Roasted Belgian Endive Recipes

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.

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.

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:

• 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.

SEARED BELGIAN ENDIVE WITH WALNUT GREMOLATA

Steps:

• To make the gremolata, mix together walnuts, parsley, lemon zest, fleur de sel and garlic, if using. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a medium or large skillet over medium heat. Place endive halves in the skillet, cut side down. They should not be touching one another. Season with kosher salt and pepper and cover pan loosely. Cook until golden brown on the cut side, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer to a platter or to individual plates, cut side up.
• Sprinkle a generous tablespoon of gremolata over each endive half. Drizzle with walnut oil and serve warm.