time.
OR - Large bok choy.

What does chard taste like?

The large, firm leaves are mild, sweet, earthy and just slightly bitter; on the whole, it's a bit milder than spinach. The stalks -- which can be white, yellow, red, purple, pink, striped and so on -- resemble flat celery with a sweet taste slightly reminiscent of beets.

Is Chard like spinach?

Although they're unrelated, chard is similar to spinach, but with a stronger, more assertive (or, as some think, bitter) flavour. Different types of chard have different coloured stalks and ribs – some are white, some are golden-orange and some are red (called ruby or rhubarb chard), and there's even rainbow chard.

How do you make Swiss chard not bitter?

6 Answers

Use older chard, which tends to be markedly less bitter than the young chard you're using;
Avoid bringing out the bitterness, by cooking at lower heat;
Mute any remaining bitterness with salt, which is pretty common for leafy greens.

How healthy is Swiss chard?

Swiss chard is a nutritional powerhouse -- an excellent source of vitamins K, A, and C, as well as a good source of magnesium, potassium, iron, and dietary fiber.

How do you eat raw Swiss chard?

Swiss chard can be enjoyed raw in salads or on sandwiches or wraps, braised, boiled, sautéed or added to soups and casseroles. Here are some tips to incorporate more Swiss chard (leaves and stems) into the daily routine: Add a handful of fresh Swiss chard leaves to an omelet or scrambled eggs.

What family is Swiss chard?

Chard is grown for its edible leaves and petioles. Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla in the Family Chenopodiaceae) is a type of beet that does not produce an edible root.

What is a bunch of Swiss chard?

1 bunch swiss chard (regular, red or rainbow) – equals about 12 oz. of leaves once the stems are trimmed. 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter.

Why is it called Swiss chard?

Learn more about this leafy beet relative! Chard is a leafy, and often colorful vegetable, in the beet family. ... The name chard comes from the French word carde, which refers to the cardoon, or artichoke thistle. The plant came to be known as Swiss chard as a way to differentiate it from native spinach.

Is Swiss chard healthier cooked or raw?

In its raw form, it is a good source of vitamin C. Note that the above values are for cooked Swiss chard. Like many leafy greens, Swiss chard shrinks drastically when cooked, so 1 cup of cooked Swiss chard will contain much more nutrition than 1 cup of raw Swiss chard.

Can I use chard instead of spinach?

Two vegetables in one aptly describes Swiss chard. The leafy greens and the tender stalks are edible and delicious. ... As a substitute for spinach, the chard adds a tartness and texture that spinach lacks. The ribs are very flavorful and hold their shape in soups, sautes and gratins.

What is the number 1 healthiest food in the world?

The 11 Most Nutrient-Dense Foods on the Planet

Salmon. Not all fish is created equal. ...
Kale. Of all the healthy leafy greens, kale is the king. ...
Seaweed. The sea has more than just fish. ...
Garlic. Garlic really is an amazing ingredient. ...
Shellfish. Many sea animals are high in nutrients, but shellfish may be among the most nutritious of all. ...
Potatoes. ...
Liver. ...
Sardines.

Which is healthier Swiss chard or spinach?

Spinach comes out on top, compared to Swiss chard, in a number of nutritional components. Among them are calcium, with 1 cup of cooked spinach offering 24 percent DV compared to Swiss chard's 10 percent. ... Spinach also provides more riboflavin, zinc and manganese and a small amount of omega-3 fat.

Which is the healthiest fruit in the world?

Here are the 20 healthiest fruits on earth.

Grapefruit. Share on Pinterest. ...
Pineapple. Among the tropical fruits, pineapple is a nutrition superstar. ...
Avocado. Avocado is different from most other fruits. ...
Blueberries. Blueberries have powerful health benefits. ...
Apples. ...
Pomegranate. ...
Mango. ...
Strawberries.