Julia Child was a fan of endive. She called it Belgian endive and she included recipes for it in several of her cookbooks.
When I was asked by the folks at Kitchen-Play to do a video featuring California endive my mind immediately turned to Julia Child. Well actually, my mind immediately turned to my mother who was quite a Julia Child fan. So this is the sort of French classic I was raised on.
When my mother was experimenting with endive in the 1970s and early 80s, they were rather exotic and expensive. They came from the store preciously packed between blue sheets of paper– creamy white, pointy-looking things! What were they we thought, some sort of flower bud?? They were certainly the odd man out in a veg drawer filled with familiar carrots and celery. Let me tell you, to this grade school geek they seemed as if they were from another planet.
But I have long since seen the light. Endive has a natural bitterness that is quite complex. It is a terrific compliment to so many bold or creamy flavors, and it is assertive enough to be served simply. I like chopped endive served as a salad with a simple mustard vinaigrette. You can see my version here.
But today I want you to consider cooked endive. Because that very same bitter edge mellows somewhat when braised. The complex flavor, combined with the very best butter, makes endive a great accompaniment to roast meat. And that’s just how Julia (and my mother) served them all throughout my youth. Please watch the following video. I’ll make Butter Braised Endive the Julia Child way!
I adapted this recipe from Julia’s The Way To Cook
Butter Braised Endive serves 6 CLICK here for a printable recipe
- 12 small, or 8 large Belgian endives
- 1⁄4 t kosher salt, or more to taste
- 1⁄2 c water, plus more as needed
- 1⁄2 lemon, juiced
- 4 T butter, sliced into 1/2 tablespoon pieces
- 2 T flat leaf parsley, minced as garnish, optional
Prepare the endive for cooking: Trim the root ends of the endive, being careful to ensure that the leaves remain attached. Remove any wilted leaves and cut out the brown portions. Wash under cool running water.
Braising the endive: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Arrange the endives in a single layer in a stove top and oven proof casserole or baking dish just large enough to accommodate them. Add the salt, water, lemon juice, and butter. Cover the dish with a lid or foil and simmer on top of the stove, until just tender, about 20 minutes.
Remove the cover and lay a piece of parchment cut to size onto the surface of the vegetables. Place into the preheated oven and bake about 2 hours. Baste the endive several times during cooking with the liquid in the dish. You may need to add more water to assure that the liquid remains at about 1/4‑inch deep. Taste the liquid about halfway through cooking and adjust seasoning if needed.
They are done when the endive is very tender and a pale golden color. Remove from the oven, discard parchment and garnish with parsley if using. Serve warm.
SERIOUS FUN FOOD
Greg Henry
SippitySup
This review was sponsored by California Endive and is part of the Kitchen-Play Progressive Dinner Party. To find out more about how you can win $100 from Kitchen Play by trying this recipe, visit Kitchen Play.
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I have so long wanted to make financiers but every time I have 3 egg whites I make macarons! You’ve inspired me, Greg! Looks gorgeous!
That cake is absolutely gorgeous! We’d love if you could enter it into theRecipe4Living 5th Birthday Contest! You could win a huge gift basket full of Scharffen Berger gourmet chocolate!
and all your fancy French pastry, I’m so proud. Happy New Year Greg, looking forward to seeing what great things you share with us all in 2011. Cheers — S
eat the whole batch myself the first day to preserve freshness, oh alright. The things I do for you.
Needless to say I have truly enjoyed this series Greg. These financiers are exactly the kind of dessert that I love — not too sweet or rich but a wonderful assemblage of flavors and textures. Thank you so much for sharing this with us!!
2010 had many blessings for me, including meeting you. I wish you and yours a truly happy, healthy and joyous 2011 — looking forward to all that you will do in 2011!!
I love baking with pistachios just as much as almonds. This is a truly elegant dessert–from the tea-poached prunes to that pistachio ice cream that’s calling my name. I agree with Sara–I want to gobble this up, too!
Hi Greg — we are sherry fans around here, thumbs up to Grant’s pairing!
Wishing you all a happy healthy delicious 2011!
LL
I love financier and yours looks decadent with with the pistachio topping and a side of black tea treated prunes. What a treat. This is one to sit and savor every bite.
Mmm, this looks terrific! Great photos, I just want to gobble up this dessert! 🙂