Getting tired of the same leafy greens for dinner night after night? Spice up your side dish with a little swiss chard! Not only are they pretty to look at with their vibrant red, orange, and yellow stems, but they’re SO delicious as well. They are so quick and easy to cook up any night for dinner. I love to make sauteed swiss chard because it’s a nice change to spinach, but has similar health benefits. Swiss chard is full of iron, calcium, fiber, and vitamins A and C.

I’ve tailored this recipe so it’s healthy, quick, and simple yet still flavorful; however, you can tweak it any which way to fit your own preferences. For example, omit or add more red pepper flakes to control the level of spiciness, add sliced bacon for a smoky, buttery flavor, or add a splash of vinegar to make your greens a bit on the tart side. Oh, the places you’ll go with these greens!

Recipe
Yield: 2 servings

INGREDIENTS:
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
pinch red pepper flakes
1 bunch swiss chard, stems removed and leaves chopped into 1-inch strips
1/4 cup white wine or low-sodium chicken broth
1 tsp. sugar
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Saute for about 1 minute, careful not to let the garlic burn.
2. Add swiss chard and toss quickly. Add wine or chicken broth and sugar. Reduce heat to medium and cook until leaves are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. If pan becomes too dry before swiss chard is cooked, add a little water.
3. Season with salt and black pepper. Serve immediately.