Who says you can get your greens and enjoy homemade pizza at the same time?Because I'm a patient and understanding girl, I'm going to give you and Swiss chard another chance to get together. I realize romances can take time, and that it isn't always love at first bite.
So maybe you weren't wowed by the thought of
Hot Swiss Chard Artichoke Dip or Swiss Chard and Artichoke Soup. And perhaps you're simply not the Healthy Swiss Chard Tuna Salad with Kalamata Olives type—even if the crunchy chard stalks stand in beautifully for celery. My Swiss Chard Cabbage Salad with Garbanzo Beans and Cottage Cheese didn't do it for you either? That's okay.I still have faith in you. Because this, this is pizza. And everybody loves pizza.
I won't go on and on about how wonderful Swiss chard is because I've already done that. But since it's time to start thinking about an early spring garden, I will quickly remind you once again how
easy Swiss chard is to grow from seed—and remind you that it happily thrives in containers (hint hint, apartment dwellers).
It's also cold tolerant, heat tolerant, and really hard to kill. Did I mention it happens to be really good for you?
Unlucky in love? Your vegetable soul mate just might be waiting for you at the farmers' market. So go on, give Swiss chard a try.
White pizza goes greenSusan's Swiss Chard Artichoke 'White' Pizza
Makes enough topping to thickly cover one 12" to 14" pizza
On the last day of autumn, I
picked several pounds of Swiss chard in my homemade greenhouse and packed it into plastic bags that I placed with ice packs in a cooler in the pantry (because there wasn't enough room in the fridge). After three weeks, what was left still looked fine. Freshly picked greens will last quite a while if kept cool and moist.This pizza topping is basically the first half of my
Hot Swiss Chard Artichoke Dip recipe. Don't have a can of artichokes handy? I think it would still be quite tasty without them. Mixing in some olives (black or kalamata) or a few chopped dried tomatoes instead would probably be very nice.You could also make this recipe using a mix of other greens, such as mustard and collard, or even kale. I'm sure spinach would work well. Since the finished pizza froze and reheated beautifully, I'm also thinking you could make up the topping ahead of time and freeze it.
A
baking/pizza stone is a great investment that allows you to make amazingly crisp pizza crusts and crusty artisan breads. I've been using the same one for 14 years. A pizza peel is a really useful thing to have. I own two—a large wood one and smaller metal one with a long handle—and use them all the time.Pizza dough (use your favorite or try
my simple recipe)
6 to 8 ounces mozzarella, thinly sliced or shredded3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion (about 5 ounces)
4 to 6 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch Swiss chard (about 12 ounces or 4 cups packed of leaves), leaves and stalks separated and both chopped into small pieces
1 14-ounce can artichoke hearts (packed in water), drained and rinsed, chopped into small pieces
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
3/4 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano or Parmesan cheese
About an hour before you're ready to bake your pizza, place a baking stone (if using) on the lowest rack in the oven and heat to 500 degrees.
Heat olive oil in a 4-quart or larger pot. Add onion and chopped Swiss chard stalks and cook, stirring frequently, until soft, about 6 to 8 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, 2 minutes; do not let garlic brown.
Stir Swiss chard leaves and chopped artichoke hearts into onion mixture. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce. Remove pan from heat and let chard mixture cool slightly, and then stir in Pecorino Romano. Alternatively, let the mixture cool completely, mix in cheese, and then refrigerate up to 2 days.
Shape the pizza dough on a piece of
unbleached parchment paper, and set it on a pizza peel (or directly on your baking sheet/pizza pan if you aren't using a baking stone). Spread the chard mixture evenly over the dough. Top with mozzarella.Slide the pizza (parchment and all) onto the baking stone and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is starting to brown. Slice and serve, and try not to burn your tongue on the first bite!
Want another slice?
My Favorite Easy Pizza Dough Recipe
Arugula Pesto Pizza
Three Onion and Three Cheese Pizza
Fresh Tomato and My Favorite Basil Pesto Pizza
Homemade Pita Bread PizzasStill hungry? You'll find links to all my sweet and savory Less Fuss, More Flavor recipes in the Farmgirl Fare Recipe Index.
© FarmgirlFare.com, the foodie farm blog where pizza delivery at the end of a long day is not an option when you live 34 miles from the nearest pizza parlor, which is why we always try to keep several different kinds of homemade pizza in the freezer.
FAQs
Cooking bitter greens like chard and kale long and slow in animal fats, as in stews or soups, tends to get rid of the bitterness. The simple best way to get rid of the tanic acid in cooking chard greens only is the cut up the greens and bring them to a Rolling Boil and boil them for 3 min.
Do you eat the stems of Swiss chard? ›
Chard stems take a little longer to cook than the leaves, but the whole plant is edible and delicious. It's a little bit sweet in the stems (which have a slight celery-like flavor) and pleasantly bitter in the leaves. Some people prefer to remove the stems from the leaves and cook them separately.
What is a white pizza base? ›
White pizza (Italian: pizza bianca) is a style of pizza that does not use tomato sauce. The pizza generally consists of pizza dough, olive oil, garlic, cheese, salt and, sometimes, toppings including vegetables such as spinach, tomato and herbs.
Is artichoke on pizza good? ›
It's crispy outside, soft in the middle, flavorful and amazingly delicious! The recipe uses my no-knead pizza dough, convenient canned artichoke hearts and an easy 5-minute homemade marinade. I love all things artichokes and I made this pizza for 3 times in a row last week, we were totally hooked, seriously.
When should you not eat Swiss chard? ›
Kidney stone:
As a result, anyone with kidney stones should avoid Swiss chard because oxalates may increase symptoms in certain people.
What kills the bitterness of greens? ›
Use salt.
Salt is a friend to bitter greens, whether you plan to eat them raw or cooked. Mellow the bitter flavor with a sprinkle of salt on endive or radicchio, or include anchovies or cured meat (like bacon, pancetta, or proscuitto) along with mustard, beet, or collard greens.
What is the healthiest way to eat Swiss chard? ›
Boil Swiss chard for a healthier side dish.
Add the chopped stems from 3-4 leaves, and cook for 2-4 minutes until they're mostly tender. Place the leaves in the pot, and cover for 1-2 minutes. The leaves should be wilted. If they're not, cook them another 1-2 minutes.
Is it OK to eat Swiss chard raw? ›
If you prefer you can eat swiss chard leaves raw. Raw leaves are a common addition to pre-packaged salads and can also add a big nutritional boost to smoothies. Another fun way to eat raw chard leaves is by using them as a healthy substitute to a tortilla for wraps and tacos.
Is Swiss chard hard to digest? ›
Improves Digestion
Swiss chard also contains about four grams of dietary fiber in just one cup of cooked greens, which helps regulate blood sugar levels, improves colon and digestive health, prevents constipation and diarrhea, and also helps you feel fuller in the process.
What is the sauce made of on a white pizza? ›
What is White Pizza Sauce Made Of? This recipe uses simple pantry and refrigerator staples and whipping up a batch couldn't be easier. It is made of milk, salt, pepper, garlic, and parmesan cheese. The butter and flour serve to thicken the sauce and create a rich alfredo sauce.
Inspired by the late television star, the pizza is a favorite for vegetarians and features white sauce, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, red onions, feta cheese, and roasted garlic butter.
What is a pizza with artichokes called? ›
Traditionally Capricciosa pizza is the one with black olives, artichokes, cooked ham, mushrooms added as topping to the base of a classic Margherita.
What pizza toppings go well with artichokes? ›
Artichoke pizza is a sheet pan pizza that's topped with sliced mozzarella, dollops of ricotta, garlic oil, artichoke hearts, fresh basil, Pecorino Romano, and just a touch of fresh lemon zest.
When should you not eat an artichoke? ›
Having an effect that stimulates the gallbladder, its consumption is not recommended for people with biliary obstruction. Due to their diuretic effect and their ability to reduce hypertension, they are not recommended if medications are being taken to lower blood pressure.
Why does my Swiss chard taste bitter? ›
Chard will usually bolt in any extreme temperature conditions like freezing and in extremely dry hot weather.” Doyle noted that the plant might continue to produce the typical chard leaves, and that the smoother leaves are still flavorful but more bitter than others.
How do you mellow bitter greens? ›
Add Vinaigrette, Emphasis on "Vinegar"
Acidity can really bring a pleasant flavor out of bitter greens. If they're being used for a salad, it's good to add a vinaigrette with plenty of acidity to brighten it up. If you are sauteing, add some vinegar or citrus to the greens to finish them off.
What is the best way to eat chard? ›
Baby chard is harvested when young; the small leaves frequently appear in salad mixes and are best eaten raw. More often you'll find larger leaves with thick stalks best suited for sautéing, steaming, or pickling.
Who says you can get your greens and enjoy homemade pizza at the same time?
White pizza goes green