CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) is a very good thing — for the farmer and the consumer, but where the farmer’s job— as tough as it depending on the elements — finishes with the harvest, the challenges faced by the home cook and CSA shareholder vary wildly from week to week. (Kale AGAIN, and just what the hell IS that round green thingy?) You can do a LOT of things with tomatoes, but a summer surplus of zucchini and the like can be as much food for jokes as a family.

My friend Deborah’s most recent crisis had to do with Swiss chard — too much, too soon, and too often. While my flippant suggestion to “burn it” was only half in jest, a little playing around by the fire resulted in yet another quasi-Mediterranean take on Hudson River Valley produce.

(NOTE: While it’s too late to take advantage of local CSA for this season, it’s definitely not too early to start thinking about the next. Our local options are Glynwood Center in Cold Spring — which usually has a waiting list localharvest.org — or Common Ground Farm in Fishkill — commongroundfarm.org — which was in need of support this year.)

GRILLED CHARD & LEEKS with Black Olive Vinaigrette
Serves 6-8

For the chard and leeks:
1-to-1-1/2 pounds Swiss chard — stems only (reserve leaves for another use: a simple sautí© or maybe risotto?)
8 leeks, washed well, trimmed to 6 inches, split lengthwise to 1-1/2 in. of root (roots trimmed but intact, tough outer leaves discarded)
¼ cup olive oil
1 garlic clove minced
1 tblspn fresh lemon juice
salt & pepper to taste

For the Olive Vinaigrette:
1 small shallot, minced
I tblspn Dijon mustard
3 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tblspn chopped oregano
¼-1/2 cup Kalamata or other cured black olives, pitted and roughly chopped
Salt & pepper to taste

Preparation:
Bring a large pot (6 qt.) of salted water to a boil.
While the water boils whisk the garlic, olive oil and lemon juice. Set aside.
Prepare vinaigrette: whisk together all ingredients except oil and olives. Slowly stream in oil while whisking until all is incorporated. Stir in olives to finish. Set aside.
Blanching: Cook chard in boiling water until tender, @ 4 minutes. Remove (without draining water) with tongs. Refresh in an ice bath and drain. Perform the same procedure in the still boiling water with the leeks. When fully drained and reasonably dry, toss chard and leeks with oil/lemon/garlic mixture. This can be done in advance.
Grilling: Build grilling fire. oil grill rack. When fire is ready, grill chard stems and leeks uncovered, turning occasionally, until lightly charred, about 6-7 minutes. (This assumes a charcoal fire; if using gas, grill covered.) When done remove to chopping board.
Finishing: Off heat, cut chard and leeks into 1-2 inch lengths. Toss in a large bowl with vinaigrette and serve warm, or allow to cool if preferred.

Behind The Story

Type: Opinion

Opinion: Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the author/producer’s interpretation of facts and data.

Dizney is a designer, art director and unrepentant sensualist. When the Cold Spring resident is not thinking about food, he is foraging for, cooking or eating it. Location: Cold Spring. Languages: English. Area of expertise: Food

2 replies on “Small, Good Things: Charred Chard”

  1. Thanks for the great recipe. Anything with leeks (my national vegetable) is good. The only addition I would make is to advise anyone buying leeks to be aware that at this time of year some of them have a solid stem in the middle. Before buying leeks, look down form the top to acertain that the middle is leafy.

  2. There is another CSA option, which is the Second Wind CSA, managed by the wonderful Sam and Erin. They deliver to the Hudson Highlands Land Trust office on Route 9-D in Garrison on Wednesday afternoons.

    And re that surfeit of chard (or whatever), “Mediterranean Harvest” a recent cookbook by Martha Rose Shulman, can be a huge (and delicious) help.

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