Roasted Belgian Endive Recipes

ROASTED BELGIAN ENDIVE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 425.
• Discard any of the endive's bruised or wilted outer leaves. Cut away a thin slice from the root end to remove the usually discolored surface portion of the stem. Wash the endive under cold running water, then shake off the moisture.
• Cut each head of endive in half lengthwise. Make a cut in the root end, cutting half as deep as the root is thick and running the cut from the bottom to where the leaves join the root.
• Place the endive on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, turning once, until the endive is browned, and very tender, 50 to 60 minutes. (It's done when you can easily pierce the root end with a fork.) Serve hot or warm.

PAN-ROASTED ENDIVE

Steps:

• Heat 1/4 cup vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 halved heads endive cut-side down; season with salt. Cook until browned and softened, turning once, about 10 minutes. Add 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, 1 tablespoon water, 1 teaspoon sugar and a pinch of salt. Simmer, turning to coat, until syrupy, about 30 seconds. Sprinkle with chives.

SAUTéED ENDIVE WITH BALSAMIC BUTTER

Steps:

• Heat oil in a heavy skillet. Add endive halves, cut side down, and sear on medium-high heat for a couple of minutes per side, turning once, until golden brown but still somewhat firm in the middle. Salt to taste, transfer to a serving dish and tent with foil to keep warm.
• Simmer vinegar in a small saucepan for about a minute. Remove from heat and whisk in butter bit by bit. Whisk in sugar and, if desired, some salt and pepper.
• Drizzle some of the balsamic butter on endives, strew with marjoram and dust with pepper. Serve. Remaining balsamic butter can be refrigerated for future use.

BRAISED BELGIAN ENDIVE

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet over high flame, melt half of the butter. Season endive. Place 4 halves of the endive cut-side down and cook until browned. Repeat with remaining butter and endive. Place endive, cut-side up in a gratin dish. Pour stock around endive, cover with aluminum foil, and bake in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes. Season again with salt and pepper.

BAKED BELGIAN ENDIVE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Place the endive stalks in a greased, shallow 1 1/2 quart oven proof cassserole dish. Dot with the butter. Sprinkle the endive with the sugar, salt and pepper.
• Cover and cook for about 1 1/2 hours until soft. Any liquid remaining is to be discarded. Set endive aside.
• Cook the bacon in a medium saucepan over medium heat (DO NOT burn!) Remove the cooked bacon to a paper towel to drain, reserving 1 tablespoon of the bacon drippings.
• Increase oven heat to 350 degrees.
• Heat the reserved drippings on medium heat and add the flour. Stir until bubbling, but again, do not burn! Gradually pour in the half and half (or heavy cream.) Heat the mixture and stir for approximately 5 minutes until almost boiling and thickened. Pour the sauce over the endive.
• Chop up the bacon into little pieces and sprinkle over the endive along with the Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs.
• Bake, uncovered, for about 15 minutes or until bubbling and lightly browned on top.

BRAISED BELGIAN ENDIVE

Steps:

• Trim off the root ends and remove any discolored outer leaves of: 4 Belgian endive.
• Cut in half lengthwise and season well with: Salt.
• Melt in a heavy-bottomed skillet: 2 tablespoons butter.
• Add the endive, cut side down, and cook over medium heat until nicely browned. This can be done in batches, adding more butter with each batch. The pan will brown, which is fine; just don't allow it to blacken. If it does, wash it out before adding the next batch. Place the endive, browned sides up, in a baking dish just large enough to hold them in a single layer. Pour in: About 1 cup chicken broth.
• The broth should be about 1/2 inch deep in the dish. Cover tightly and bake in a 400°F oven until tender, about 20 minutes. Check for doneness by probing the core with a sharp knife.
• Variations
• Wrap each endive half in a thin slice of pancetta or bacon before browning. Brown the wrapped endives on both sides, using more butter if necessary, and braise as above.
• Place the cut endives in a baking dish and pour in about 3/4 cup cream, season with salt and pepper, and cook until tender, brown, and bubbling.

BELGIAN ENDIVE AU GRATIN

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.