Endive And Goat Cheese Recipes

ENDIVE "SPOONS" WITH LEMON-HERB GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Using on/off turns, blend goat cheese, olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, and lemon peel in food processor just until smooth and creamy. Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Stir in chopped cilantro and chives. Season cheese mixture to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and refrigerate until cold. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated.) If desired, transfer cheese mixture to pastry bag fitted with small plain tip.
• Cut off and discard root ends of endive. Separate leaves. Cut cores, with some smaller leaves still attached, crosswise into thin strips. Toss sliced endive with remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice in large bowl to coat. Arrange sliced endive on large platter. Pipe or spoon about 1 1/2 teaspoons cheese mixture at wide end of each endive leaf. Place 1 very small sprig cilantro and tomato slice atop each. Arrange leaves in concentric circles atop sliced endive. (Can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill.)

STUFFED ENDIVE WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Stir together goat cheese, cream cheese, zest, juice, salt, pepper, 2 tablespoons of the chives, 1 tablespoon of the parsley, and 2 teaspoons of the tarragon in a bowl. Spoon mixture evenly into bottom halves of endive leaves.
• Combine remaining 1/2 tablespoon each chives and parsley and 1/2 teaspoon tarragon. Sprinkle evenly over stuffed leaves. Serve immediately.

ENDIVE AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Sauté 2 or 3 chopped shallots in butter until soft. Tear 4 heads Belgian endive into pieces and arrange on a large plate; top with 3 thinly sliced pears, drained shallots and 4 ounces goat cheese. Dressing variation: Use red-wine vinegar.

ENDIVE AND APPLE SALAD WITH WARM GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of an oven and heat the oven to 425°F.
• In a small saucepan over high heat, reduce the pomegranate juice to about 1/4 cup (it should be syrupy), about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mash the goat cheese in a small bowl with a fork until smooth. Form the cheese into four 2-inch-diameter rounds. Put the hazelnuts on a small plate and press the goat cheese rounds into the nuts on all sides to coat. Transfer the cheese to a small baking sheet and bake until the nuts brown and the cheese softens, 8 to 10 minutes.
• While the goat cheese bakes, melt 2 Tbs. of the butter in a 12-inch heavy-duty skillet over medium-high heat. Arrange the endives flat in the pan (they'll fit snugly), sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoons each salt and pepper, and cook, undisturbed, until browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip and cook until the other side starts to soften, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a large plate.
• Melt the remaining 1 Tbs. butter in the skillet, add the apples and shallot, sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoons salt and cook, shaking the pan often, until the apples start to soften, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Transfer the pomegranate juice to a medium bowl. Add the vinegar, mustard, and 1/2 teaspoons each salt and pepper; whisk until combined. Gradually whisk in the oil and season with more salt and pepper to taste.
• In a large bowl, toss the spinach and apples with half of the vinaigrette and season to taste with salt and pepper. Arrange the endives on 4 large serving plates, top with a mound of the spinach mixture, and then the goat cheese. Sprinkle with the pomegranate seeds (if using) and the chives and drizzle with the remaining vinaigrette. Serve.

ENDIVE WITH ORANGES, ALMONDS, AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• For Roasted Garlic Viniagrette: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roast garlic in the olive oil in a small baking dish until garlic is very tender, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.
• Transfer to blender. Add vinegar, shallots, salt, and pepper. Blend.
• To assemble: Set leaves on a platter or plate. Fill each leave with one or two orange segments, some goat cheese crumbles, almond slices, and salt.
• Drizzle with viniagrette and top with chives.
• Chill before serving or serve immediately.

ENDIVE SPEARS WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• Stir together goat cheese, cream, and oil in a small bowl untilsmooth. Stir in chopped dill. Spoon the cheese mixture onto stem ends of endive leaves, dividing evenly. Transfer to a serving platter. Season with pepper, and drizzle with oil. Garnish with dill sprigs. Serve immediately.