Blitva: Croatian Chard and Potatoes with Garlic Side Dish (59) 2026

Blitva is a traditional Croatian dish made with chard and potatoes, typically served as a side but also wonderful as a light and flavorful starter. It comes together with just a handful of ingredients: fresh chard, potatoes, garlic and olive oil.

This is a very easy, quick and tasty recipe that basically consists of sautéed chard with garlic and boiled potatoes. I used fresh whole chard, but you can also make it with the bags of ready-to-cook chard leaves or even frozen chard.

Ingredients for Blitva

For 2 servings

• 300 g potatoes
• 2 garlic cloves
• 400 g chard
• Salt
• 20 g olive oil
• Ground black pepper

How to Make Blitva Step by Step

1. Peel and cut the potatoes and garlic

Peel and cut 300 g of potatoes into equal pieces, and cut 2 garlic cloves into thin slices.

2. Prepare the chard

Wash 400 g of chard very well and separate the stems from the leaves. With the help of a knife, remove the outer strings from the stems on both the outer and inner sides, then cut them into small squares. Cut the chard leaves into uniform pieces.

3. Boil the potatoes

Now boil the potatoes. Place a pot over high heat with water and when the water starts to boil, add salt and the potatoes. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes, then remove the potatoes from the pot and set aside.

4. Cook the garlic with the chard stems

Place a skillet over medium heat with 20 g of olive oil and when the oil is hot, add the garlic and the chard stems and cook for 5 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic.

5. Add the chard leaves

Next, add the chard leaves, mix them with the other ingredients using tongs and cook for about 3 minutes.

6. Add the cooked potatoes

Then add the cooked potatoes to the skillet.

7. Mix and break up the potatoes

Using a spatula, stir the potatoes so they break up and fall apart a little.

8. Season and add olive oil

Cook the mixture for 2 more minutes and at the last moment, adjust the salt if necessary and add a little ground black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

9. Serve

Serve the blitva as a side dish for other dishes or as a starter.

Tips for the Best Blitva

Choose your chard

Fresh whole chard works beautifully, but you can also use the bags of ready-to-cook chard leaves or even frozen chard for a faster version. Just make sure to wash it well and remove the strings from the stems.

Watch the garlic

Keep an eye on the garlic while it cooks with the stems; it should turn golden, not brown or burnt, or it will turn bitter. Medium heat and 5 minutes are usually just right.

Break up the potatoes

Stirring the potatoes with a spatula so they break up a little helps thicken the dish and makes it creamier. Cook for just 2 more minutes after adding them so they don't turn mushy.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a blend of cozy comfort classics, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and desserts that make everyone happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I typically reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And whenever something fruity and soothing sounds right, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

For mornings that need an easy start or lighter fare, these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe are frequent picks. And for a gluten-free staple I can count on, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe is one I enjoy putting together.

Whenever tapas and Mediterranean cooking are on my mind, I bounce between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cooling Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion calls for something a bit more upscale.

Come lunch or a comforting supper, I'm always quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. Should I be after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply satisfying French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Some nights I'm after street-food vibes or party-ready plates, and that's when I'll whip up this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine to set out as a snack or starter.

And when I'm building drinks and a whole spread for company, I'll regularly match dinner with this cooling Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the table, I like to add this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or finish things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Additional Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of testing and fine-tuning dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest recipes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

What follows are the dishes I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something memorable for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something impressive yet simple. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, understanding how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For richer comfort cooking, I'm quick to point people to the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the smooth Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also fond of sharing dishes with global roots, such as the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crisp Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I return to often, since it cuts down on time while still delivering excellent results. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that classic baked pasta can still be decadent, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado