Steamed Chard Food

SAUTE-STEAMED SWISS CHARD

Steps:

• With a chef's knife or your hands, separate leaves from stems. Cut stems crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces; set aside. Stack leaves, roll them, and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch ribbons. Set aside, keeping separate from stems.
• In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until golden, about 1 minute. Stir in chard stems; reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally until stems have softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Add damp chard leaves and 1/2 cup of water. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are completely wilted and tender, 3 to 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately on a platter or in a bowl, with lemon wedges on the side.

STEAMED CHARD

Steps:

• Strip the leaves of the chard from the thick stems, and wash again. Set aside in a bowl, still wet. Thinly slice the stems.
• Put the stems in a large saucepan and add just enough boiling water to cover the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with a little sea salt and cover; boil them for 3-5 minutes or until they are just tender. Drain and set aside.
• In the same pot, add the reserved leaves, with the water that clings to them, an extra ½ cup of cold water and salt and bring to a boil. Turn the heat down, cover and cook about 2 to 3 minutes or until the leaves are wilted and just tender.
• Drain the greens and squeeze as much water out of them as you can. Roll them into a ball, roughly slice them up and toss with the reserved stems and the parsley. Squeeze the lemon over them to taste and sprinkle with the olive oil. Toss again. Serve immediately.

FRESH HALIBUT STEAMED IN SWISS CHARD WITH THAI CURRY CREAM

Steps:

• Season halibut lightly with salt, pepper and lime zest and set aside. Blanch chard leaves in lightly salted water for 5 to 10 seconds until softened and then immediately plunge into ice water to stop cooking and set color. Pat dry and wrap halibut pieces completely with leaves.
• To serve: Add mushrooms, scallions and olive oil to an oven-proof saute pan large enough to hold fish in one layer. Saute mushroom mixture until its just beginning to color. Place wrapped fish on top of mushroom mixture, add the wine and stock and cover. Finish cooking fish on top of stove over moderate heat or in a preheated 400 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until fish is cooked through. With a spatula, lift fish and its mushroom bed and place attractively on warm plates. Pour sauce around and garnish with cilantro sprigs and deep fried leeks on top of wrapped fish.