Best Braised Endive Recipes

BRAISED ENDIVE WITH HAM AND GRUYèRE

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.

BRAISED ENDIVE

Steps:

• In a skillet large enough to hold endive in one layer, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add endive, and cook, turning occasionally, until brown all over, about 7 minutes.
• Cover with a parchment-paper round, and then a tight-fitting lid. Reduce heat to very low, and cook until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 20 to 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, and serve immediately.

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.

BRAISED BELGIAN ENDIVE

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, let it get warm (melt) and add the endive (whole not leaves separated), sugar, lemon juice,& chicken stock.
• Bring to a boil, cover pan and braise the endive for 3 minutes.
• Turn 1/4 way round braise for 3 more minutes, turn a quarter again continue to brais for 3 minutes and then turn the endive to the last quarter and braise 3 minutes (a total of 12 minutes and braising all four sides).
• Uncover the pan, raise heat to medium High.
• Add herbs, parsley cook for an additional 2 minutes, pan juices should have reduced by about 2/3.
• Serve ASAP.

BRAISED BELGIAN ENDIVE GRATIN

Steps:

• In a heavy kettle combine the endives, cut sides down, in two layers, the lemon juice, the butter, the salt, the sugar, and the broth, cover the mixture with a buttered round of wax paper and the lid, and bring the liquid to a boil. Simmer the mixture, covered, for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the endives are very tender, and transfer them with a slotted spoon, cut sides down, to a buttered gratin dish just large enough to hold them in one layer. In a small bowl stir together the Gruyère and the bread crumbs, sprinkle the mixture evenly over the endives, and broil the gratin under a preheated broiler about 4 inches from the heat for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the topping is golden and the cheese is melted.

DUCK BREAST WITH BRAISED BELGIAN ENDIVE, SHAVED CAULIFLOWER AND GREEN PEPPERCORNS

Steps:

• Split and trim the duck breasts to yield 4 individual breasts. Some people remove the "tenders," as there is a small span of unchewable silver skin within, but I just leave them intact and deal with it when eating, like the fat or gristle in any steak or chop. It's just part of the deal.
• Season the duck with salt and pepper generously on both skin and flesh sides, then place breasts skin-side down in an extra-large heavy-bottomed steel pan.
• Set the pan over medium-low heat, and gently cook the duck breasts 20 to 25 minutes, skin-side down the whole time, pouring off the rendering duck fat many times along the way so that the duck does not poach or steam in its own fat. Save all of that duck fat.
• In the meantime, split the endive heads in half lengthwise, and remove any limp outer leaves. Crush the green peppercorns with the flat side of your chef's knife, then mince the crushed peppercorns further, sometimes dragging the mince under the flat side of your knife to make it into a paste, as you might with a clove of garlic.
• When the duck skin is dark golden brown and crisp and most of the white fat has rendered out, turn the breast flesh-side down. Increase heat to medium-high (you want to get a true sear and not a gray "steam"), and sear for 2 to 4 minutes, or until the flesh is golden brown. Remove the duck breasts from the pan, and set them aside in a warm place.
• Add a nice spoonful of the rendered duck fat back into the hot pan, and lay in the endive halves, cut-side down. Cook until you get a dark golden sear on the cut sides of the endive, about 3 minutes. Turn the endives over onto their rounded backs, and add the cauliflower, shallot and peppercorn paste to the pan.
• Add back in another nice spoonful of the rendered duck fat, and stir together as best as you can without disturbing the endive. You can move it to the side and give yourself some room for stirring and cooking the cauliflower. You want to make sure the cauliflower and the shallots have contact with the fond (the fat, salt and pepper that have been left behind from the cooking of the duck breasts) in the pan.
• Add the chicken stock and the sherry or vermouth, and partly cover the pan to simmer the vegetables until soft and cooked, about 4 minutes. The liquid will be absorbed, the high note of the alcohol will burn off and a loose sauce will remain when finished cooking.
• Season the vegetables with salt and pepper as needed, and drizzle some more of the rendered duck fat over the whole deal if that moves you, as it does me.
• Slice the duck breasts across at a slight bias, approximately the thickness of your pinkie, and serve each with endive and cauliflower. Sprinkle a few drops of sherry vinegar over each serving to finish.

BRAISED ENDIVE WITH LEEKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Rinse the endive but leave the heads whole. Slice the leeks, trimming the roots and withered leaves. Rinse them thoroughly in several changes of cold water, making sure you have removed all the grit. Do not worry if the slices come apart.
• Place the sliced leeks across the bottom of a buttered shallow baking dish just big enough to hold the endive in one layer (use two dishes if necessary). Arrange the endive on top and add the butter, cut into pieces, and the chicken stock. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Cover with wax or foil paper and bake until the endive is tender (about 30 or 40 minutes) and the liquid has reduced to a syrupy glaze. (Remove the paper during cooking, about halfway through, if necessary to reduce the liquid).
• Sprinkle with chervil or parsley and serve.

BRAISED ENDIVE WITH ORANGE

Steps:

• Combine stock, orange juice, liqueur, salt, and pepper in a large, shallow, nonreactive saucepan. Bring to a boil, and add endive. Cover endive with cheesecloth to keep it submerged, reduce heat to medium low, and cover; simmer until tender, about 45 minutes.
• Transfer endive to a plate, and cover with cheesecloth to keep warm. Continue simmering liquid until syrupy and slightly thick, about 20 minutes.
• Slice heads of endive in half lengthwise; add to syrup. Add orange slices, and toss to coat. Toss again, and serve.

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.

BRAISED ENDIVE IN MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add endive, and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Pour stock into skillet; bring to a boil, and cover. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, turning endive occasionally, until just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer endive to a paper-towel-lined plate; discard stock. Pat endive dry, and set aside.
• Make dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mustard and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, pour in oil in a slow, steady stream; whisk until emulsified. Gently toss each endive in dressing, coating well. Garnish with parsley, and serve at room temperature; set any extra dressing on the side.

BRAISED ENDIVE WITH AVGOLEMONO SAUCE

Steps:

• Soak the endive in salted ice water for about 15 minutes. Drain and remove as much moisture as possible.
• In a large skillet, over medium, melt butter. Add endive, lightly season with salt and pepper . Add lemon juice and saute lightly 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
• Add chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Lower heat to maintain a simmer and simmer uncovered 25 to 30 minutes or until tender. Remove skillet from heat.
• In small bowl of electric mixer, beat eggs until light and frothy. Add flour and continue to beat. Slowly add lemon juice; gradually drizzle in hot broth from the skillet.
• Return skillet to low heat. Pour egg-lemon sauce over endive, shaking pan back and forth to incorporate avgolemono sauce with endive and to thicken sauce.
• Serve immediately.

BRAISED BELGIAN ENDIVE

Steps:

• In a 10-inch skillet, combine the endives, shallots and stock and season lightly with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, until the vegetables are soft, about 15 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the endives and shallots to a bowl. Return the pan to the heat and boil the stock until it is reduced to a thin syrup, about 10 to 15 minutes. Cut the endives in half lengthwise and return them with the shallots to the pan and cook briefly to reheat. Season with salt and pepper to taste and 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.

CREAMY BRAISED CHICORY/BELGIAN ENDIVE AND CELERY WITH PEAS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C / fan 180C / 295F / gas 6. Hold one chicory half and a length of celery together and wrap with a rasher of pancetta or bacon to make a bundle. Repeat with remaining veg and place in a shallow ovenproof dish. If you have any leftover celery, pop that in too. Pour in the stock and cream, season to taste and cover tightly with foil.
• Bake for 40 minutes or until the vegetables are soft. Remove the foil and stir in the peas. Cook for 10 minutes more until the bacon is crisp and the peas just cooked.
• Serve this as a main dish together with rice (serves 3) or as a side dish (serves up to eight).

CRISP SEA BASS WITH BRAISED ENDIVE AND AGED BALSAMIC VINEGAR

Steps:

• Season the fish to taste with salt and pepper. Combine egg and cream to make an egg wash. Brush 1 side of the fillets with egg wash, then cover the egg wash side of fillets with bread crumb or cereal, and press down firmly. In a hot saute pan add 3 tablespoons oil. Place the fillets into the pan breaded side down. Cook for 2 minutes. Turn fillets over add the thyme and cook for approximately 2 minutes more, or until fillets are cooked, remove from pan. Meanwhile place 2 tablespoons oil into a hot pan, when the oil starts to smoke, add the endive. Toss the endive. Add the spice mix and the chives. Cook for 1 minute then remove from the heat. Place the endive in the center of 4 plates. Place the fish on top of the endive. Drizzle the chive oil around then the balsamic vinegar. Garnish with chives.

BRAISED ENDIVE WITH CHESTNUTS IN BROWN BUTTER

Steps:

• Add 2 tablespoons butter to a cast-iron skillet over high heat and add the endives cut-side down. Sear until the bottoms are slightly charred, then add the remaining 4 tablespoons butter along with the chestnuts and sage leaves and cook until the chestnuts begin to brown. Finish with the sherry vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
• Arrange the endives on a plate or platter charred-side up. Spoon chestnuts over the endives, then drizzle with the sauce. Serve immediately.

BRAISED SHRIMP AND CREAMY ENDIVE

Steps:

• Trim endives and quarter lengthwise. Cut out and discard cores, then cut endives diagonally into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Toss with sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon lemon juice in a bowl.
• Melt butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately low heat and add endive mixture, tossing to coat. Cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until endive is tender, 10 to 12 minutes.
• While endive is cooking, toss shrimp with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice in a bowl.
• When endive is tender, increase heat to moderate and cook, uncovered, stirring, until juices are evaporated, about 2 minutes. Stir in cream and simmer 1 minute.
• Scatter shrimp over endive and cook, covered, over low heat, without stirring, until shrimp are just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes.

SWORDFISH WITH BRAISED ENDIVE

Steps:

• Bring water, butter, sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and a pinch of pepper to a simmer in a 10-inch heavy skillet. Add endive in 1 layer, then braise, covered, turning wedges over once, 10 minutes.
• Remove lid and increase heat to moderately high, then cook, turning over occasionally, until all of liquid is evaporated and endive is very tender and well caramelized, 6 to 8 minutes.
• While endive is braising, pat fish dry and sprinkle with pepper and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté fish, uncovered, turning over once, until just cooked through, about 7 minutes total. Serve fish topped with endive.

BRAISED BELGIAN ENDIVE AND CHICKEN CUTLETS - CLEAN EATING

Steps:

• Heat oil in a large skillet on high.
• Season both sides of chicken with pepper and thyme and brown for 2 to 3 minutes per side. (less if using tenderloins).
• Remove from pan and reserve.
• In same skillet, add endive, honey, lemon juice and broth and boil until liquid is syrupy, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Return chicken to skillet, add parsley and toss until chicken is coated with pan juices.
• Serve immediately.

BRAISED ENDIVE IN MUSTARD VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the endive, and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Pour the stock into the skillet; bring to a boil, and cover. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, turning the endive occasionally, until just tender, about 20 minutes.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the endive to a paper-towel-lined plate; discard the stock. Pat the endive dry, and set aside.
• Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the mustard and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Whisking constantly, pour in the oil in a slow, steady stream; whisk until emulsified. Gently toss each endive in the dressing, coating well. Garnish with the parsley, and serve at room temperature; set any extra dressing on the side.