How to Cook Red Chard with Bacon

Red chard is a leafy vegetable that is full of nutrients.

Bacon complements bitter red chard well and makes for a healthy but satisfying dish. Toss this dish with pasta or serve it as a side dish.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tsp. salt (optional)
• Red chard, 3 to 4 bundles
• Stock pot with lid
• Water to cover chard
• Knife and cutting board
• Bacon strips, as much as you like
• Skillet for final cooking

Instructions

1. Purchase three to five large bundles of red chard. If you grow your own, then be sure to pick the ones with the tallest leaves. Large leaves will be tender with the cooking process and provide more servings.

2. Wash the leaves and cut off the bottom of the stalk. Market-purchased stalks won't have the root portion. Clean each leaf well and check for garden pests on the back side of leaves. Prepare the cutting board, and choose a large chef knife for the chopping process.

3. Lay the chard on the cutting board, holding the bundle tight, and cut crosswise into small sections. Place each section into the stock pot until all the chard is in the pot. Fill the pot with enough water to just cover the top of the chard. Sprinkle the salt into the water, and begin to boil until the chard comes out tender and easy to cut with a fork.

4. Lift the chard out of the stock pot into a skillet that has a few strips of bacon uncooked in the bottom. Heat the skillet and let the bacon cook as the chard is also reheating. When the bacon is close to done, stir the bacon and chard together. Continue cooking in this manner until the mixture is well done, and watch carefully so the chard doesn't scorch. Add some of the water from the stock pot if necessary. Cooking chard for a long time will help it to pick up the flavor of the seasoning.

Tips & Warnings

• Chard is soft like spinach when fully cooked.

• The mixture should have a small amount of juice when fully cooked.

• Don't overcook; check the chard often for tenderness.

• If you have used any garden sprays, be sure to wash the chard very well.

• The skillet-cooking reduces the bacon and flavors the chard. Make sure it doesn't get over cooked during this time.