Lunch: Swiss Chard with Smoked Bacon and Jalapeño Vinegar

Ingredients

1 cup white wine vinegar
3 large jalapeños, coarsely chopped
Kosher salt
1/2 pound thickly sliced bacon, cut crosswise into 1/3-inch strips
3 shallots, thinly sliced
1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth
2 pounds Swiss chard, stems removed and chopped, leaves coarsely chopped separately
Freshly ground pepper

Instructions

In a small saucepan, bring the white wine vinegar to a boil. Remove from the heat. Add the chopped jalapeños and 1/2 teaspoon of salt and let the jalapeños stand for 2 hours. Strain, reserving the jalapeños and vinegar separately.
In a large enameled cast-iron casserole or Dutch oven, cook the bacon over moderate heat until browned and crisp, about 6 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon to a plate.
Add the shallots to the casserole and cook over moderate heat until softened, about 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of the stock and bring to a boil. Add the chard stems, cover and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the chard leaves and the remaining 1/2 cup of stock and season with salt and pepper. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leaves are tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in the crispy bacon and 2 tablespoons of the jalapeño vinegar and transfer to a bowl. Serve the pickled jalapeños and the remaining jalapeño vinegar on the side.

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