Indulge in the delectable flavors of braised endive, a classic French dish that combines the subtle bitterness of endives with the salty smokiness of ham and the nutty richness of Gruyère cheese. This sophisticated yet approachable dish is perfect for a special occasion or an elegant weeknight meal. In this culinary journey, we'll explore two variations of braised endive: one featuring a creamy béchamel sauce and the other showcasing a tangy tomato-based sauce. Both recipes promise a symphony of flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!
BELGIAN ENDIVE AU GRATIN
Belgian endive (called 'witloof' in Dutch or 'chicon' in Belgian French) has an ivory-white head with pale yellow-edged, closely wrapped leaves, a mildly bitter flavor, and tender juicy texture.
Provided by gaidgin
Categories Side Dish Vegetables Greens
Time 55m
Yield 8
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Lightly grease a baking dish.
- Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil over medium-high heat. Place the endives into the water. Cover, and cook until tender, 5 to 10 minutes.
- Place the butter into a saucepan, and melt over medium heat. Whisk in the flour, and stir until the mixture becomes paste-like and golden brown. Gradually whisk the milk into the flour mixture, whisking constantly until thick and smooth. Stir in 3/4 cup Gruyere cheese, Parmesan cheese, nutmeg, salt, and pepper until well blended. Cook gently over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Preheat an oven broiler to low.
- Drain the endives. Wrap each endive with a slice of ham, and place into the prepared baking dish. Pour the cheese sauce over the endives. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Gruyere cheese and parsley.
- Cook the endives under preheated broiler until cheese is golden brown and sauce bubbles, about 10 minutes.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 206.6 calories, Carbohydrate 20.4 g, Cholesterol 28.7 mg, Fat 10.1 g, Fiber 16 g, Protein 12.8 g, SaturatedFat 5.7 g, Sodium 210.4 mg, Sugar 2.8 g
ENDIVE AND HAM GRATIN
In a gratin, savory ham and mild Gruyere cheese help to balance endive's slight bitterness.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Ingredients Meat & Poultry Pork Recipes
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add endives and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Reduce heat to low; cover. Cook until soft and tender, about 30 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside, covered.
- Butter a 6-by-10-inch baking dish; set aside. Place milk in a small saucepan over low heat. In another small pan, melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour; cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Slowly pour heated milk into mixture; whisk constantly, avoiding lumps. Add remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and the nutmeg. Cook mixture; whisk slowly but constantly until thick and bubbling, about 1 minute. Remove from heat; set aside.
- Wrap a piece of ham around each endive, and place in baking dish. Spoon sauce over endives. Sprinkle cheese over sauce. Bake until golden brown on top, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve immediately.
ENDIVE GRATIN WITH HAM AND GRUYERE CHEESE
Provided by Amy Finley
Categories main-dish
Time 1h40m
Yield 6 to 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Special Equipment: Steaming basket
- Serving Suggestion: French baguette, sliced
- Preheat oven to 350 to 375 degrees F.
- In a large pot fitted with a steaming basket, bring 1-inch of water to a boil. Place the endives in the basket, cover, and let cook until very soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a colander and let drain, pushing down on the endives with a clean kitchen towel until as much of the water as possible has been expelled. Do not mush the endives!
- In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter. When the foam has subsided, add the endives and cook, turning occasionally, until brown and caramelized on all surfaces. Remove from heat and wrap each endive in 1 slice of the ham. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. When the foam has subsided whisk in the flour and cook 1 minute, being careful not to brown the flour. Whisk in the milk in a slow, steady stream. Bring to a boil whisking constantly, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until thickened, about 8 minutes. Season with a generous amount of pepper and the nutmeg.
- Spread about 1 cup of the sauce over the bottom of a 9 by 13-inch flameproof ceramic baking dish, then arrange the ham-wrapped endives on top in a single layer. Cover with the remaining sauce and the cheese. Bake until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling, about 30 minutes. Turn on the broiler, transfer the pan to the top rack, and broil until the cheese has patches of golden goodness - about 2 minutes. Serve hot with generous amounts of sauce and baguette slices.
ENDIVES AND HAM WITH GRUYERE
The texture of coarsely ground crumbs made from a chewy loaf is best for this dish, although store-bought breadcrumbs may be substituted.
Provided by Martha Stewart
Categories Food & Cooking Appetizers
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Toss breadcrumbs with oil on a rimmed baking sheet, and spread into a single layer. Bake, stirring once, until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool on sheet on a wire rack.
- Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish (or use 2 smaller dishes). Arrange endives in dish, and sprinkle with sugar, rolling to coat. Season with salt and pepper. Cover with parchment, then foil, and bake until tender, 35 to 45 minutes.
- Cut ham into 4-inch-long strips, 1/4 inch wide. Scatter on top of endives, and sprinkle with thyme. Pour stock into dish, and sprinkle Gruyere on top. Top with breadcrumbs, and dot with butter. Bake, uncovered, until top is golden and filling is bubbling, 18 to 22 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.
ENDIVES WITH HAM
Provided by Florence Fabricant
Categories dinner, sauces and gravies, main course
Time 1h
Yield 4 servings
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Remove outer layer of leaves from endives. Trim bottoms, and carve a V shape in cut side to remove cores. Place endives cut side down in a single layer in a sauté pan. Dot with 1 tablespoon butter, sprinkle with lemon juice and season with sugar, salt and pepper. Add wine and about 1 cup water to barely cover endives. Cut a circle of parchment to fit into pan and place on endives. Bring to a simmer and cook 20 minutes, until tender. Remove from heat, and cool in liquid.
- Melt remaining butter in a saucepan. Whisk in flour and cook, stirring, over low heat for 5 minutes. Slowly whisk in warm milk, beating constantly, about 10 minutes, until béchamel sauce is thick and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Lightly butter a baking dish to hold endives in a single layer. Drain endives, and pat dry on paper towel. Cut ham slices in half, and wrap endive halves in ham. Place seam side down in baking dish. Spoon béchamel over and around roll-ups. Sprinkle with cheese. Set aside until shortly before serving. Refrigerate dish if waiting more than 1 hour, but bring to room temperature before baking.
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake 6 to 8 minutes, until sauce is bubbling. Briefly place dish under broiler to lightly brown top. Serve hot.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 594, UnsaturatedFat 14 grams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fat 42 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 19 grams, SaturatedFat 25 grams, Sodium 923 milligrams, Sugar 8 grams, TransFat 1 gram
BRAISED ENDIVE WITH HAM AND CHEESE
Endive is an overlooked vegetable in America-at least, few people cook it. But it makes a very special lunch or supper dish when done this way.
Number Of Ingredients 6
Steps:
- Cut the endive in half lengthwise. Rub a little of the butter in a heavy skillet just big enough to hold the two halves of endive, then lay them into the pan, side by side. Distribute the remaining butter on top, sprinkle on several drops of lemon juice, and salt lightly. Pour enough boiling water into the pan to come halfway up the endive. Arrange on top a round of parchment cut to fit snugly into the pan, and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Cook over low heat for 30 minutes, at which point check for tenderness: If the endive is soft, finish cooking uncovered until the remaining liquid is absorbed; if it's still resistant, cook covered a little longer, adding more water if needed. When the endive is done, drape a thin slice of ham or prosciutto over each endive half, and sprinkle cheese liberally on top. Slip under a broiler until lightly browned and bubbly. Good with a Wild Rice Pancake (page 180), broiled polenta (page 194), or just a hunk of crusty bread.
Tips:
- Choose the Right Endive: Select firm and tightly packed heads of Belgian endive for the best results.
- Prepare the Endive Properly: Trim the root end of each endive and remove any wilted or damaged outer leaves.
- Use Good Quality Ham: Opt for a flavorful and smoky ham, such as Black Forest or prosciutto, to enhance the dish's taste.
- Don't Overcook the Endive: Braise the endive just until it becomes tender but still retains a slight crunch.
- Add Aromatics for Flavor: Enhance the dish's flavor by adding aromatic vegetables like onions, garlic, and shallots.
- Use a Dry White Wine: Choose a dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio for the braising liquid.
- Season Generously: Don't be afraid to season the dish well with salt, pepper, and other herbs and spices.
- Use Fresh Herbs for Garnish: Add a pop of color and freshness by garnishing the dish with chopped parsley, chives, or tarragon.
Conclusion:
Braised endive with ham and Gruyère is an elegant and flavorful dish that combines the bitterness of endive with the saltiness of ham and the richness of Gruyère cheese. It's a perfect side dish for a special occasion or a weeknight meal. With careful preparation and attention to detail, you can create a dish that will impress your family and friends. So next time you're looking for a unique and delicious side dish, give braised endive with ham and Gruyère a try.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love