Endives and Ham Gratin

A dish fit for the Gods, Endives and ham gratin is sure to give, everyone who eats it, a divine experience which takes them through a whirlwind of flavors of the French cuisine.

The dish is prepared by wrapping Belgian endives with cured ham, cooked in a nutty béchamel sauce topped with Gruyère cheese. The flavors from eh cured ham, the rich béchamel and the cheese all combine in perfect harmony to create a dish that will please everyone.

Health Benefits

Endives have been referred to as the queen of vegetables because they are rich in various different types of vitamins and minerals including: folate, potassium; vitamins A, B, C and K. Endives are also rich in dietary fiber, which is essential for a healthy digestive system.

Ingredients

large yellow Belgian endives (trimmed): 8

black forest ham (thinly sliced): 8 ounces

unsalted butter: 5 tbsp

Sugar: 1/4 cup

Kosher salt: 1 1/2 tbsp

gruyere cheese: 1 2/3 cup

all-purpose flour (sifted): 1/4 cup

whole milk (warmed): 2/3 cup

unsalted butter: 2 tbsp

fresh nutmeg (grated): 1 tsp

Freshly ground black pepper: 1/4 tsp

How To Make Endives and Ham Gratin

For Endives

1. Add 10 ½ cups of water, sugar, salt and butter in a large pot and bring it to a boil.
2. Reduce the heat to medium and add the endives to the pot. Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 45 minutes or until very tender.
3. Use a slotted spoon and transfer the endives to a plate with paper towels, reserving 1 1.4 cup of the cooking water.
4. When cool enough to handle, squeeze the endive to release the excess water.
5. Wrap each endive with a slice of the ham and transfer to a baking dish. Make sure to fit them snugly; there should be no space between them. Set aside.
6. Preheat your oven to 400 degree F.

For Béchamel Sauce

1. Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium-low heat until golden.
2. Add flour to the butter and cook it for about 2 minutes or until the mixture smells nutty. Make sure to keep whisking to avoid forming clumps and burning.
3. Add milk and reserved cooking water from the endives the saucepan in a slow and steady stream, while continuing to whisk; bring the sauce to a boil.
4. Add nutmeg and pepper to the sauce and keep whisking for another 5 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
5. Pour the béchamel sauce over the endives and spread to cover evenly; and Sprinkle the Gruyère cheese evenly over the top.
6. Put the dish in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and melted.
7. If you want the cheese to be crusty and browned, then broil the dish for 1-2 minutes after its done baking.
8. Serve hot.

Trivia

Endives were discovered by a Belgian farmer during the year 1830, when he found that when chicory roots are stored in dark and wet conditions, they can sprout and produce cream colored leafy heads. Soon after their discovery, endives became famous in the local region a new type of vegetable called “white gold”, better known a “witloof”.