Blitva (Swiss Chard with Potatoes)
Updated May 23, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Blitva is loaded with health, flavor and color. This Croatian side dish of wilted Swiss chard and chunks of garlicky potatoes pairs well with almost anything, making it the perfect side dish for weeknight dinners or holiday meals.
Read on, and we’ll show you how to make this healthy side dish called blitva in just 25 minutes!
Table of Contents
What is Blitva?
Blitva is made with Swiss chard and potatoes sauteed with garlic. This Croatian dish is dark, green, and leaf; the perfect combinations for healthy eating. If you like the sound of this fast and easy side dish, you should take a look at our easy way to steam kale, this healthy fennel side dish, and these simple braised veggies.
Most of us don’t get enough of this nutritionally packed food group, usually because it is often boring, dull, and tasteless. Blitva, on the other hand, is fast, easy-to-make, and delicious. Even our kids will eat this healthy blitva side dish!
Ingredients and notes
This simple Croatian recipe of blitva uses just a few wholesome ingredients: fresh Swiss chard, Yukon gold potatoes, garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice. Together, they create a flavorful, nutrient-packed side dish that’s naturally gluten-free and easy to prepare in under 30 minutes.
Swiss Chard is the star ingredient of blitva.
You’ll recognize this healthy vegetable by it’s broad, leafy, and dark green appearance. Chard is considered a power food because of it’s dense nutrients including:
- Vitamins A, C, and K.
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Iron
- Dietary Fiber
How to Pick Out Chard
Look for chard that has firm stems and deep green leaves. Pass it over if it appears wilted, has pest damage, or has broken stalks and leaves.
Yukon Gold Potatoes
Their slightly buttery taste is the perfect match the chard and garlic in blitva. Because of their waxy texture they won’t get mushy and will add a nice texture to this healthy side dish.
📝 Blitva (Swiss Chard with Potatoes) – Recipe Details
Category: Side Dishes, Healthy Recipes, Mediterranean Sides
Cuisine: Croatian, Mediterranean
Skill Level: Easy
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15–20 minutes
Total Time: Under 30 minutes
Servings: 4–6
Main Ingredients: Swiss chard, Yukon gold potatoes, olive oil, garlic, lemon juice
Equipment Needed: Saucepan, sauté pan, colander, knife, wooden spoon
Summary:
Blitva is a traditional Croatian side dish made from Swiss chard and potatoes, sautéed in olive oil with garlic and finished with fresh lemon juice. It’s a fast, healthy, and flavorful addition to grilled fish, roasted meats, or vegetarian meals. With just a few fresh ingredients, this one-pan side dish is packed with nutrients and ready in under 30 minutes.
Why This Recipe Works
- Simple Ingredients, Big Flavor: A short list of whole foods—chard, potatoes, garlic, and lemon—delivers incredible taste with minimal effort.
- Fast & Fresh: Ready in just 25 minutes, this easy side dish is perfect for weeknight meals.
- Healthy & Versatile: Naturally gluten-free, vegetarian, and full of vitamins A, C, and K from the chard.
Good to Know
- Best Potatoes for Blitva: Yukon golds hold their shape and offer buttery flavor without falling apart.
- Choose Crisp Chard: Look for firm, dark leaves with no signs of wilting or yellowing.
- Serving Suggestions: Blitva pairs beautifully with baked cod, grilled chicken, or lentil stews.
- Storage Tip: Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and gently reheated in a skillet the next day
How to Make Blitva
You’ll need a 4-quart saucepan and a large sauté pan to make this blitva.
Yukon gold potatoes are a great choice for making blitva.
Want to Save This Recipe, Friend?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
- Peel, wedge, and boil the potatoes for 5-7 minutes using a saucepan.
- Saute some sliced garlic cloves in hot olive oil for a minute or two.
- Add the potatoes and cook for an additional 4 or 5 minutes, until golden.
- Stir in the Swiss chard and lemon juice and cook for about 5 minutes until wilted. Salt and pepper to taste.
Fun Fact:
Chard a distant cousin to the ordinary garden beet. Look at the greens of the beet and the broad leaves of chard and you’ll see the family resemblance.
Recipe Questions and Answers
To store, wrap it in a damp paper towel and place in the crisper of your refrigerator. It should stay good for 7 to 10 days.
Fresh young chard can be used raw in salads while mature chard leaves and stalks are typically cooked or sautéed as in this blitva recipe. Their bitterness fades with cooking, leaving a refined flavor which is more delicate than that of cooked spinach.
👨🍳 Tried this Recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. We love hearing from our readers!
⏩ Stay in touch with us on social media by following us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
📬Get our Recipes delivered to your inbox for FREE!
Blitva (Swiss Chard with Potatoes)
Want to Save This Recipe, Friend?
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1″ pieces
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 lb. Swiss chard, tough stems removed, tender stems and leaves torn into 2″ pieces
- juice from 1/2 fresh lemon
Instructions
- Boil potatoes in a 4-qt. saucepan of salted water until tender, 5–7 minutes; drain and set aside.
- Add oil to saucepan; place over medium-high heat.
- Add garlic; cook until soft, 1–2 minutes.
- Add potatoes; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 5–7 minutes.
- Stir in Swiss chard, add lemon juice and cook until wilted, about 5 minutes; season with salt and pepper
Notes
- Be sure and wash and rinse the chard before using.
- Peel the leaves of chard off the stalks and discard the large, thick stalks. Cut the thinner stalks and saute with the sliced leaves.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Side Dishes that Go with Anything
Common Side Dishes
Roasted Rainbow Carrots with Maple Balsamic Glaze
Common Side Dishes
The Best Crispy Potatoes (Made with Duck Fat)
Common Side Dishes
The BEST Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Updated from the original post of May 6, 2025.
I am totally lovely the sound of this side dish! So easy, so delicious, and so nutritious 🙂 Perfect!
Thanks so much, Nicole!
I love Swiss chard and never get to eat it, nobody else in my house likes it, but maybe… maybe with the potatoes and garlic?? I will have to give it a try!
I hope you try this, Kecia!
I will have to share this with a friend of mine. She and her family went to Croatia for a vacation last summer. Their family said it was the best vacation they have ever had. The country is beautiful and she couldn’t stop talking about the food. Wonderful recipe!
Thanks, Sandi. It’s fun to try different dishes from different places!
This is a delicious side dish I know everyone will enjoy. A great summer side.
Thank you, Joanne!
Love finding new Swiss chard dishes and yours looks so easy to make and delish!
Indeed, Linda! Thanks for the comments!
I’ve recently been introduced to Croatian recipes by a friend of mine so this is right where my head space is! I am very lacking in ways to prepare swiss chard so this is a great one to have up my sleeve. And in fact, I have all the ingredients!
I love that you’ve packed loads of nutrition into a dish that surely even kids would scoff down. 🙂
Thanks so much for your comments, Nagi; as I mentioned in the post, anytime we can sneak some extra nutrients in with the kids I feel somewhat the victor!
Love this dish! My Italian parents used to make a similar version. So tasty and healthy!
Thanks, Patricia!
I have a soft spot for this dish since I love Croatia. I’ve been there about 10!
Looks so good.
Lucky you, Nancy! Thanks so much for your wonderful comments!
Really cool. Totally new to me. Nice side dish.
Thanks, Peter. This is a good one to keep in mind, for something fast, easy, and delicious!
Well it doesn’t get much simpler than this recipe – and so healthy too! I love Swiss chard and your use of it here is just wonderful.
Thanks for the comments, Patty!