This Spiced Silverbeet and Pumpkin Hash recipe is easy to make and full of warm Mediterranean flavours. It can be served as a side or base to anything from falafels or fried eggs for a vegan / vegetarian version, to some nifty 100% lamb meat balls for meat lovers.
I think the inspiration for this dish came from a dining experience at A Tavola a little while back. The red cabbage slaw, served as a side, came dotted with a good handful of raisins, a Sicilian tradition I’m told, and was dressed with dolce latte – sweetened condensed milk. Rather than recreate an exact copy, partly because the sugar amount in sweetened condensed milk scares me, I thought I’d use silverbeet in mine and sweeten it slightly with cubes of pumpkin.
Silverbeet or Swiss chard is that slightly too-big-to-fit-in-the-shopping-bag leafy green. Many people get put off by the seemingly cumbersome to prepare vegetables such as silverbeet, but preparation couldn’t be easier. Simply wash the leaves, remove the stalk and chop up the leaves roughly. You can reserve the stalks and pickle them or braise them.
Spiced with just a touch of sea salt, pepper, all spice and cayenne – which is said to aid digestion, the dish is “sweetened” with caramelised pumpkin. We served ours with a few 100% organic lamb meatballs and a simple yoghurt, cucumber and dill tzatziki sauce but you could add a can of drained chickpeas, fried egg or serve this alongside falafel for a vegetarian / vegan version.
Spiced Silverbeet and Pumpkin Hash
Ingredients
For the Silverbeet Pumpkin Hash
- 1/2 bunch silverbeet about 6 leaves
- 1 tbsp light olive oil
- 2 cups finely diced pumpkin pieces
- 1/2 tsp sea salt flakes
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper or to taste
- Pinch ground all spice
- 1/3 cup cream
- 1/3 cup water
For the Tzatziki:
- 1/2 cup Greek natural yoghurt
- 2 cm piece cucumber diced finely
- 1-2 tsp chopped dill
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Wash silverbeet and shake off water. Using a sharp knife, trim off the stalks by running the knife in a v-shape into the leaf. Slice leaves finely, into about 1cm wide ribbons, across.
- In a large pan heat oil over medium-high heat. Add diced pumpkin and sprinkle with sea salt. Cook for about 3 minutes, stirring, until caramelised. Add silverbeet, raisins, season with spices and stir. Reduce heat to medium. Add cream and water and cook covered, stirring from time to time, for a further 5-10 minutes.
- In a small bowl mix together all ingredients. Set aside until needed.
7 comments
This sounds absolutely delicious! I love the idea of serving it with well-spiced lamb meatballs. I would never have thought of cooking chard this way.
I’ve never tried silverbeet? This is a totally great brunch induldenge. :-)
Isn’t this a lovely dish. I’m also interested in the red cabbage slaw :)
I’ve never cooked silverbeet like this but the family would all love it.
Lovely mixture made more unctious by the raisins, allspice and cayenne. I use a lot of silverbeet, usually steaming or strifrying or making soup, but this braising method would make it very flavourful!
i was recently introduced to potato hash but pumpkin hash sounds so much better, more depth and flavour! and possibly better for my waistline too!
looks really healthy and yum!
Lovely dish! I have some chard in my freezer from my garden this spring. This is a must try! Have a wonderful weekend!