I’m bringing the freshness today.
Freshness in the form of a vibrant green Rainbow Chard Soup made with ingredients found in my Specialty Produce Farmer’s Market Box (FMB). Several weeks ago, I started picking up a FMB at SP, and I’ve really been loving the variety of fresh goodies found within. Specialty Produce, a local wholesale distributor, stocks many of the restaurants around town with beautiful, high-quality produce. Some of their products are imported, while others come from farms in the area. They also open up their warehouse from 8am – 5pm to individuals. This is where I get almost all of my produce. Here’s a list of the produce found in my most-recent FMB:
White Corn – Black Sheep Produce
Heirloom Mix Eggplant – Weiser Family Farms
Fennel – Rutiz Farms
White Scallions – McGrath Family Farms
Peewee Mix Fingerling Potatoes – Weiser Family Farms
Baby Mix Beets – Black Sheep Produce
Rainbow Chard – Lakeside
Strawberries – Be Wise Ranch
Broccoli – Lakeside
Jalapeno – Coke Farms
When I first saw the contents of the box, I immediately started thinking of soup ideas, and with San Diego LGBT Pride happening in just a few weeks, I decided to focus on the rainbow chard. This soup recipe starts with chopped fennel sauteed with scallions, garlic and jalapeño. Water and coconut milk are added along with chopped rainbow chard leaves. Once the leaves turn tender, everything is blended until silky smooth. I like to add a handful of spinach to the mix just before blending to amp up the green flavor and color. The soup is finished with a a dollop of Greek yogurt, toasted almonds, coconut flakes, sliced scallion greens, and freshly pickled rainbow chard stems. Such a bold variety of toppings may seem over-the-top, but I just love all of the contrasting flavors and textures. Both flavorful AND healthy, this Rainbow Chard Soup is bright, fresh, and incredibly satisfying. Continue reading for the recipe.
#RainbowChardPride
I’ll have to admit that I really, really love the creativity that these FMBs have been pulling out of me. To make use of the entire rainbow chard (root to shoot), I decided to pickle the stems with ingredients found in my pantry. I separated the yellow and white stems from the red and pink stems to keep colors from bleeding together. The separation of color inspired me to start playing around with flavors. I added fennel fronds and fennel seed to the yellow and white stems to echo the flavor of the fennel in the soup. Garlic and red chile flakes were added to the red and pink stems to reinforce the garlic and jalapeño sauteed at the start. A simple white wine vinegar pickling liquid was poured over both varietals to finish. Is it necessary to do all that? No. But I want to show you how easy it is to make quick pickles on the fly. Plus… it’s fun!
Rainbow Chard Soup
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 fennel bulb
- 10 scallions, roots trimmed, white and light green parts chopped, some dark green parts reserved
- 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1/2 jalapeño, stem removed, finely chopped (I included the seeds and ribs for heat)
- 7 ounces full-fat coconut milk (about 1/2 a can)
- 2 1/4 cups water
- 1 bunch (3/4 pound) rainbow chard, stems removed and reserved, leaves chopped
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- 1 handful of baby spinach leaves
- Lemon juice
Optional toppings: Greek yogurt (or creme fraiche or sour cream), toasted chopped almonds, toasted coconut flakes, sliced scallion greens, pickled chard stems (see recipe below)
Instructions
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Trim the stalks and the root end of the fennel. Reserve some of the fennel fronds, but discard stalks and tough root. Cut the fennel bulb in half, and slice out the core. Discard core. Chop remaining fennel into 1/2-inch pieces.
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Warm butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped fennel, scallion, garlic and jalapeño, and saute until the fennel starts to soften (about 5 minutes). Add coconut milk, and simmer for 2 minutes. Add water, rainbow chard leaves and salt, and cook until the leaves are tender (about 5 minutes).
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Transfer soup to a blender with a handful of baby spinach leaves, and blend until smooth. You can add a little water if the soup is too thick. Season to taste with lemon juice (about 1/2 a lemon) and additional salt.
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To serve, divide soup between 2 bowls (entree) or 4 bowls (appetizer), and top with Greek yogurt, toasted chopped almonds, toasted coconut flakes, sliced scallion greens, and pickled chard stems.
Pickled Rainbow Chard Stems
Ingredients
- Stems from 1 bunch of rainbow chard, ragged ends trimmed
- Flavorings: fennel, frond fennel seed, garlic, red chile flakes
- 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 1/2 tablespoons kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon sugar
Instructions
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Cut each stem into a 1/4-inch dice, separating the white/yellow pieces and the red/pink pieces into different bowls. To the bowl with the white and yellow stems, add a few reserved fennel fronds and a small pinch of fennel seeds. To the bowl with the red and pink stems, add 1/2 a garlic clove and a small pinch of red chile flakes.
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In a small saucepan, warm vinegar, water, salt and sugar, stirring to dissolve the salt and sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, let bubble for a minute, then take off the heat. Divide the pickling liquid between the two bowls, and let stems pickle for 1 hour before serving. Store pickled chard stems covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 month.
I’ve been sharing other Farmer’s Market Box updates on Instagram! Here are some of my favs:
Farmer’s Market Box #1
Farmer’s Market Box #2
Roasted Beet and Corn Salad
Do you get a weekly Farmer’s Market Box or CSA? If so, how do you like to cook from it? If you live in San Diego, and you’d like to order your own Specialty Produce Farmer’s Market Box, check out options here.
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Averie @ Averie Cooks says
This is just so pretty, vibrant, colorful and great, Brandon! Pinned! And thanks for the tweet earlier today, too 🙂
Brandon Matzek says
You’re welcome!! I’m finally catching up on my comments. Had a big event at Mission Valley that put me back a bit. Thanks Averie!
FoodNerd says
Wow, looks so vibrant and fresh! Would be great for a hot summer dinner. Must give it a go!
FoodNerd x
http://www.foodnerd4life.com
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks! Please let me know if you try it 🙂
Debra says
Beautiful produce and I really do need something else to do with chard.
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Debra! How do you normally prepare your chard?
Debra says
Usually, I just saute it in a bit of olive oil or BACON drippings. I love it tossed with soba noodles.
Holly - FMITK says
I’m (finally) signing up for the farmer’s box for next week! You’ve officially inspired me. I’m so excited to see what we both come up with with next weeks’ veggies!
Brandon Matzek says
Excellent!! Glad you signed up. The boxes have been really good this year!
Arthur in the Garden! says
Yummy! And beautiful!
Brandon Matzek says
Thanks Arthur!
Cheryl says
Just positively beautiful!
Medha says
Such a colorful and vibrant soup! I love everything about your recipe – Can’t wait to try it in my kitchen! Gorgeous pictures.
Maggie Unzueta @ Mama Maggie's Kitchen says
With freshly baked crusty bread! yes please. 🙂
Chrystal Durnan says
I just stumbled upon your blog while looking for a recipe for rainbow chard and I am very happy I did! Great blog and please keep posting recipes for the farm boxes. I live in LA and receive similar items in my FarmBox and I am always looking for creative ways to use up all the different ingredients! Thanks!
Brandon Matzek says
Hi Chrystal, thanks for checking in!! Hope you enjoy the soup 🙂 Perfect for these chilly days we’ve been having!
k says
I just blended this soup up and poured it into some jars for freezing (and one for eating this week). I”m a little bummed that mine is not the same color as yours, it’s sort of a pea green color instead of that brilliant green you’ve got! Maybe the soup needs some other type of spice, it tastes very “green”, and I’m not sure if the lemon is the right acid (at least for me). It’s a little bland… is there something you could suggest that might pep it up a bit?
Brandon Matzek says
Hi!! The soup should be bright green at first (thanks to the spinach). It will fade to a pea/army green over time as it’s exposed to more heat. All of the toppings listed should provide plenty of excitement for the soup. The base will have a soothing “green” flavor with a little heat from the jalapeno. If you don’t plan on adding any of the toppings, then you could possible blend in some cilantro. Make throw in some crushed coriander seeds in with the aromatics. Then switch out lime juice for lemon juice. Let me know how that works for you!