Spicy Stir-Fried Swiss Chard
This Spicy Stir-Fried Swiss Chard has just enough heat to get your attention and this is fun for a new way to cook healthy Swiss Chard!
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I started growing swiss chard in my garden when a friend told me how you could cut the chard leaves and the plant would produce new ones over and over. That sounded good to me, and for several years now I’ve made tasty dishes using these easy-to-grow greens. This year I’ve neglected the swiss chard recipes, but I think I’m making up for it with this Spicy Stir-Fried Swiss Chard. This could easily become my favorite way to cook Swiss Chard, it was that good.
I found a recipe for Asian-Style Chard in From Asparagus to Zucchini, A Guide to Cooking Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce (affiliate link) but when Jake and I started to cook this we decided to spice it up quite a bit. I also used a lot less Hoisin Sauce, since it’s high in sugar, and added a few other tastes to the sauce. Besides the great flavor, one thing I loved about this recipe was that is uses both the stems and the leaves of the chard, cooking the stems a few minutes before the leaves are added to the wok. If you have Swiss chard in your garden or CSA box, Jake and I both give this recipe two thumbs up!
What ingredients do you need for this recipe?
- swiss chard
- Peanut Oil (affiliate link)
- Minced Garlic (affiliate link)
- Soy Sauce or Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (affiliate link)
- Hoisin Sauce or Gluten-Free Hoisin Sauce (affiliate link)
- Chili Garlic Sauce (affiliate link)
- Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link)
What makes this recipe spicy?
Several people on the Kalyn’s Kitchen Facebook Page had raved about this spicy Chili Garlic Sauce (affiliate link), so that’s what we used to add a little heat to the dish, but I think Sriracha Sauce (affiliate link) or other types of Asian hot sauce would also work.
Want More Ideas for Swiss Chard?
Check out my Salute to Swiss Chard for more Swiss Chard ideas!
How to Make Spicy Stir-Fried Swiss Chard:
(Scroll down for complete recipe with nutritional information.)
- Chop the chard stems and leaves separately and wash if needed. Then heat the oil to medium-high and cook the stems about 2 minutes. (We used a wok, but you can use a large frying pan.)
- Have one tablespoon of finely minced garlic ready to go.
- Mix together soy sauce or Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (affiliate link), Hoisin sauce or Gluten-Free Hoisin Sauce (affiliate link), Chili Garlic Sauce (affiliate link), and Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) or sweetener of your choice to make the sauce. (I used to use a teaspoon of Black Bean Garlic Sauce in this, but when that got hard to find I just replaced it with soy sauce and didn’t notice much difference. But if you have some replace one teaspoon soy sauce with the Black Bean Garlic Sauce.)
- Add the garlic and chard leaves to the wok or frying pan and continue to cook, turning leaves over several times.
- Cook about 3 minutes, or until the leaves have all wilted down like this.
- Then add the sauce and cook until chard is tender, about 2-3 minutes longer. Serve hot.
More Tasty Ways to Use Swiss Chard:
Baked Swiss Chard Stems with Parmesan
Spaghetti with Garlic, Chard, and Pecorino Romano Cheese
Spaghetti Squash and Chard Gratin
Swiss Chard Casserole
Spicy Stir-Fried Swiss Chard
This Spicy Stir-Fried Swiss Chard has just enough heat to get your attention.
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 lb. swiss chard, stems and leaves chopped separately
- 1 T peanut oil (see notes)
- 1 T minced garlic
Sauce Ingredients:
- 2 T soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- 1 tsp. Hoisin sauce (gluten-free if needed)
- 2 tsp. Chili Garlic Sauce (start with 1 tsp. and taste to see if you want more heat)
- 1 T Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (see notes)
Instructions
- Cut stems away from swiss chard leaves, folding over the leaf to cut some of the larger part of the stem (ribs) that run through the leaves.
- Cut stems/ribs into short pieces.
- Pile the leaves up in a stack and slice about 1 inch thick; then turn the cutting board and cut the slices the other way, repeating until the chard is all chopped.
- Wash in a salad spinner if needed and spin dry.
- Mince enough garlic to make 1 tablespoon.
- Mix together the soy sauce or Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (affiliate link), Hoisin sauce or Gluten-Free Hoisin Sauce (affiliate link), Chili Garlic Sauce (affiliate link), and Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) or sweetener of your choice to make the sauce.
- Turn the heat under the wok (or large frying pan) to medium high, add the oil and heat until the oil is slightly shimmering.
- Add the chard stems and stir-fry about 2 minutes.
- Add the leaves and minced garlic and stir-fry for about 3 minutes more, turning leaves over several times until all the chard has wilted.
- Add the sauce and stir to combine it with the chard, then cook 2-3 minutes more, or until the chard is tender and all coated with sauce.
- Serve hot.
Notes
Use any neutral-flavored vegetable oil of your choice. I love Golden Monkfruit Sweetener (affiliate link) but use any sweetener of your choice.
This recipe adapted from From Asparagus to Zucchini, A Guide to Cooking Farm-Fresh Seasonal Produce. (affiliate link)
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
4Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 66Total Fat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 711mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 3gSugar: 2gProtein: 3g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.
Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Chard is a very nutritious low-carb vegetable, and everything about this Spicy Stir-Fried Swiss Chard would be approved for all phases of the original South Beach Diet, and most other types of low-carb eating plans, but be sure to look for Asian condiments with the lowest possible amounts of sugar because they can vary widely.
Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Stir-Fry Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to Follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.
Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This recipe was first posted in 2011. It was updated with more information in 2021.
59 Comments on “Spicy Stir-Fried Swiss Chard”
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I have so many different Asians sauces, but I've never tried this combination on Swiss chard – sounds so good!
Great vegetable gardening tip. I had no idea I could do that with chard. I'll remember that for next year. I have a jar of chili garlic sauce I use all the time. I like that it's low in calories and adds fantastic kick. My husband and I are working on a healthier eating plan to lose a few pounds before the holidays. This recipe fits perfectly and sounds delicious.
Cindy, hope you enjoy it!
I have a monster Bright Lights Swiss Chard plant in my garden and have been searching for ways to use it. This looks great Kalyn! Have to find the Black Bean sauce and then I am good to go!
Thanks Kristen!
Loving all the flavors used in this dish, Kalyn! Looks delicious.
Thanks Kath, so glad you like it!
It's 7:30am and I'm thinking I would love this for breakfast! Thanks for the great-looking recipe, Kalyn!
So glad you liked it, and I like the addition of a little sesame oil.
Yummy! What a great recipe! I had home-grown rainbow chard, harvested just minutes before cooking. Minor change in the oil: 2 tsp peanut oil in the pan at the beginning, then 1 tsp toasted sesame oil to finish the dish. Hubby loved it! A nice change from the Mediterranean chard recipe I usually use.
Donna, we gobbled it up when we tested the recipe! So glad you enjoyed it too.
I love every green leafy veggie there is and I am always looking for new, fast, tasty ways of preparing them. I made this last night after buying some beautiful Swiss Chard and can't wait to make it again. Thank you Kalyn…
Cassandra, glad you liked it!
BTW, this sauce and method also work tasty magic on the braising greens from the farmers' market. My husband *loved* it. 🙂
My pleasure. So glad you enjoyed it.
This is AMAZING!!! Thank you so much for sharing it. 🙂
Marcia, so glad you liked it! The mustard greens sound like a nice addition.
This is so good! I mean, really, it's stellar. We had some mustard greens too and I blanched them before adding them with the chard leaves and they fit in beautifully with the recipe.
Kudos!!!!!! marcia in colorado
Janet I do love the young Swiss chard in salad. I'm hoping to get a few more pickings from mine.
Even now in the fall, my Swiss chard is more baby like! I harvested a cup of Swiss chard this weekend for a delicious barley salad, though. Because the leaves were still young, the stems were a nice crunchy addition without any cooking! 🙂
This looks like a great dish to try out when I can harvest more. 🙂
Kathy, so glad he liked the coleslaw! This is really good, especially if you like things a little spicy.
And there's yet another amazing side dish that will be added to our weeknight menu! Already have your butter bean salad slated for later this week. My husband almost single-handedly devoured the entire batch of your cole slaw I made last week. 🙂
Thanks Cara. It was really good.
I love swiss chard and chili garlic paste is one of my favorite ingredients. Sounds delicious!
Thanks Michelle!
The picture makes me want to try this chard. Lovely.
Barbara, we must have been typing at the same time. I can relate because I only started liking greens a few years ago myself. These have plenty of flavor, I promise.
Donna, so glad I could give you a swiss chard recipe idea. I do recommend this one highly!
Dara if only we lived closer. I could trade you swiss chard for Thai basil!
I've only recently been eating greens that are cooked; it most certainly must have been a not so great Southern experience with Collard Greens that did me in.
But I'm working through it and loving Kale and Chard so glad I gave them another change…and these look absolutely fabulous.
Oh yes, that chili-garlic sauce is a favorite here. I often use it to give a little heat to peanut sauce. Your garden continues to amaze me, Kalyn!
My garden is overflowing with our second batch of Swiss chard, so I am happy I visited you today!
Cheers! Donna
Deb, thanks and so glad you like the idea.
Enticing flavor combination to complement the chard. I also cook the stems first, then add the leaves. This works wonderfully; to use the entire leaf. My family will enjoy this recipe, thanks for sharing.
Thanks CJ, glad you like it. My brother does the headers, he's so creative!
Kalyn, This chard looks delicious!
Your page header is gorgeous too! All those beautifu jars. I love it.
Joyous, sorry to hear about the earwigs. I haven't seen any this year (knock on wood!)
Barbara, so you thought I had a new boyfriend named Jake, huh? It is a lot of fun cooking with him. And yes, silverbeet = swiss chard = chard. So many names!
I missed your post about Jake so was a little confused when you mentioned Jake. Now I know who he is…it must be fun to cook with your nephew. I love cooking with my boys. They handle hot food much better than me and constantly argue over who can eat the hottest food.
I think swiss chard is what we call silverbeet and I can see this recipe working well with it.
Yumm – I have an abundance of Swiss Chard – even though the earwigs like it too. I've never thought of cooking it with an Asian twist – can't wait to try it.
Now I'm really jealous that Katie has her garden all year. Glad you guys are liking this; I really did love the combination.
Another fabulous, healthy recipe that is quick to put together. I love that chili garlic paste and find reasons to use in in things all the time. Like Sriracha, but better 🙂
I can keep it growing all year here…. although I like to replant in the spring. Great spicy recipe.
What a great idea to use Swiss chard in an Asian stir fry. I have gotten much better at trying new things with chard, but this looks like an easy and delicious winner.
Cool recipe. I'm never quite sure what to do with swiss chard other than simply steam or saute. This sauce sounds like a perfect compliment to flavorful greens!
Lisa, hope you enjoy it!
Loving the look and sound of this dish. My farmers' market has tons o' chard every week—I hope to try this soon.
Mary, I agree with you; that sauce has the most wonderful spicy flavor.
Just made a recipe with that chili garlic sauce. It had been a while and I had forgotten how much I love it. I happened to use it as part of a marinade for chicken, but using it in a sauce sounds wonderful too.
So glad that so many people are liking this idea. And I agree, the fact that the recipe uses the stems and the leaves both is really a plus!
Wow, this looks really tasty! I don't grown chard. I'll check the farmer's market for it.
You know I LOVE my Swiss chard in the garden, and this sounds like a great way to enjoy it! 🙂
I am always looking for Asian side dishes! I have the chili paste and I love it!
I'm super excited about this because swiss chard is my favorite green! Love that this uses both the stems and the leaves!
Love chard and I needed an idea to fix it differently than the usual lebanese way; this one sounds delish. Love a little heat.
Alyssa, thanks so much Hope you get a chance to try it with the swiss chard; we loved it!
Jeanette, Jake is the best! I do think swiss chard is under-appreciated; maybe this recipe can help!
I'm a huge fan of Swiss chard – although I know a lot of people that don't like it or just don't know how to cook it. I think if they tried your recipe, it would convert them. Sounds like you're having fun with Jake in the kitchen!
Hi Kalyn! I love your blog. This sounds like something I make with string beans, Chinese broccoli and baby boa choy but I hadn't thought to try it with the chard. thanks for the inspiration!:)
Lydia, you and Jake would get along well in the kitchen. He can handle a little more heat than I can, so we have to compromise! Really loved this dish.
How nice that Jake has a taste for spicy food! This chard looks delicious. I'm not usually a huge fan of the dark leafy greens that I know are so healthy, but I love spicy food, so this recipe might be a winner for me.