Easy Swiss Chard Stir Fry

Living in the US, I cannot usually find the same produce I used to eat daily in China. Vegetables like baby bok choy and Chinese broccoli have become a luxury. Not only are they much more expensive, it’s very difficult to get good fresh ones, even at the Asian market. It’s my second summer in my new home, and I’ve started to apply Chinese flavors to local produce.

I’ve been trying to use authentic Chinese seasonings with vegetables I can find in Austin. The texture of the dish might be a bit different, but the flavor stays great.

Today I want to introduce an easy swiss chard recipe that uses just three ingredients and takes five minutes to cook. It is a family recipe that my mom usually uses with baby bok choy and fried tofu.

The highlight of this recipe is the combination of garlic, sugar, and soy sauce. The garlic will infuse the cooking oil and make the whole dish very fragrant. The soy sauce adds saltiness and umami. The sugar is the most important part. It won’t turn the dish sweet, but will enhance the depth of the umami and make it extra delicious.

The seasoning makes the swiss chard so flavorful that you can eat a huge amount of vegetables effortlessly. It is one of our favorite ways to add a side to dinner, no matter whether you’re serving roast salmon or baked chicken. It goes well both with Asian and Western style main dishes.

To prep swiss chard, you simply need to rinse the leaves, shake off the extra water, and chop them. You don’t need to dry them thoroughly before cooking. A hot cast iron pan earns extra points but is not necessary. I’ve tried both a cast iron pan and a nonstick skillet, and both work. The prep and cooking will be done in under 10 minutes.

Looking for more simple side dishes like this? Check out my broccoli with oyster sauce, baby bok choy with garlic dressing, four-ingredient okra stir fry, and vinaigrette cabbage.

If you give this recipe a try, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it (once you’ve tried it), and take a picture and tag it #omnivorescookbook on Instagram! I’d love to see what you come up with. Cheers, friends!

Easy Swiss Chard Stir Fry

By Maggie Zhu

5 from 3 votes

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 to 4

0.5x1x2x3x

Save RecipeSaved Recipe Print

A delicious side dish that needs three ingredients and five minutes to cook. A great way to add vegetables to a weeknight’s dinner.

Ingredients 

• 1 bunch swiss chard 8 to 10 leaves
• 1 tablespoon peanut oil (or vegetable oil)
• 3 cloves garlic , coarsely chopped
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

• To prep the swiss chard, cut off the stems and chop the leaves into 1-cm (1/2-inch) pieces. Chop the leaves into 4-cm (1.5-inch) pieces. Separate the stems and leaves.
• Heat oil in a cast iron pan (or wok, or a heavy skillet) until hot. Add garlic. Stir a few times until fragrant.
• Add the chard stems. Cook and stir a few times until they start to soften.
• Add the leaves. Quickly stir a few times. Add sugar and swirl in soy sauce. Immediately stir to mix well. Cook and stir until the chard turns tender. Transfer to a serving plate immediately to stop cooking.
• Serve warm or at room temperature as a side dish.

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutrition

Serving: 123g, Calories: 61kcal, Carbohydrates: 6.2g, Protein: 2.4g, Fat: 3.7g, Saturated Fat: 0.7g, Sodium: 392mg, Potassium: 445mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 2.3g, Vitamin A: 6950IU, Vitamin C: 47.9mg, Calcium: 60mg, Iron: 2.2mg

Have a question or feedback? Add a Comment

Did you make this? I want to see! Tag @OmnivoresCookbook on Instagram, and rate the recipe below.