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Croatian Blitva Recipe: Swiss Chard and Potatoes

If you’re looking for a delicious, buttery side-dish, this traditional Croatian blitva recipe has everything you need:: boiled potatoes and leafy Swiss chard all coated in a buttery garlic sauce.

swiss chard and potatoes served on  a platter, also known as Croatian blitva.

A traditional homestyle recipe, 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.

Serve this blitva recipe 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.

swiss chard and potatoes

Croatian Blitva Recipe: Buttery Swiss Chard and Potatoes

Jane and Sonja
Croatican blitva is a traditional side dish made of leafy Swiss chard and boiled red potatoes in a garlic butter sauce.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
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!

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:

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delicious serving of swiss chard and potatoes, also known as Croatian Blitva
5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




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