Best 4 Croatian Blitva Or Spinach The Other Way Recipes
If you're looking for a unique and flavorful vegetarian dish, Croatian Blitva, also known as spinach the other way, is an excellent option. It's a traditional Croatian side dish made with Swiss chard, onions, and garlic. This dish is typically served as a side with grilled meats or fish, but it can also be enjoyed as a main course. The combination of the slightly bitter chard, the sweet onions, and the savory garlic creates a delicious and satisfying dish that is sure to please even the most discerning palate.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
CHARD & POTAOES | BLITVA | CROATIAN RECIPES
A hearty and traditional peasant dish from the Dalmatian peoples of the Croatian coast. Blitva is a combination of potatoes, chard, garlic, and olive oil that is a perfect autumn and winter accompaniment to any meal but also a great unique side dish for your holiday Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. My recipe here makes enough for 8 people or for leftovers!
Provided by The Peasant's Daughter
Time 40m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Peel and wash the potatoes.
- Set them to boil in a large pot of salted water and allow to boil.
- As the potatoes boil, seperate the chard stem and leaf. Chop the stems and leaves roughly.
- After the potatoes have boiled for 20 minutes, add the chard stems to the water.
- Allow the potatoes and stems to boil for another 10 minutes.
- Add the chard greens and allow to boil until wilted (60 seconds).
- Pour out the potatoes and chard into a colander and allow to drain very well.
- As the potatoes and chard drain, heat the butter and olive oil up up on the stovetop over medium heat. Use either the same pot that you used to boil the vegetables, or a different heavy-bottomed one, like the French oven pictured, which will then double as a serving dish too.
- Add the garlic to the oil and butter mixture, allow to become fragrent (60 seconds).
- Immediately add the potatoes and chard into the oil and butter. Add a big pinch of salt and lots of freshly cracked black pepper. Stir and roughly mash the potatoes. You can mash them into a finer puree if you would like, but I prefer to keep the potatoes more rustic. It suits the dish better.
- Allow to come to room temeprature, check if salt and pepper is to taste, and serve.
BLITVA (CROATIAN SWISS CHARD DISH)
A traditional dish in Dalmatian cuisine, this is very easy to make. It makes a perfect side for fish, cooked meat or, my favorite, cured meat such as prosciutto. It can be made more creamy when potatoes are very well cooked, or soupy when more liquid is preserved. On my scale this would be 3.5 Stars (please see how I rate recipes).
Provided by Happy Hobbit
Categories Potato
Time 35m
Yield 4 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Add peeled and cubed (1/2-1 in cubes) potatoes.
- Rinse the Swiss chard, remove tough stems, and cut into 1/2 in strips (or just tear into large pieces).
- When potatoes are almost done, add the Swiss chard, and cook all together for an additional 10 minutes (15 minutes if the chard is older).
- Sauté garlic on olive oil, and add the cooked drained chard and potatoes to it (you may keep some water so that it looks like a thick soup).
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir and cook for 1 more minute in order to bring all flavors together.
CROATIAN "BLITVA" / OR SPINACH (THE OTHER WAY)
Everybody in Croatia knows how you make your blitva. But, there are people who don't like garlic, so this is one of the ways without garlic. You can also make it with spinach.
Provided by nitko
Categories Spinach
Time 25m
Yield 2 portions, 2 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 7
Steps:
- Wash and cut spinach/"blitva" leaves and put it aside.
- Warm the butter in a large pot; add spinach/"blitva" and mix until butter covers the leaves. Add half of anticipated cream, and the whole amount of parmesan, chive, nutmeg, salt, pepper. Heat it all for 2-5 minutes.
- Replace the lot into a refractory pot, cover with the rest of the cream. Bake it in the hot oven (200°C) 5 to 10 minute Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 390.6, Fat 33.3, SaturatedFat 19.8, Cholesterol 83.7, Sodium 580.6, Carbohydrate 16.2, Fiber 8.5, Sugar 4.1, Protein 14.2
CROATIAN BLITVA / OR SPINACH (THE OTHER WAY)
Steps:
- Wash and cut spinach/"blitva" leaves and put it aside. Warm the butter in a large pot; add spinach/"blitva" and mix until butter covers the leaves. Add half of anticipated cream, and the whole amount of Parmesan, chive, nutmeg, salt, pepper. Heat it all for 2-5 minutes. Replace the lot into a refractory pot, cover with the rest of the cream. Bake it in the hot oven (200°C) 5 to 10 min. Serve hot.
Tips:
- Choose the freshest spinach or blitva leaves. Younger leaves have a milder flavor and are more tender.
- Wash the leaves thoroughly before cooking. This will remove any dirt or grit.
- Cook the leaves quickly over high heat. This will help to preserve their color and nutrients.
- Don't overcook the leaves. Overcooked leaves will become slimy and lose their flavor.
- Season the leaves with salt, pepper, and other spices to taste.
- Serve the leaves immediately. They are best eaten fresh.
Conclusion:
Blitva, or spinach, is a versatile vegetable that can be used in a variety of dishes. It is a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Blitva can be cooked in many ways, but the most popular method is to sauté it with garlic and olive oil. This simple dish is a delicious and healthy side dish or main course.
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