From the Sidelines to a Starring Role: Swiss Chard Makes a Main Dish

Show: Chopped
Swiss Chard Lasagna

Chopped Dinner Challenge The Chopped Dinner Challenge is a series of recipes showing you how easy it is to cook like a winning Chopped competitor. Every week, FN Dish will showcase a recipe created by Food Network Kitchens that uses at least one of the Chopped basket ingredients, plus basic grocery goods and simple staples. Consider it your very own Chopped challenge. Just take this frequent tip from the judges: Don’t forget to season!

For this week's Chopped Dinner Challenge, the chefs of Food Network Kitchens chose to feature the basket ingredient Swiss chard, which most people think of as a boring green relegated to side dishes. But that's not the way Chopped competitors think! The key is making the basket ingredient shine and this recipe for Swiss Chard Lasagna does just that. It's also a really creative way to get kids — or even adults — to eat their greens. Your family will be surprised by the wonderful flavors and cheesiness of this lasagna, and they won't even miss the meat.

To prepare the Swiss chard for the lasagna, you'll want to start by separating the stems from the leaves. Chop the stems and saute them with garlic and onion. Stir in flour and then whisk in the milk and bring to a boil. You'll have created a sauce that can then be pureed with the chard leaves in the blender. Add half the ricotta and half the mozzarella to this mixture to thicken it even more.

Now you're ready to start layering the lasagna: first sauce, then the no-boil noodles. After two layers, add half of your remaining cheeses. Keep layering and top everything with all the remaining cheeses. Bake, covered with foil for about 30 minutes, then uncover and continue to cook for 10 minutes until the cheese is brown and bubbly. With this lasagna, you'll be getting your greens and enjoying them too.

Get the Recipe: Swiss Chard Lasagna

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