Swiss Chard Soup (Printable)

Wholesome soup with Swiss chard, garlic, and vegetables in a light, flavorful broth. Ready in 40 minutes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large bunch Swiss chard (about 14 oz), stems and leaves separated and chopped
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 medium carrots, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced

→ Broth & Seasoning

06 - 5 cups vegetable broth, gluten-free
07 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
08 - 1 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
09 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
10 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional

→ Finish

11 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
12 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
13 - Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving, optional

# How to Make It:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until softened.
02 - Stir in the garlic and Swiss chard stems. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant and stems begin to soften.
03 - Add the Swiss chard leaves, vegetable broth, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
04 - Simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes until vegetables are very tender and flavors meld.
05 - Stir in lemon juice and fresh parsley. Adjust seasoning to taste.
06 - Ladle soup into bowls. Top with grated Parmesan if desired. Serve hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 45 minutes, and most of that is just gentle simmering while you do something else.
  • The chard becomes impossibly tender and sweet, nothing like the raw version you might have avoided before.
  • One pot means one thing to wash, which feels like a small victory on busy weeknights.
02 -
  • Don't skip separating the chard stems from the leaves—the stems need those extra few minutes to actually become edible, while the leaves need to stay delicate.
  • Add the lemon juice at the very end, not earlier, because the acid will dull the beautiful green color of the chard if it sits in the pot too long.
03 -
  • Save your chard stems if they're thick and tender—they're actually delicious and deserve respect, not the compost bin.
  • A squeeze of fresh lemon juice right before serving is the difference between a good soup and one that makes people close their eyes for a moment.
Go Back