Sure. The dark, leafy green vegetables are good for you. However, certain varieties are def more appreciated by my palate than others. I've heard many say that swiss chard tastes similar to spinach. Say what?? Perhaps it's because I don't really think spinach has much of a taste (have I eaten so much of it that I've become numb to the flavor? Is that possible?), but swiss chard tastes soooo much more bitter and salty. The Hungryman, on the other hand, thinks it tastes like seaweed <-- now, that's a head-scratcher. What's wrong with us? Maybe we just need to eat it more often….
In my most recent CSA box was this gorgeous bunch of swiss chard, and as I tore a small leaf to taste, I found it so much more enjoyable than any of the ones I purchased from the store. The flavors were not as pronounced, and I detected a subtle sweet note that I had never picked up before. Its freshness goes without saying.
Since swiss chard doesn't grace our table much, I thought it'd be best to "sneak" it into one of our favorite foods - quesadilla with lots of cheese. The two ingredients from the CSA box that I'm using are swiss chard and onions. I couldn't get over how cute the onions were! So much so that I contemplated whether or not I should save them and use a store-bought big-as-your-face kind (is it just me or are the onions at the store becoming larger than life?) instead. 
Lately, the Hungryman and I've been going to the store together a lot, which is a HUGE change. I'm pretty sure I traumatized him during the early years of our marriage when I was basically a food nazi (it took me a LONG time to admit to this).
"Don't put that in the cart! Do you have eyes? That's wayy too overpriced! Can you move a little faster?" The grocery store = our war zone. Things look a lot prettier now, I promise! 😉
During our last trip, I put the Hungryman in charge of choosing the bacon. With a stunned face, he said "really?" Confused and annoyed, I said "yes, why? Do you need my help?" Sheepishly he replied, "no, but you are usually very particular with your bacon" (meaning it's either turkey bacon or reduced-fat). At that moment, I was overcome with guilt and pity for this man in his mid-thirties who has to ask for permission to buy bacon for heaven's sake! I am a cruel. evil woman. With a warm smile, I told him to have fun and walked away in search of cheese (I've come a long way, my friends). When we were reunited, he smiled back at me with a package of low-sodium center-cut bacon, saying proudly,"I know you don't like me eating too salty, AND I chose the least fatty looking one." I love this man.
The least I could do was to pick up some gruyère cheese. Ever since the Hungryman's birthday burger, it's become one of his favorite.
Stuffed with chard, caramelized onion, chickpeas, crispy bacon, and ooey-gooey cheese, this quesadilla pretty much wrapped up the much-needed lazy day we spent together.
Ingredients
- 4 slices low-sodium center-but bacon chopped
- 1 small onion thinly sliced (¾ cup)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 4 cups chopped chard leaves 1 bunch
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 15oz can low-sodium chickpeas, drained
- 8 6-inch whole wheat tortilla
- Gruyère cheese
Instructions
- Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat, stirring often, until crisp (2-3 minutes). Reduce heat to medium and add onion and garlic. Stir until onion softens and caramelizes slightly, about 3-4 minutes. Add chard, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir until wilted, about 1-2 minutes. Don't overcook. Add chickpeas and roughly mash (I don't like to mash them completely( Stir to combine. Remove from heat.
- Spread ¼ cup filling and cheese on half of each tortilla. Fold tortillas in half, pressing gently to flatten.
- In a greased pan, add quesadillas and cook, turning once, until golden on both sides. Continue with the rest of the tortillas.
Joanne says
The.Boy and I haven't been to the grocery store together in ages! Honestly, I think it's for the best. He mostly just makes fun of all the crazy ingredients I buy and then balks at the prices. 😛
What a fun way to use up your chard! Can't go wrong with quesadillas.
Nami | Just One Cookbook says
What a delicious looking quesadilla. Great idea to put swiss chard in, and my kids would eat anything that's in quesadilla too (don't even check and big bite!). Bacon is always a nice savory item to add. Very flavorful and sounds yummy!
Cindy @ Hun... What's for Dinner? says
These quesadillas are jam packed with all my favourite foods. Thanks for sharing with us at Simple Supper Tuesday.
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts says
You two make me laugh - I can just picture you wrinkling your noses at chard and thinking "what do we do with this?!", and glaring at each other (in the old days!) in the supermarket 🙂 Happily, it sounds like you have solved the supermarket challenges and found an excellent use for this particularly leafy vegetable.
Andi @ The Weary Chef says
Holy Bacon, these look so amazing and creative and delicious! I love your story about being a grocery nazi. My husband doesn't go to the store with me because I spend too much time agonizing over prices and nutrition labels. If I send him to the store with a short list, I give very specifics. If I don't he panics and doesn't know what to buy. Poor guy! Good thing I do most of the shopping 😉
Ami@naivecookcooks says
These look so delicious. I love good filling quesadillas anytime!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I can't say that there are many greens that I don't like. And swiss chard in a quesadilla with bacon sounds amazing! I hope you had a wonderful weekend, Min!
Danielle @ It's a Harleyyy Life says
Oh my! Gosh I wish I lived near you to eat all of this wonderful food! (:
ellie @ fit for the soul says
Bahahahaha do you have eyessss??? At that moment, I was overcome with guilt and pity for this man in his mid-thirties who has to ask for permission to buy bacon for heaven’s sake! I am a cruel. evil woman. Too funny, unnie! Greg hates the store so I happily go for the both of us, but I always think it's so cute when couples do what you guys do! But then again...I'm kind of a food nazi myself, so just for the sake of marriage some things are best left the way they are. 😉 And nooo you're not weird at all! I liked swiss chard when it was prepped in certain ways, but when I eat it at home I find it to be really strange...not quite tender, not bland, not sweet, just diiiiiiffferent....I never think that about veggies/greens but this one is a toughie to cook with in my opinion! And man, great take on a yummy recipe!!!!
Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says
i have not tried swiss chard that much but with cheese and bacon, i bet its delicious/
Matt Robinson says
Saw these on Twitter and had to pop over. They are amazing! Can't wait to try this recipe soon!
Min says
Thank you, Matt!
trisha says
Haha, it's a little scary the power we have over them.... You've trained him well though since he picked out the healthy bacon! These quesadillas look like the perfect combination of tasty and healthy! YUM!
Min says
Yes, it's def a power I'm abusing. However, I've def become better about scaling it down quite a bit..or so I think. It was def a proud and guilty moment when he so innocently showed me the bacon.
Julie @ Lovely Little Kitchen says
Oh I'm so loving this! The recipe, the images, and picturing you two in the grocery store! My husband often tries to help out by taking the list and heading to the store, but he is infamous for making multiple phone calls to ask questions about the list. Perhaps his insecurities reveal that I too am a bit particular about what goes in the cart? Haha! At least we admit it :0)
Min says
Hehe I've encountered many many husbands on the phone asking millions of questions to the person on the line. Yes, at least we admit to it..if only the husbands could do the same ;).