Published: · Modified: by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 14 Comments
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This Apple Walnut Rainbow Swiss Chard Salad Recipe features sweet crisp apples, crunchy toasted walnuts, and colorful rainbow Swiss chard dressed with a honey apple vinaigrette.
I swear, if you hop backwards 11 times facing the sunset every Sunday, you won’t be sick all week!, a friend told me. Hmm…I guess I can see how that would work, I replied with a smile on my face. (Not so much, really, but who am I to judge?)
Anyway, I also have my own ideas on how to avoid colds and flus during cold and flu season. I try not to skip workouts (because they clean out my lungs), I religiously take a vitamin C pill every day, and I drink plenty of water.
I’ve heard at least 100 different remedies for either preventing or curing sickness, some sillier than others, but most likely very few (if any) of which are effective (of course other than the placebo effect). But something that most of us can probably agree on is the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables; in particular, eating the rainbow.
Raise your hand if you remember the last time you had Swiss chard. No worries, me neither, at least until I made this salad!
In This Article
Rainbow Swiss Chard Salad Recipe
This Apple Walnut Rainbow Swiss Chard Salad is really easy to make and comes together quickly. Despite using just a few simple ingredients, it packs a serious punch of flavor, not to mention nutrition.
Take that, cold and flu season!
Can Swiss Chard be Eaten Raw?
Yes! You can eat Swiss chard raw or cooked. Note that when you cook Swiss chard, it will cook down a lot the same way that other greens will, such as kale and spinach.
Do You Eat Swiss Chard Stems?
Yes! Swiss chard stems are fully edible. Note that if you're cooking Swiss chard, the stems take a little bit longer to cook than the leaves.
I find that the leaves taste similar to beet greens and the stems taste similar to bok choy stems. The greens can have a touch of bitterness, but not in an unpleasant way.
Is Swiss Chard Keto-Friendly?
Yes, Swiss chard is a great keto-friendly vegetable!
Harvest Kale Salad with Roasted Acorn Squash, Toasted Hazelnuts, and Apple Cinnamon Vinaigrette
Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below because I love hearing from you! You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media. To stay up-to-date FOLLOW ME on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Xoxo, Faith
Apple Walnut Rainbow Swiss Chard Salad
By: Faith Gorsky
This Apple Walnut Rainbow Swiss Chard Salad Recipe features sweet crisp apples, crunchy toasted walnuts, and colorful rainbow Swiss chard dressed with a honey apple vinaigrette.
This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on February 12, 2014. I updated it with more information on February 5, 2020.
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links to products I believe in, which means that even though it doesn’t cost you anything extra, I will receive a small amount of money from the sale of these items. Thank you for helping to support An Edible Mosaic!
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.
All chard is Swiss chard; it's just stalk colors and names that vary! The stalks and leaf veins of Swiss chard vary in color from yellow to pink and deep red to white. Chard with red stalks is called Rhubarb, Red, or Ruby Chard. Chard with multicolored stalks grouped together is known as Rainbow Chard.
Rainbow chard is an assortment of different varieties, with stalks of red, pink, orange, yellow and white. The colors will fade somewhat in the cooking process, but boy are they pretty to look at when uncooked! Chard stems take a little longer to cook than the leaves, but the whole plant is edible and delicious.
People who are allergic to grass pollen should avoid eating Swiss chard because inhaling vapor from boiling Swiss chard causes rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma.
The simple explanation is to use the leaves as you would spinach, and use the stalks as you would asparagus. But I tend to think that oversimplifies things. It also requires that you treat chard as two separate vegetables, the greens and the stalks.
Spinach have significantly more Vitamins A than chard. Spinach is an excellent source of Vitamin A, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Riboflavin, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron. Spinach is a great source of Thiamin, Niacin, Zinc, Phosphorus.
You can eat these greens both raw or cooked. However, cooking chards improves not only the nutrient availability, but also the taste. Swiss chard is susceptible to foodborne pathogens, like other leafy greens, so be careful about washing this veggie thoroughly before preparing it.
Drop about one pound of whole leaves in boiling water, cover and blanch for 2 minutes (blanch stems for 3 minutes). Remove chard from water and immerse in an ice water bath for 2 minutes. Drain. Pack in zip-closure freezer bags or freezer containers, leaving no headspace.
All that being said, why should you grow chard? Well as it turns out, chard is a superfood and one of the healthiest veggies on planet earth. 100 grams of chard will give you 3 times the amount of vitamin K you need per day.
Add the chopped stems from 3-4 leaves, and cook for 2-4 minutes until they're mostly tender. Place the leaves in the pot, and cover for 1-2 minutes. The leaves should be wilted. If they're not, cook them another 1-2 minutes.
Can you eat too much Swiss chard? Although Swiss chard is extremely healthy, it should be eaten in moderation. Eating too much can lead to side effects such as: Kidney stones: Swiss chard contains antinutritive oxalates, which may increase urinary oxalate excretion and increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones.
You can eat these greens both raw or cooked. However, cooking chards improves not only the nutrient availability, but also the taste. Swiss chard is susceptible to foodborne pathogens, like other leafy greens, so be careful about washing this veggie thoroughly before preparing it.
If you love a kale salad, you will love this Swiss chard salad. When dressed with a light, lemony dressing and tossed with garlicky bread crumbs and parmesan, Swiss chard's leaves become soft and buttery. A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes offers a welcomed kick, too.
If you prefer you can eat swiss chard leaves raw. Raw leaves are a common addition to pre-packaged salads and can also add a big nutritional boost to smoothies. Another fun way to eat raw chard leaves is by using them as a healthy substitute to a tortilla for wraps and tacos.
Introduction: My name is Msgr. Refugio Daniel, I am a fine, precious, encouraging, calm, glamorous, vivacious, friendly person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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