{"id":13724,"date":"2025-09-22T10:52:34","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T08:52:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesoundofthecosta.com\/spains-forgotten-supergreens-chardas-grelos-and-more\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T10:52:34","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T08:52:34","slug":"spains-forgotten-supergreens-chardas-grelos-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesoundofthecosta.com\/en\/spains-forgotten-supergreens-chardas-grelos-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"Spain\u2019s forgotten supergreens: chardas, grelos and more"},"content":{"rendered":"

For this story, we step outside our familiar Costa regions. Spain is known for paella, tapas and jam\u00f3n, but if you look more closely at the markets and kitchen gardens, you\u2019ll discover a world of supergreens that are barely known outside the country. Of course, we all know the artichoke, which I wrote about earlier this year<\/a>. But here, I\u2019m talking about vegetables that were once the daily staple of farmers and labourers. Today, however, they feel almost exotic. Chardas, grelos, cardo \u2014 these are forgotten supergreens that reveal just how rich Spanish cuisine really is. <\/p>\n

Chardas: the coastal leafy green<\/h4>\n

Chardas \u2014 or Swiss chard, as we would call it \u2014 can be found all across the Mediterranean. Large green leaves with sturdy veins, used in both stews and soups. Spaniards often eat it with chickpeas or potatoes, a simple, nourishing dish that once featured on the table almost every day. Its flavour is earthy and slightly bitter, but add garlic and olive oil and it turns into a vegetable that feels instantly familiar. <\/p>\n

Grelos: a Galician secret<\/h4>\n

In Galicia, in Spain\u2019s green north, much revolves around grelos \u2014 the young shoots of certain brassicas. They have a distinctive, slightly peppery flavour and are often used in the famous lac\u00f3n con grelos: ham, potatoes and grelos in a hearty stew. For Galicians it\u2019s pure nostalgia; for the rest of Spain it\u2019s a culinary discovery. <\/p>\n

Cardo: the thistle that became edible<\/h4>\n

Cardo, or Spanish cardoon, is a vegetable related to the artichoke. You eat the stalks, which need long cooking to lose their bitterness. In Arag\u00f3n and Navarra, cardo often appears on the Christmas table, served with an almond sauce. It\u2019s one of those vegetables you have to get to know, but it rewards you with a flavour unlike anything else. <\/p>\n

A kitchen full of character<\/h4>\n

What these forgotten Spanish supergreens have in common is that they need no embellishment. They tell the story of a time when food had to be nourishing rather than luxurious. Today, they\u2019re valued for their unique flavour and nutritional benefits: rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. Superfood avant la lettre \u2014 but straight from the field. <\/p>\n

Why we shouldn\u2019t forget them<\/h4>\n

In a world where we keep seeing the same vegetables on supermarket shelves, chardas, grelos and cardo are a reminder of the diversity of Spanish cuisine. They invite us to experiment, yet also keep us close to tradition. Taste them, and you\u2019ll understand why grandmothers cooked with them \u2014 and why they deserve a place back on our plates. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For this story, we step outside our familiar Costa regions. Spain is known for paella, tapas and jam\u00f3n, but if you look more closely at the markets and kitchen gardens, you\u2019ll discover a world of supergreens that are barely known outside the country. Of course, we all know the artichoke, ...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[176],"tags":[2356,2354,2353,2355,1527,385,2357,2358],"class_list":["post-13724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-gusto-en","tag-cardo-en","tag-chardas-en","tag-forgotten-vegetables","tag-grelos-en","tag-gusto-en","tag-spain","tag-superfood-en","tag-supergreens"],"yoast_head":"\nSpain\u2019s forgotten supergreens: chardas, grelos and more - The Sound Of The Costa<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover Spain\u2019s forgotten supergreens: chardas, grelos and cardo. 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