Baked Swiss Chard Meatballs

Here’s a healthy and tasty recipe for making baked Swiss chard meatballs, with an Italian touch that makes them even more delicious. Let’s see what you need and how to proceed.

Ingredients

• 600 g of cleaned Swiss chard
• 1 large egg
• 80 g of grated Parmesan cheese
• 100 g of stale bread
• 100 ml of milk
• 1 clove of garlic
• Breadcrumbs as needed
• Salt and pepper as needed
• Extra virgin olive oil as needed
• Grated nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

1. Begin by pre-heating the oven to 200 °C.
2. In a large bowl, soak the stale bread in milk to soften it.
3. Clean the Swiss chard, removing the tougher parts. Then cook them in boiling salted water for about 5 minutes. Drain well and squeeze out the excess water, then chop them finely.
4. Squeeze the stale bread to remove the excess milk and crumble it.
5. In a large bowl combine the chopped Swiss chard, crumbled bread, egg, Parmesan, a pinch of nutmeg (if desired), salt, and pepper to taste. Mix everything with your hands to get a uniform and consistent mixture.
6. Form the mixture into meatballs, roll them in breadcrumbs, and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
7. Drizzle the Swiss chard meatballs with a stream of extra virgin olive oil.
8. Bake for about 20 minutes or until they are golden and crispy on the outside.
9. Once done, let them rest for a few minutes before serving.

Baked Swiss chard meatballs make an excellent main course or a rich and flavorful side dish. For an even more Italian touch, you can serve them with a simple tomato sauce or enrich them with aromatic herbs in the mixture, such as fresh basil or parsley.

Curiosity

In Italy, vegetables often end up transformed into meatballs, a tasty way to make even the little ones appreciate greens. This baked version of Swiss chard meatballs is also a lighter choice compared to the fried version, without compromising on flavor.