This rainbow chard salad teaches you the magnificence that is Swiss chard when served ever so slightly cooked with a little raw left to it. Candied walnuts and cheese only add to the intrigue.
Rainbow Chard Salad
Ingredients
- For the rainbow chard salad
- For the dressing
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and have a large rimmed baking sheet nearby. Add the chard stems to the boiling water and cook until almost tender but still a touch crisp, up to 3 minutes, depending on the thickness of the stems. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chard stems to the baking sheet. Add the chard leaves to the boiling water and cook, stirring occasionally, until just barely wilted, 30 to 60 seconds. (If you find it difficult to fit all the leaves into the pot, you can do this in a couple batches.) Transfer the cooked leaves to a large colander, drain, and then lightly press out any water with paper towels. Spread the chard on the prepared baking sheet, pat dry again, and let cool completely. (You can keep the chard at room temperature for up to 4 hours.)
Line a small plate with a piece of parchment paper. In a small skillet set over medium-high heat, stir the walnuts with the sugar and water. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until the nuts have caramelized and all the liquid has evaporated, about 4 minutes. Transfer the walnuts to the parchment-lined plate to cool, spreading them in a single layer. Very coarsely chop the nuts. (You can keep the candied walnuts in a resealable container at room temperature for up to 5 days.)
In a mini food processor or with an immersion blender, puree the egg yolk with the vinegar, lemon juice, mustard, and garlic. Season with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Gradually blend in the grapeseed and olive oils until thick. (You can cover and refrigerate the dressing for up to 4 hours. Shake or whisk the dressing to recombine before using.)
Arrange the chard leaves and stems on plates and dribble the vinaigrette over the top. Garnish with the candied walnuts, and, if using, the cheese and radish sprouts or chervil sprigs or microgreens. Pass the remaining vinaigrette separately. (You can prep the chard and dressing in advance but keep all the components separate until just before serving.)
Recipe Testers' Tips
The flavors of the distinct parts of this rainbow chard salad—the greens, the stems, the dressing, and the walnuts—all combine for a very nice and satisfying salad. You might want to make some minor adjustments to keep the stems a little firm, so no more than 3 minutes, and barely wilt the leaves, then drain and dry them as carefully and gently as you can. The recipe easily scales down to be perfect for 2 people but go ahead and make the full recipe of dressing and candied walnuts so you can have them for another salad the next day or for use with other vegetables.
When making the walnuts, it’s very easy to go from caramelized and candied to burnt on the walnuts—my first batch got away from me and I started over using a lower heat and watching the walnuts like a hawk. Since my food processor is large, it made much more sense (and less mess) to do the dressing using an immersion blender—I think I will be using that in place of a blender from now on for sauces and mayonnaise. A dusting of microgreens (radish and broccoli sprouts) and some Pt. Reyes Farmhouse blue cheese and we had a completely new salad experience. I really think this is the kind of salad you want to make a dramatic presentation with, whether on a large platter for a dinner party or plated on large dinner plates so it can show off the colors and not be crowded. I used large shallow bowls but wished I had more space. The dressing was still lovely the next day on cooked vegetables. With just a little planning, this is an easy weeknight salad but shows off for entertaining. The steps are simple although they do require your brief attention. The dressing comes together very quickly and the candied nuts cool down quickly so you can break them up or chop.
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Angie Zoobkoff
Wow. Simply fantastic. What a treat to be able to use the last of my garden Swiss chard for this beautiful dish. The dressing and walnuts really brought the whole dish together, and the overall flavor and presentation of the rainbow chard salad were wonderful.