how to cook swiss chard in instant pot

Cooking Swiss chard in an Instant Pot is a quick and easy way to prepare this nutritious leafy green vegetable. Swiss chard is packed with vitamins A, C, and K, as well as magnesium and iron. Here’s a basic method for cooking Swiss chard in an Instant Pot:

Ingredients:

• 1-2 bunches of Swiss chard (depending on size and your needs)
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil (optional)
• 1 small onion, chopped (optional)
• 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup of water or broth (you can adjust the amount based on how much chard you’re cooking)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Swiss Chard: Rinse the Swiss chard leaves under cold water. Remove the stems from the leaves and cut them into 1-inch pieces. You can roll the leaves and cut them into ribbons or simply tear them into pieces. Keep the stems and leaves separate as they have different cooking times.

2. Sauté the Aromatics (Optional): Press the "Saute" button on the Instant Pot and heat the olive oil. Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 2-3 minutes. Then add the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.

3. Add the Swiss Chard: Add the chopped stems first and sauté for about 2 minutes. Then add the leaves in batches if necessary, letting each batch wilt a bit before adding the next. This helps manage the volume inside the pot.

4. Season: Add salt and pepper to taste. You can also add any other seasonings you like at this stage.

5. Add Liquid: Pour in the water or broth. Make sure the bottom of the pot is covered, but you don’t need much since the chard will release its own moisture as it cooks.

6. Cook: Close the lid of the Instant Pot and make sure the valve is set to "Sealing". Press the "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" button and set the cooking time to 2-5 minutes at high pressure, depending on how tender you want your chard to be. Since Swiss chard cooks quickly, start with 2 minutes for a tender but crisp texture, and adjust to your liking in future preparations.

7. Quick Release: Once the timer goes off, allow the pressure to release naturally for 1 minute, then switch the valve to "Venting" for a quick release.

8. Serve: Open the lid carefully. Check the chard for tenderness. If it’s not tender enough, close the lid and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Serve hot. You can squeeze a bit of lemon juice over it and add more salt and pepper if needed.

Tips:

• Be mindful of the Instant Pot’s capacity when adding the chard, as it will look like a lot before it wilts.
• You can also cook Swiss chard with other ingredients like diced potatoes or carrots, adding them before the chard for a more substantial side dish.
• If you prefer your greens with a bit of smokiness, you can add a pinch of smoked paprika or liquid smoke.

Cooking Swiss chard in an Instant Pot is not only quick but also retains more nutrients than boiling, making it a healthy and delicious side dish for any meal.