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Creamed Rainbow Chard and Kale with Prosciutto

In Fruits & Veggies, Gluten-Free Options, Side Dishes, Uncategorized
by Ann on 30/08

When I was a kid, I didn’t much care for dark, leafy greens.  I viewed kale as a bitter garnish on a dinner plate when we went out to a nice restaurant.  Swiss chard hadn’t quite entered the culinary scene and spinach…well…it was fine.

As I grew older and heard repeatedly about the health benefits of these greens, I started cooking with them in new and different ways.  Know what?  They have become a favorite. Even my kids like them.  Our chickens love them!   We now grow them.  I add greens to soups, pilafs, frittatas, make kale chips and so on.  Perhaps my favorite way to eat these greens is simply sautéed.

My go-to way of preparing greens is fast and easy and, along with any protein, is enough to make a hearty dinner.  I never added cream because the greens taste so good without it. This summer, however, I had a creamed version of Swiss chard that was so incredibly delicious, I decided a little cream might need to enter the scene on occasion.

This spin on that recipe mixes chard and kale and a small amount of half and half.  If there is any leftover, it is the perfect base for a speedy omelet or frittata.

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Creamed Rainbow Chard and Kale with Prosciutto

I like to hold a couple handfuls of greens out to add at the last minute, after the final simmer with the half and half. This keeps the color bright and enhances the texture. Spinach may also be substituted for one of the greens.

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 ounces thick-cut prosciutto, diced or julienned
  • 1 small red or yellow onion, chopped
  • 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bunch (about 4 cups) Swiss chard, chopped with stems put in separate pile
  • 1 bunch (about 4 cups) kale, tough stems removed and leaves chopped
  • 1/3 cup half and half
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Asiago cheese (could substitute Parmesan)

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or cast iron pan. Add prosciutto and sauté until beginning to cook, 1-2 minutes.
  2. Add onion and sauté until prosciutto is crisp and onion is golden, stirring several times, about 4 minutes more. Add chard stems and garlic and cook an additional 30 seconds.
  3. In batches, begin adding the chard and kale leaves, rotating them with a spatula as the leaves on the bottom begin to wilt. Continue to add more leave, carefully tossing so that all the leaves begin to wilt.
  4. Add half and half, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste, and simmer a few minutes more.
  5. Remove from heat and sprinkle freshly-grated cheese over the top.