Riviera Swiss Chard

Traveling in Europe, our rafting friends attempted to cram both travel and food in a two week tour of London, Paris & Rome. Both women have been on many trips together in the outdoors enjoying skiing, rafting, and hiking. This was their first time traveling in the civilized confines of tourism. Many memories of their time together have them coming back for more as they plan another camping and rafting trip with us next month! Enjoy their recipe... it may be on the WET menu soon!

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Call me a francophile, or just a strong lover of simple Whole Foods. Over the years, I have explored and tried Provencal cuisine and have also tried many recipes using a few twists of items I have added, or omitted. It is not fancy food as so many may think, but simple and clean, and utilizing what is in season.

Here is one of my favorite side dishes that can accompany fowl, meat or fish. Make this on your next dinner party or camping trip. It will surely be a hit!

Riviera Swiss Chard
Serves four

I bunch of Swiss chard
3 Tblsp of unsalted butter or 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
1 tsp of honey
1 Tblsp of finely chopped rosemary
1/3 cup of golden raisins roughly chopped, or left whole, depending on preference
2 Tblsp of roasted pinenuts
A pinch of Fleur de sel, or salt, and cracked pepper to taste.

Note: Swiss chard sometimes has a bitter taste unless you have a fresh resource such as a Farmer's Market. You can take the bitterness away by putting lemon juice on it during cooking.

Prepare all ingredients before hand, as this dish cooks in minutes.

Remove the stems from the leaves and the thick part of the vein which runs down the leaves. then roughly chop. ( remenber this is a rustic dish)

In a large frying pan preferably cast iron, melt the butter or olive oil until the pan begins to smoke. Add the Swiss chard immediately with rosemary and stir well to coat all the leaves. Cooking time is quick so it should only take a minute or two. Add the raisins, and the roasted pinenuts, and serve immediately.

Read their story on the California Whitewater Rafting WET River Trips blog on their adventures in London, England.

Thank you smilepolitely.com for the lovely swiss chard photo!