Turkish Swiss Chard with Tomato and Rice (Zeytinyağlı Pazı)
This Swiss chard recipe is a zeytinyağlı dish, a beloved category of Turkish cooking where vegetables cook gently in good olive oil until they become something far greater than the sum of their parts.
Servings: 4
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more to serve
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 red chili pepper, deseeded and finely chopped (use more if you like it spicy)
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon double concentrated tomato paste
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes
- 1 pound Swiss chard, cleaned, halved lengthways and roughly chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/2 cup rice, rinsed
- 2 cups hot water
- Sea salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Plain yogurt, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Sauté the aromatics. Heat the olive oil in a large, wide saucepan over a medium–high heat, add the onion and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until starting to soften. Add the chile, garlic, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes to the pan, combine well and cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the Swiss chard. Stir in the chopped chard and gently combine and wilt over a medium heat for 2–3 minutes. Add the rinsed rice and combine well.
- Braise. Add the hot water, season with a good pinch (about 1/2 teaspoon each) salt and pepper, give it a good stir, then cover and cook for 20–25 minutes over a medium-low heat until the rice and vegetables are cooked and tender.
- Finish and serve. Turn the heat off and leave to rest for 10 minutes, covered. Serve the vegetables and cooking juices with a dollop of yogurt and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over top.
Notes
- Shop this recipe: Visit our shop to browse quality Mediterranean ingredients, including the olive oil used in this recipe.
- Substitutions:
- Use other greens: Spinach, kale, beet greens, or large leafy collard greens all work in place of chard. I sometimes like to add a few scallions and their greens, too.
- Use other grains: Substitute rice with coarse bulgur or quinoa. They will add wholesomeness and nutty flavor to the dish.
- Use fresh tomatoes: Instead of a can of chopped tomatoes, you can use fresh, ripe tomatoes when they’re in season. As they may not have the same intense tomato flavor as in canned tomatoes, you may need to add another tablespoon of tomato paste.
Nutrition
Calories: 202.9kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 4.8g | Fat: 7.5g | Saturated Fat: 1.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.9g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5.2g | Sodium: 287.2mg | Potassium: 663.1mg | Fiber: 3.9g | Sugar: 4.5g | Vitamin A: 7105.2IU | Vitamin C: 47.6mg | Calcium: 94.4mg | Iron: 4mg
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