Cherry & Dennis Helper Habitat

French Endive and Ham Gratin

法式菊苣火腿焗盤

French Endive and Ham Gratin: Tender endive is wrapped individually in ham, covered with light white sauce and baked beneath golden cheese.

Total time: 65 min
Difficulty: Medium
Servings: 4 servings

Recipe overview

Tender endive is wrapped individually in ham, covered with light white sauce and baked beneath golden cheese.

01

Ingredients

All ingredients

4 piece Belgian endive
8 piece cooked ham
40 g butter
40 g all-purpose flour
500 ml milk
100 g Gruyere cheese
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Black pepper

French Endive and Ham Gratin: 4 piece Belgian endive, 8 piece cooked ham, 40 g butter, 40 g all-purpose flour, 500 ml milk, 100 g Gruyere cheese, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp Black pepper

02

Tools

knife
cutting board
pot
colander
saucepan
whisk
baking dish
oven
oven mitts
serving plate

French Endive and Ham Gratin: knife, cutting board, pot, colander, saucepan, whisk, baking dish, oven, oven mitts, serving plate

03

Steps

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Trim the endive: Trim a thin slice from each endive base while keeping the leaves intact.

Step 1

Trim the endive

Trim a thin slice from each endive base while keeping the leaves intact.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Simmer the endive: Simmer the endive with half the salt for 15 minutes until tender.

Step 2

Simmer the endive

Simmer the endive with half the salt for 15 minutes until tender.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Drain and press dry: Drain and cool the endive, then press gently to remove excess water.

Step 3

Drain and press dry

Drain and cool the endive, then press gently to remove excess water.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Start the white sauce: Melt the butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.

Step 4

Start the white sauce

Melt the butter in a saucepan, whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Whisk in the milk: Add the milk gradually, whisking smooth after each addition.

Step 5

Whisk in the milk

Add the milk gradually, whisking smooth after each addition.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Thicken the sauce: Simmer the sauce for 5 minutes until it coats a spoon, then season.

Step 6

Thicken the sauce

Simmer the sauce for 5 minutes until it coats a spoon, then season.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Wrap endive in ham: Wrap each endive snugly with two slices of ham.

Step 7

Wrap endive in ham

Wrap each endive snugly with two slices of ham.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Arrange in the dish: Arrange the ham-wrapped endive seam-side down in one layer.

Step 8

Arrange in the dish

Arrange the ham-wrapped endive seam-side down in one layer.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Cover with sauce: Spoon the white sauce evenly over every wrapped endive.

Step 9

Cover with sauce

Spoon the white sauce evenly over every wrapped endive.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Add the cheese: Scatter the Gruyère evenly over the entire surface.

Step 10

Add the cheese

Scatter the Gruyère evenly over the entire surface.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Bake until golden: Bake at 200°C for 20 minutes until bubbling and golden.

Step 11

Bake until golden

Bake at 200°C for 20 minutes until bubbling and golden.

French Endive and Ham Gratin — Rest and serve: Rest for 5 minutes, then lift out each intact portion and serve.

Step 12

Rest and serve

Rest for 5 minutes, then lift out each intact portion and serve.

Common mistakes

Poorly drained endive waters down the gratin, and uncooked flour leaves the sauce tasting raw.

Tips

Press the cooked endive gently dry so the ham stays wrapped and the sauce does not thin out.