Blitva (Swiss Chard with Potatoes)

Name: Blitva (Swiss Chard with Potatoes)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
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

5 from 4 votes

Posted by Dan from Platter Talk

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!

A plate of blitva with garlic in the background. — Blitva is a healthy side dish you can make in less than 30 minutes.

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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

A plate of Swiss chard and potatoes with labeled ingredients for Blitva.

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.

A pan of Swiss chard. — Look for chard that has firm stems and dark green leaves.

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.

Blitva is made in less than 30 minutes in under 30 minutes.

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.

A serving dish of blitva with garlic and olive oil in the background. — Blitva is a healthy side dish that goes with just about anything.

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

How do you store chard?

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.

What can I make with chard?

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.

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Blitva (Swiss Chard with Potatoes)

5 from 4 votes

Make this healthy side dish in under 30 minutes!

Prep: 5

Cook: 20

Total: 25

Yield: 6 servings

By: Dan from Platter Talk

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

Calories: 184kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Sodium: 215mg, Potassium: 617mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 4624IU, Vitamin C: 39mg, Calcium: 53mg, Iron: 2mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.