Swiss chard Grown by Riverford on Wash Farm at Buckfastleigh, Devon

£3.35 / 250g

About

Succulent dark green leaves, with thick, fleshy stems. Different varieties of chard have different coloured stems; for Swiss chard, they're an eye-catching white.

Swiss chard is a real stalwart of the veg year. It's a pleasure to grow, lending itself well to repeat 'cut and come again' cropping, giving a steady source of greens across the season. We love it in the kitchen, too: it has an earthy, almost buttery flavour - a bit like spinach, but sweeter and more robust - and it holds its texture well when cooked. Don't forget to eat the stems; they have a wonderful juicy crunch.

Country of origin

Produced in

The UK

Combine rosemary, chilli, bacon and chard for a simple, full-flavoured pasta dish

- Riverford cooks

How to prepare

Strip the leaves from the stalks by pinching at the top of the stalk and dragging downwards. Shred the leaves and chop the stalks, keeping them separate.

The leaves can be used anywhere you would use spinach; good wilted into soups, curries or risottos. The stalks need slightly longer to cook, and are wonderful vehicles for strong, fragrant sauces. Or combine the quick-blanched leaves and cooked stems in a cheesy gratin, or as a filling for a summery tart.

Storage

Short shelf life - keep in a plastic bag in the fridge and eat within a couple of days

Grown by Riverford on Wash Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon

Riverford founder Guy Singh-Watson started the business at Wash Farm in South Devon in 1987, and we’ve been growing organic veg at Wash ever since.