Blitva (Swiss Chard with Potatoes)
on May 06, 2015, Updated Dec 20, 2020
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Blitva is loaded with health, flavor and color. This Croatian side dish of wilted Swiss chard and chunks of garlicky potatoes pairs well with healthy fish recipes and just about anything else you can think of.
Read on and we’ll show you how to make this healthy side dish called blitva in just 25 minutes!
What is it?
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.
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 eat this one!
Ingredients and notes
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
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.
Expert cooking tips
Look for chard that has firm stems and deep green leaves. Pass it over if appears wilted, has pest damage, or has broken stalks and leaves.
How to make blitva
You’ll need a sauce 4 quart sauce pan and a large saute pan to make this blitva.
Yukon gold potatoes are a great choice for making blitva.
- 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.
Common questions
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.
Related recipes
- Wilted chard with fennel and roasted beets
- Crustless vegetable quiche
- Lentils and chickpeas with greens
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Blitva (Swiss Chard with Potatoes)
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.
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!