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What to Do With Swiss Chard from the CSA

This past week when I opened my CSA box, out popped 2 large bags of rainbow Swiss chard followed by a slight panic. What the hell do I do with these pretty leaves? But luckily it was Monday night, which means a “Monday Night Mash-Up” was in store. I raided my fridge and pantry and a few ingredients later, we had a dish on our hands.

Last night’s mash-up involved lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, some Greek yogurt, a can of beans from the pantry, and some mint and cilantro from the herb garden.

Ingredients

2 bunches of Swiss chard
2 cloves garlic
1 can beans of your choice (I used cannelini)
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1 tbsp fresh mint
1 tbsp fresh cilantro
salt & pepper to taste
1/3 cup olive oil, plus 1 tbsp

Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Separate the stalks of the chard from the leaves, and blanch the stalks for 3 minutes. Add the leaves to the pot for 2 more minutes, then drain the chard, run under cold water to refresh it, and squeeze out excess water. Set aside.

Step 2: Heat 1/3 cup olive oil in a skillet. Add beans and Swiss chard leaves and sautee for 6 minutes.

Step 3: Add the garlic, juice of the lemon, and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Sautee for 5-7 more minutes.

Step 4: Mix together the Greek yogurt with 1 tbsp of olive oil and some salt and pepper.

ps, in case you are wondering – that candle is from Anthropologie. It’s Avocado and Mint, and it smells effing fantastic.

Step 5: Plate the Swiss chard, top with a dollop of the yogurt mixture, and serve.

This is a great side dish, but can also serve as the main course thanks to the hearty beans. The cool, creaminess of the yogurt makes it especially savory for summer. Enjoy!

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Alessandra Macaluso is the author of What a Good Eater! , Lucy the Bee and the Healing Honey, and The Real-Deal Bridal Bible. She’s also a Qigong and Tai Chi instructor, and overall wellness advocate. Her work has been featured in several anthologies which can all be found on her Amazon author page, and she has contributed to The Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, TODAY Parents, and many other online publications.

Alessandra is a northerner-turned-southerner, enjoying the south with her children, Penelope and Ciro, and her husband, Greg.