• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sustain My Cooking Habit

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Salads
    • Desserts
  • Gardening
You are here: Home / Homestyle Recipes / Blitva: Croatian Swiss Chard and Potatoes

Blitva: Croatian Swiss Chard and Potatoes

August 4, 2020 by Jane and Sonja Leave a Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Yummly
  • Mix
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

A traditional Croatian homestyle recipe, also known as blitva, is made with boiled potatoes and leafy Swiss chard all coated in a buttery garlic sauce.

swiss chard and potatoes served on  a platter, also known as Blitva

Blitva originates from South Croatia in the hot weather regions of Dalmatia where collared greens grow plentiful. The dish comes together easily and conveniently with just the use of one pot to cook all the ingredients.

Variations when Preparing Blitva

The soft red skin from the baby potatoes and vibrant greens of the Swiss chard make this a lovely and colorful side dish. Alternatively, you can also use yukon gold potatoes, which will taste just as delicious but will obviously not appear as colorful.

Additionally, you can also use kale leaves in place of Swiss chard when preparing blitva.

swiss chard and potatoes dish, cutting one potato in half

If you overcook the potatoes, don’t worry! You can easily make this a mashed potato and Swiss chard dish instead. Simply mash the overcooked potatoes after straining the broth.

swiss chard and potatoes

Blitva: Croatian Swiss Chard and Potatoes

Jane and Sonja
Delicious side dish made of leafy Swiss chard and red potatoes, also known as Blitva.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 35 mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine Croatian
Servings 6 people
Calories 193 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 6 cups red-skin potatoes (or can use yukon potatoes)
  • 3 cups swiss chard, cut into 2” long pieces
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 2 tbsp parsley, chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Wash potatoes well before cooking.  Leave the skin on the potatoes, no need to peel. 
  • Leave the potatoes whole if small enough (about 1 to 1 ½” diameter), otherwise cut potatoes in half or quarters.
  • Add the potatoes to a pot of boiling salted water and cook over medium heat for 20 minutes.
  • In the meantime, wash swiss chard and chop into 2” long pieces.
  • Add the swiss chard to the boiling water (after potatoes have been cooking for 20 minutes).
  • Continue cooking over medium heat for another 10 minutes or until potatoes can be easily pierced with a fork.
  • Drain water but keep ½ cup of the potato and swiss chard broth.
  • In a separate pan, melt ½ cup butter with chopped garlic and chopped parsley.
  • Add the potatoes and swiss chard and the ½ cup of broth to the pan.
  • Stir until combined and remove from heat. Add more salt is needed. Serve while still hot.

Nutrition

Calories: 193kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 2gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 188mgPotassium: 417mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 1686IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 23mgIron: 1mg
Keyword diy, potato, recipe
Tried this recipe?Tag @sustainmycookinghabit or #sustainmycookinghabit!

Serve blitva while hot and along side a fresh garden salad, sliced tomato salad with basil , crispy chicken strips or delicious pig roast.

large platter of swiss chard and potatoes, also known as Blitva

And be sure to check out this post on how to cook Swiss chard which includes additional chard recipe ideas.

Looking for more Croatian homestyle recipes?

If you’re like us and enjoy the taste and flavors of traditional Croatian cooking, you’ll love these delicious homestyle recipes:

  • Classic palačinke batter recipe
  • Easy crepes with leftover chicken
  • Homestyle crispy chicken strips
  • Baka’s Scrumptious Apple Pita
  • Ultimate Non-creamy potato salad
  • Crepes rolled with jam and nutella stacked on a white plate, surrounded by fresh strawberries
    Classic Palačinke
  • Stuffed Crepes
  • Crispy Chicken Strips
  • Apple Pita
  • Non Creamy Potato Salad

Like it? Pin it for later!

delicious serving of swiss chard and potatoes, also known as Blitva

Filed Under: Homestyle Recipes, Side Dishes Tagged With: potatoes, recipe, red potatoes, side dish, swiss chard

Additional Recipe Ideas you Might Enjoy:

sliced tomatoes

Follow us on Pinterest for more delicious recipes ideas!

Previous Post: « How To Make Raspberry Jam
Next Post: Best Moist Banana Bread Recipe »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hello!

We're Jane & Sonja, sisters who've grown up learning our mom Branka's traditional ways in cooking, gardening and homemaking. We are happy to bring this modern homesteading lifestyle to you!

Recent Recipes to Savour

Footer

Disclosures

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy & effectiveness of the information displayed on this website, Sustain My Cooking Habit makes no guarantee as to the procedures & information contained here. The publisher will not be liable for direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages in connection with or arising from the use of the information displayed on SustainMyCookingHabit.com. This website is not intended to substitute the advice of a professional.

Copyright © 2022 Sustain My Cooking Habit on the Foodie Pro Theme