Chard - help need recipes!!

hornetgirl

Thanks all. I had no idea it was also called silverbeet, so will do some searching on that. Meanwhile I had planned on doing braised beef on Sunday, so am thinking I'll go with Odds-n-Sods suggestion

Punky

When I get chard in my veg box I use it it the same way I use spinach. Most often in lasagne and pasta dishes.

vixtress

in my veggie box i got a big bag of spinach (not the nice litlle leaved stuff) and a big bag of red chard.
the kids (or adults to be honest) arent keen on spinach and i have never had red chard before. so my question is.....1, does red chard taste like spinach and 2, what can i do with them to disguise them.

thanks
vix

vixtress

:doh: doh, have just looked again at the red chard and have decided that it is, in fact red kale!!

so my 3rd question......whats the best thing to do with red kale??? am trying to write this weeks menu plan and am hitting a brick wall.

i still need to discuise the spinach as well
thanks

vix

umami

You can put them in lasagne.
Go to www.bbcc.o.uk/food and search for spinach recipes and kale.
Good luck.
I used both for a quick stir fry but I doubt if the children would like it.

Punky

DH is not keen on spinach or chard but I do a Jamie Oliver recipe with tagliatelli, spinach/chard, cream and mascapone that he loves.

kunekune

Someone asked about this earlier this week, it must be in season. I'll repeat the tip I passed on, though I don't know how helpful it was: kale, aka silverbeet, is a very common vege in New Zealand and Australia. If you search on silverbeet you'll find heaps of useful recipes. It's nice: has more body to it than spinach, and not so bitter.

vixtress

thanks for those, i am thinking about making a pesto with it to go on pasta. which would be best for that? i guess the kale, its really big, tough looking spinach, i suspect it will be v bitter.

any tips for the pesto would be good, im really hoping its foolproof !!

Gingham_Ribbon

I make pesto with spinach, kale and chard often. I steam them for longer than I would normally - about 10 minutes then shake off the excess water. I put quite a lot of parmasan in the mixer and whizz it, then add nuts - brazil nuts are good with these veg, or pine nuts. Blitz again, then add the veg and a big slug of olive oil and crushed garlic. whizz till fairly smooth.

You may need to add a little of the pasta water to it to get the right consistency or it can clump together. I like it with chard best. (I don't use the stalks in it.)

vixtress

would you do it with a mixture of the veg or just stick to one? also, would it work with toasted sunflower seeds, i dont give the kids nuts (and i have the seeds in)
sounds lovely, thanks
vicky