This summer I planted my garden very late, because I was traveling for most of June. I had to choose some late summer vegetables like cucumbers and peppers. I did research and read that chard is a perfect vegetable to grow in July in California, so I grew some beautiful Rainbow Swiss Chard in an earth box right on my patio.

Isn’t it pretty?

My chard quickly flourished, so I needed to cook some before the leaves got too big and bitter tasting. I didn’t have much to cut–about 12 stems–but it seemed like enough for a side dish for two. I cut the larger leaves from the outside of the plants and put them in a bowl of water. I let them soak for 15 minutes to get nice and clean and plump.

The portion was almost perfect, but it turned out so amazing that I really wanted another helping! If you are cooking for one follow this recipe, but double it for two or three people.

The chard cooks quickly, so I cut off the stems and cooked them in olive oil before adding anything else to the pan. While the colorful stems were sautéing, I chopped up the leaves and some precooked, cooled bacon strips (uncured is the healthiest). The bacon could also be crumbled up into bacon bits.

This has been deemed the best Swiss chard recipe of all time by my husband. He joked that he married me because he knew in three years, I was going to make the best chard he’s ever had, so it would all be worth it. I think it was really just the bacon. Maybe I need to start using more bacon.

Leave me a comment if you like it!