Braised Endive With Ham And Gruyère Recipes

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.

ENDIVES AND HAM WITH GRUYERE

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.

ENDIVE AND HAM GRATIN

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.

BRAISED ENDIVE WITH HAM AND CHEESE

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.