Massaged Chard Salad with Flax and Pumpkin Seeds
I get a box of veggies from a local CSA (community supported agriculture) every week, and having fresh, locally grown, seasonal produce is just heaven. Along with that heaven often comes a slight problem of too much produce, or too much of a certain type of produce. This week we had Swiss chard. Heaps of chard. Forests of chard. I normally saute greens to accompany a meal, but with the kitchens new chard-filled state more methods of chard consumption were needed to get the levels down, fast. So I decided to have chard for lunch one day. Only Swiss chard, and an entire bunch. I used a technique of massaging the chard that I had seen done with kale before, to make myself this simple massaged chard salad. A little lemon, salt and oil are used to soften the greens, and make eating a more pleasurable experience. A couple seeds and some raisins added to increase the tastiness and nutritional value. And just like that, your over-chard-population problem is solved!
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Chard is Great for Your Health!
Those of you who follow my blog regularly will know that health is not usually my number 1 priority- every once in a while I like to shake things up and eat something genuinely healthy. Swiss chard is a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, and is especially high in vitamin K and calcium (no, you don’t need milk for strong bones!). Chard is so out of this world good for you, that in 2002 they even started growing it in space! I added ground flaxseed to this recipe, because they contain large amounts of fiber (super good for you), and more importantly is a great source for omega-3 fatty acids. Since these are rarer in the plant-based world, I try to make a point to eat them every now and then. Finally I added pumpkin seeds to boost up the protein content a little and add the host of nutrients that they contain.
Looking for More Greens? Try one of these!
- Collard Greens and Maitake Steamed Buns (Hen of the Woods)
- Quick Vegan Creamy Pasta with Kale
- Swiss Chard Recipe: Ohitashi & Japanese Pickled Stems
- Vegan Spinach and Chickpea Curry
- Fennel and Apple Salad in Belgian Endive Cups
- Creamy Roasted Romaine Soup (Vegan)
Making this Massaged Chard Salad
Making this massaged chard salad is quick and easy. Wash and chop the chard (discarding the stems) and put them in a bowl with lemon, olive oil and salt. Use your hands to “massage” the leaves, gently rubbing the oil, salt and lemon juice into them. You need to continue this for about a minute, until the color of the leaves becomes more vibrant and they become softer (this will make them easier to eat than rough, raw chard). Last but not least flax, golden raisins and pumpkin seeds are mixed in (although you can add any other nuts, seeds or fruits you have around and enjoy).
Massaged Chard Salad with Flax, Pumpkin Seeds and Golden Raisins
Ingredients
- One bunch of chard
- 1 TBSP. olive oil
- 1 tsp. lemon juice
- ¼ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. flax meal
- 1 TBSP. pumpkin seeds
- 1 TBSP. golden raisins
Instructions
- Wash the chard, and chop off the stems and discard. Chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl along with the olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Massage the chard for around 60 seconds, until the chard looks brighter and feels somewhat softer.
- Add the flax, pumpkin seeds and golden raisins to the massaged chard salad and toss well before serving.
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Let’s hear from you now…
- Which do you prefer, cooked or raw greens?
- Are you part of a CSA? How do you handle it when you get a lot of one vegetable?
- Should I give up my current job and pursue a fulltime career as a vegetable masseuse?
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