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Home » Side Dishes » Sweet and Sour Swiss Chard

Sweet and Sour Swiss Chard

Posted by: Diabetic Foodie / Gluten-free, Side Dishes, Spring / June 19, 2013

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Sweet and sour swiss chard topped with turkey bacon in a white bowl on an oval serving tray

Are you trying to eat something green and healthy at least once a day? This sweet and sour Swiss chard with turkey bacon is a great change of pace!

Sweet and sour swiss chard topped with turkey bacon in a white bowl on an oval serving tray

Do you like cooking with Swiss chard?

If you’ve never tried it before, this leafy green is similar to beet greens and spinach. It’s slightly bitter when raw, but once cooked, it picks up a mildly sweet taste similar to spinach.

One of my favorite ways to prepare it is this recipe for sweet and sour Swiss chard! I love that it includes both the stems and the leaves, and the bit of turkey bacon sprinkled on top adds just the right amount of salt and crunch!

If you’re looking for a new way to enjoy some greens throughout the week, definitely give this simple dish a try.

How to make sweet and sour Swiss chard

This tasty recipe comes together with basic ingredients in just 5 easy steps.

Swiss chard, garlic, shallots, and remaining ingredients separated into individual ramekins and bowls, as seen from above on white marble surface

Step 1: Cook the turkey bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain.

Turkey bacon strips cooking in a black skillet, as seen from above on a white marble surface

Step 2: Add the olive oil to the skillet, then add the garlic, shallot, and chard stems. Cook until the shallot and chard stems soften, about 2 minutes.

Garlic, shallot, and chard stems cooking in a black skillet, as seen from above on a white marble surface

Step 3: Add the cider vinegar with the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Chard stems, garlic, shallot, vinegar, and sugar cooked down in a black skillet, as seen from above on a white marble surface

Step 4: Add the chard leaves and toss until the greens have wilted, about 5 minutes.

Chard greens added to the black skillet and cooked down with the rest of the ingredients, as seen from above on a white marble surface

Step 5: Season with pepper and serve with bacon sprinkled on top.

Enjoy your nutrient-packed plate of green!

Overhead view of chard mixture topped with turkey bacon in a white bowl on a white cloth napkin on an oval wooden serving tray next to a gold spoon

Variations

This dish is delicious with chard. However, if you can’t find any or simply don’t care for it, any type of green leafy vegetable will do. Try substituting kale, watercress, dandelion greens, or anything else you find at your farmers’ market.

For a vegetarian option, you can omit the turkey bacon. You may want to sprinkle some shredded Parmesan on top to add that bit of salt and texture.

If you want something meatier, on the other hand, you’re welcome to use pork bacon instead of turkey bacon!

Close up of gold spoon lifting chard mixture from a white bowl

Storage

These tasty greens are great to enjoy hot out of the pan, but they also make a quick and easy side to have ready in your fridge.

Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I recommend storing the turkey bacon separately so it doesn’t become soggy.

Closeup of chard mixture in a white bowl with a spoon in the bowl

Other swiss chard recipes

Swiss chard is a lot of fun to cook with, especially when you find the right flavor combinations. If you’re looking for more ways to incorporate this ingredient, here are a few recipes I think you’ll enjoy:

  • Lentil Swiss Chard Soup with Orange Zest
  • Potatoes with Swiss Chard Pesto
  • Tofu Scramble with Swiss Chard

When you’ve tried this dish, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Recipe Card
Closeup of spoon lifting sweet and sour swiss chard from a white bowl
5 from 1 vote

Sweet and Sour Swiss Chard

Are you trying to eat something green and healthy at least once a day? This sweet and sour Swiss chard with turkey bacon is a great change of pace!
Prep Time:5 minutes
Cook Time:15 minutes
Total Time:20 minutes
Author:Diabetic Foodie
Servings:4
Review Print

Ingredients

  • 3 slices turkey bacon (cut crosswise into matchsticks)
  • ½ teaspoon olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 1 shallot (cut in half and thinly sliced)
  • 1 bunch Swiss chard (stems removed and thinly sliced, leaves chopped)
  • 3 tablespoons cider vinegar
  • ½ tablespoon sugar
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Cook the turkey bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain.
    3 slices turkey bacon
  • Add the olive oil to the skillet, then add the garlic, shallot, and chard stems. Cook until the shallot and chard stems soften, about 2 minutes.
    ½ teaspoon olive oil, 1 clove garlic, 1 shallot, 1 bunch Swiss chard
  • Add the cider vinegar with the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
    3 tablespoons cider vinegar, ½ tablespoon sugar
  • Add the chard leaves and toss until the greens have wilted, about 5 minutes.
  • Season with pepper and serve with bacon sprinkled on top.
    Freshly ground black pepper

Recipe Notes

This recipe is for 4 servings.
Feel free to substitute kale, watercress, dandelion greens, or any other leafy greens in this recipe.
Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store bacon separately so it doesn’t become soggy.

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Sweet and Sour Swiss Chard
Amount Per Serving
Calories 56 Calories from Fat 25
% Daily Value*
Fat 2.8g4%
Saturated Fat 0.7g4%
Trans Fat 0g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.6g
Monounsaturated Fat 1.2g
Cholesterol 12.6mg4%
Sodium 207mg9%
Potassium 171.6mg5%
Carbohydrates 4.8g2%
Fiber 0.7g3%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 3.1g6%
Net carbs 4.1g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Diabetic
Keyword: classic recipe, easy side dish recipes, swiss chard
Did you make this recipe?Click here to leave a comment & star rating!

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  1. Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen says

    June 22, 2013 at 2:53 pm

    Great photo and I know this is a dish I could really chow down on!

    Reply
  2. Dhanyo says

    June 19, 2013 at 5:52 pm

    Just happen to have a batch of swiss chard ready to pick! Lucky me!!

    Reply

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