Belgian Endives au Gratin

Belgian Endives au Gratin

Here is an old family favourite recipe.  I've been making this dish ever since my girls were little and it always surprised me to see the joy in their eyes every time I served this meal.  They never seemed to be bothered by the bitterness of the endives.  Must be their love for Swiss Emmenthal Cheese that makes this meal one of my family's most requested. 

Ingredients:

Belgian Endives

Black Forest Ham

Swiss Emmenthal Cheese

Flour

Milk

Butter

Salt & Pepper

1.   Boil endives in a pot of water containing 1 whole garlic clove.  

2.  Drain and keep juice from boiled endives off to the side for use when making sauce.

3.  Wrap each endive with a slice of ham and a tiny piece of garlic (If endive is large, cut in half lengthwise and wrap each half separately with a slice of ham).

4.  Lay out wrapped endives side by side in a glass cooking dish.

5.  Sauce:  Butter, 3 tbsp flour, milk, endive juice, cheese  

     Method:  melt butter and whisk in the flour, gradually add liquids to form sauce consistency, season with salt and pepper, add grated cheese and melt to a liquid form.  (Save some grated cheese to sprinkle overtop of endives before putting in oven).

5.   Pour sauce over the endives in the glass dish.

6.   Sprinkle remaining grated cheese overtop.

7.   Bake covered with foil at 350°F for approximately 30 to 45 minutes.  (Take foil off during last 10 minutes for a crispy top).

8.   Serve over boiled potatoes.