BAKED ENDIVE WITH HAM

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Baked Endive with Ham image

Categories     Sauce     Side     Bake     Broil     Steam     Ham     Winter     Kosher     Raw     Endive     Simmer     Boil

Yield serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 large Belgian endives, root ends trimmed
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
Kosher salt
2 teaspoons sugar
12 thin slices smoked ham
2 cups whole milk
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons all-purpose fl our
1 1/2 cups grated Gruyère cheese
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Freshly ground white pepper

Steps:

  • Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a 12-inch skillet over moderate heat. Add the endives; they will fit snugly side by side. Add 1 cup water and the lemon juice. Season with salt to taste and sprinkle with the sugar. Cover with a round of parchment paper to keep the endives bathed in steam. Bring to a boil over high heat, then cover and adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook for 25 to 30 minutes, then turn the endives with tongs, re-cover with the parchment, and continue cooking until you can insert a knife easily, about 20 minutes longer. Set aside until cool.
  • Gently squeeze each endive to remove excess moisture, then wrap each in a slice of ham. Place in a single layer in a 9 by 13-inch baking dish.
  • Preheat the oven to 375°F.
  • Put the milk and bay leaf in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat; reduce the heat to low. In another small saucepan, melt the remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons butter over low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes to eliminate the raw flour taste. Slowly add the hot milk, whisking constantly. Simmer until smooth and slightly thickened. (It will be thin.) Remove from the heat. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese. Season with nutmeg and white pepper. Remove the bay leaf.
  • Pour the sauce evenly over the wrapped endives. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup cheese on top. Bake until hot throughout and bubbly, about 25 minutes, then place the dish under a broiler and broil until the surface is lightly browned. Let rest for 15 minutes, then serve.
  • Enjoy with Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Chardonnay or another white wine with lush texture.

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