This Swiss chard gratin is fragrant with garlic and ginger, with a creamy texture and crispy breadcrumb topping. The dish has converted many chard-phobics (i.e. those who are suspicious of Swiss chard) into chard-LOVERS (even my kids love this gratin). It's soul-satisfying yet healthy, and since it's vegan and gluten-free, it will please all the eaters at your table.
Ingredients
This is the easiest gratin you'll ever assemble! Instead of fussing with a béchamel sauce, this recipe uses thickened coconut milk instead (making it a vegan gratin, but nobody will know it).
- Swiss chard: This gratin uses 2 large bunches (1 ½-2 pounds) of Swiss chard. It will look like a lot, but it will cook down considerably.
- Coconut milk: Coconut milk provides the base for a luxuriously silky, creamy sauce.
- Garlic & ginger: Grated garlic and ginger infuse the sauce and give it an incredible flavor.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch (or you can use arrowroot powder) thickens the sauce without the need for flour.
- Lime juice: A touch of lime juice brightens everything up.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs give the gratin an irresistibly crunchy top.
- Olive oil: Olive oil helps the breadcrumbs crisp up in the oven.
How to make Swiss chard gratin:
- Blanch two chopped bunches of Swiss chard in a large pot of boiling water until wilted and tender, then drain and rinse in cold water. Squeeze out as much liquid as possible, then finely chop.
- Make a coconut cream sauce by reducing full-fat coconut milk with grated garlic and ginger. Thicken the sauce with cornstarch.
- Stir the chard into the creamy sauce and squeeze in fresh lime juice (which will brighten all the flavors). Spread the mixture into a greased baking dish and top with panko breadcrumbs that have been tossed with olive oil.
- Bake the gratin until the sauce is bubbling and the top is golden brown and crisp.
Gluten free gratin
You can easily make this gratin gluten free by using gluten free panko breadcrumbs. The gratin is also naturally vegan!
Serving suggestions
The Swiss chard gratin is baked until bubbly for a stunning side dish that's perfect for special occasions (ahem, Thanksgiving, I see you!) and weeknights. Try it alongside fish, roasted and grilled meats, vegetarian main dishes and holiday roasts. I've even been known to eat it straight out of the baking dish with a spoon for lunch.
FAQs
You can use any Swiss chard variety in this gratin, such as green chard and/or rainbow chard. Take note that red chard (which has red stems) will darken the cream sauce slightly (but it will still taste delicious!).
Yes! Swiss chard stems are much more tender than other leafy green stems and can be cooked right along with the leaves. They give this gratin a lovely texture.
You can use Swiss chard in stir-fries, pastas, soups, frittatas and even tacos. I love to sauté it with olive oil and garlic and serve it alongside this red lentil dal or these juicy grilled pork chops.
Yes! The gratin can be assembled up to one day in advance without the breadcrumbs. Bring it to room temperature and add the breadcrumbs before baking.
Recipe tips:
- This healthy gratin is bound with coconut milk, which gets thickened using cornstarch. Cornstarch should never be whisked directly into hot liquid, as it will clump up. Instead, whisk the cornstarch into some reserved room temperature coconut milk (this is called making a slurry), then slowly add the slurry to the simmering coconut milk mixture.
- Use full-fat coconut milk in this recipe (not light), which will provide the best texture.
- It will seem like a lot of Swiss chard, but it cooks down considerably once boiled (by the way, the stems are completely edible, so add them!). It's important to squeeze the liquid out of the Swiss chard before adding it to the thickened coconut milk to prevent the gratin from turning watery. I simply ball it up in my hands and squeeze it over the sink.
- The ginger and garlic are a great match for the hardy greens, and they infuse the gratin with a wonderful aroma. A microplane is your best tool for grating them into the coconut milk.
- A touch of lime juice at the end brightens up all the flavors. I couldn't live without my lemon/lime squeezer!
- You will need a 1-quart gratin or baking dish (or you could use individual-sized ramekins or dishes). I love this Le Creuset dish, which I use for all kinds of vegetable dishes. While the gratin is fairly small, it's rich enough to feed six.
- You can use regular or gluten-free panko breadcrumbs (which are now widely available) for the topping.
*This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links to products I use and love (from which I earn income, at no cost to you). Thank you for supporting From Scratch Fast!
More side dishes for Thanksgiving and the holidays:
- Sweet Potato Souffle
- Foolproof Creamy Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Squash Salad
- Maple Dijon Roasted Delicata Squash
- Quinoa & Apple Stuffed Honeynut Squashes
- Gluten Free Recipes for Thanksgiving
Dessert recipes to try:
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Get the recipe!
Swiss Chard Gratin (Vegan & Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
- 1 can unsweetened coconut milk (not lowfat), stirred
- 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 2 garlic cloves, finely grated
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- Sea salt
- 2 bunches (1.5-2 pounds) Swiss chard, leaves and stems coarsely chopped
- Freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ lime
- ⅓ cup regular or gluten-free Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- In the meantime, put 2 tablespoons of the coconut milk in a small bowl and add the cornstarch. Stir until dissolved. Set aside. Pour the rest of the coconut milk into a medium saucepan. Add the grated garlic and ginger. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Give the cornstarch coconut mixture another stir, then whisk it into the simmering coconut milk. Bring back to a simmer and cook, whisking, 2-4 minutes, or until thick and rich. Season with sea salt.
- Once the water reaches a boil, season it generously with salt. Add the Swiss chard and cook until tender, 3-5 minutes. Drain and rinse with cold water. Using your hands, squeeze the water out of the chard. Finely chop the chard and add it to the coconut milk. Stir to combine. Squeeze in the juice from a quarter of a lime, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a 1-quart gratin or baking dish. (See the do-ahead tip in the notes below.)
- In a small bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and olive oil and toss with your fingers until evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs evenly over the top of the gratin.
- Bake 12-15 minutes, or until bubbling and light golden on top. Let cool 5 minutes. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use full-fat coconut milk in this recipe (not light), which will provide the best texture.
- It will seem like a lot of Swiss chard, but it cooks down considerably once boiled (by the way, the stems are completely edible, so add them!). It's important to squeeze the liquid out of the Swiss chard before adding it to the thickened coconut milk to prevent the gratin from turning watery. I simply ball it up in my hands and squeeze it over the sink.
- The ginger and garlic are a great match for the hardy greens, and they infuse the gratin with a wonderful aroma. A microplane is your best tool for grating them into the coconut milk.
- A touch of lime juice at the end brightens up all the flavors. I couldn't live without my lemon/lime squeezer!
- You will need a 1-quart gratin or baking dish (or you could use individual-sized ramekins or dishes). I love this Le Creuset dish, which I use for all kinds of vegetable dishes. While the gratin is fairly small, it's rich enough to feed six.
- You can use regular or gluten-free panko breadcrumbs (which are now widely available) for the topping.
Noémie says
This recipe is a hit. Making it on repeat! Thank you!
Nicki Sizemore says
That's so great to hear!!
4waystoyummy says
Had anyone tried it with kale? I have lots from the garden.