Stuffed Belgian Endive Recipes

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.

Steps:

• To cook the endive, combine the butter, sugar, salt, and 10 1/2 cups water in a large pot. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a steady simmer. Add the endive, cover, and cook until very tender, about 45 minutes. A knife should be able to pierce through with no resistance. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the endive to paper towels. Reserve 1 1/4 cups cooking liquid. When cool enough to handle, squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the endive.
• Wrap each endive with slices of ham. Arrange the endive in a shallow baking dish that holds them snugly; you don't want any space between the endive.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• To make the béchamel, melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat until golden. Add the flour and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture smells nutty, about 2 minutes. Continue whisking and add the milk, then the reserved endive cooking liquid in a slow, steady stream. Bring the mixture to a boil while whisking. Continue whisking until thickened, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the nutmeg and pepper.
• Pour the béchamel over the endive and spread to cover them evenly. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top. Set the dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until bubbly and golden brown on top, about 15 minutes. If you want the top more browned and crusty, broil for a minute or two after baking. Serve hot.

Steps:

• Dice peeled pear into very small chunks.
• Sauté in butter over high heat until it begins to brown and caramelize.
• Cool in refrigerator.
• Mix goat cheese and cream cheese in a mixer or food processor until well blended.
• Add the cooled pear and mix for a few seconds.
• Cut the ends off of the endives and pull off the largest leaves to stuff, reserving the rest for other uses.
• Place filling into each leaf and top with half of a walnut half.
• Filling may be made a day ahead of time, but assembly should be done at the last minute.