Bruschetta With Swiss Chard Pine Nuts And Currants Food

BRUSCHETTAS WITH SAUTEED CHARD

Steps:

• Bring a very large pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of salt. If the stems of the chard are tough, remove them entirely from the leaves and discard. (If the stems are tender, simply cut the stems off at the base of the leaves and discard.) Wash the leaves thoroughly. Immerse the chard in the boiling water and cook for 3 minutes exactly from the moment you get all the leaves in the pot. Drain immediately but don¿t squeeze out the liquid.
• Warm 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan. Add the sliced garlic and cook over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the chard, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and saute for 3 minutes, tossing frequently with tongs.
• Meanwhile, toast or grill 8 slices of bread. When they're nicely browned, rub one side of each slice of bread with a cut side of the halved garlic. Place 2 slices of toasted bread on each plate, garlic side up, and use tongs to distribute the chard onto the toasts. Sprinkle each serving with lemon zest, a squeeze of lemon juice, grated Parmesan cheese, and some fleur de sel. Drizzle the bruschetta with olive oil and serve warm. The liquid from the greens will be absorbed into the bread.

BRUSCHETTA WITH SWISS CHARD AND SMOKED TROUT

Steps:

• Stem the chard, and wash the leaves and stems in two rinses of water. Cut the stems in small dice. Blanch the chard leaves in salted boiling water (or steam them) for one to two minutes until tender. Transfer to a bowl of ice water, then drain and squeeze out excess water. Chop medium-fine.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a medium skillet. Add the chard stalks. Cook, stirring often, until tender, five to eight minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, and cook, stirring, just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chopped chard leaves, and toss together for about a minute. Remove from the heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Lightly toast the bread, and rub with the cut garlic. Brush with the remaining olive oil. Top with the chard, and press down with the back of a spoon. Use a fork to flake the trout, and place on top. Squeeze on a few drops of lemon juice, and serve.

SWISS CHARD WITH CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Place the raisins or currants in a bowl and pour on hot water to cover. Soak 10 minutes and drain.
• Fill a bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the chard. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until just tender. Transfer to the bowl of ice water and let sit for a few minutes. Drain and squeeze out as much water as you can. Chop coarsely.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet. Add the chard stems and cook 3 to 5 minutes, until tender. Add the pine nuts and cook, stirring, until they begin to color, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, just until the garlic begins to smell fragrant about 1 minute. Add the chopped greens and raisins or currants and toss together until they are well coated with oil and heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve, or allow to cool and serve at room temperature.

BRUSCHETTA WITH SWISS CHARD, PINE NUTS AND CURRANTS

Steps:

• Place 1/4 cup currants in small bowl. Add enough warm water to cover currants. Soak 20 minutes. Drain well. Preheat oven to 450°F. Heat 3 tablespoons oil in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant and pale golden, about 1 minute. Add Swiss chard. Sauté until chard is wilted and tender, about 5 minutes. Mix in pine nuts and currants. Season mixture to taste with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Arrange bread in single layer on baking sheet. Bake bread until golden, about 5 minutes. Brush remaining 1 tablespoon oil over bread slices. Top with warm chard mixture, dividing equally. Arrange on platter and serve.

BRAISED SWISS CHARD WITH CURRANTS AND FETA

Steps:

• Cut stems and center ribs from chard, discarding any tough parts near base, then cut stems and ribs crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick slices. Coarsely chop leaves.
• Cook garlic in oil in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally, until pale golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add chard stems and ribs, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, 4 minutes. Add currants and cook, stirring, until plump, about 1 minute. Add chard leaves and water and increase heat to moderate, then cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until leaves are tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in feta.

BRAISED SWISS CHARD WITH RAISINS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Tear Swiss Chard leaves into medium pieces.
• In large saute pan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
• Stir red onion in and saute for about 5 minutes or until the red onion slices are soft.
• Turn heat up to medium-high heat; add raisins and pine nuts, stir to toast the nuts.
• Add swiss chard, give it a couple of stirs to incorporate it with the other ingredients. If you are using the spinach, add it at this point instead of the Swiss Chard.
• Add water and cover the pan so the swiss chard will wilt. Usually takes about 3 to 4 minutes for this to happen. Even if you are using the spinach that you have cooked, cooled and strained of extra water - DON'T SKIP THIS STEP WITH YOUR PRE-COOKED, STRAINED SPINACH - if you skip this with your spinach, the texture will be "gummy." Trust me - I tried it.
• Put individual servings on plates, use salt and pepper to your taste and then, (my favorite part) - sprinkle with balsamic vinegar or red wine vinegar.

RED SWISS CHARD WITH PINE NUTS AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir the pine nuts in the hot oil until they turn a light golden brown, about 2 minutes; watch carefully, they burn easily. Stir in the garlic; cook until fragrant, about 1 more minute, stirring constantly.
• Mix in the Swiss chard; cook and stir until the chard has wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Season with salt and black pepper. Lightly stir in the chopped prosciutto; cook and stir just until prosciutto is hot, then serve.

SPANISH-STYLE SWISS CHARD WITH RAISINS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan and pour in enough water to reach just below the bottom of the insert. Bring the water to a boil. Add the chard and steam until just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook the raisins and pine nuts in the hot oil until the pine nuts turn golden, about 5 minutes. Add the chard, season with salt and pepper, and continue cooking while stirring constantly until the chard is hot, about 2 minutes.

SWISS CHARD WITH CURRANTS AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Place the raisins or currants in a bowl and pour on hot water to cover. Soak 10 minutes and drain.
• Fill a bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil and add the chard. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until just tender. Transfer to the bowl of ice water and let sit for a few minutes. Drain and squeeze out as much water as you can. Chop coarsely.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large, heavy nonstick skillet. Add the chard stems and cook 3 to 5 minutes, until tender. Add the pine nuts and cook, stirring, until they begin to color, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, about 1 minute or just until the garlic begins to smell fragrant. Add the chopped greens and raisins or currants and toss together until they are well coated with oil and heated through, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper, and serve, or allow to cool and serve at room temperature.