Cooking Endive

EndiveI received two little endives in my bountiful basket and wanted to do something special with them rather than just cut them up and add to my salad. I decided to cook them. Endive belongs to the chicory genus, which includes several similar bitter leafed vegetables. I am talking about the little bullet shaped endives, not the curly leaf or chicory. Endive is rich in many vitamins and minerals, especially in foliate and vitamins A and K, and is high in fiber. Endive has a bitter-sweet taste, actually I thought it was very savory, almost nutty. I served it up with my baby potatoes and flounder; it made a very filling side dish. Let your kids eat these little “boats” with their fingers. Make it fun.
endive2Here are a few suggestions on how to enjoy your endive:
1. Slice endive in half lengthwise; I kept the root end intact as it will hold the leaves together after sliced. I brushed both halves with olive oil, and sliced a fresh garlic clove into very thin slices and put the slices in between the endive leaves. I sprinkled with kosher salt and pepper, and a little garlic powder. I put my endive in my small oven with my potatoes at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. When I removed them from the oven I sprinkled some balsamic vinegar over them.

2. Slice your endives in half. Sprinkle cut side with kosher salt and pepper, and any other seasoning you might like. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a heavy pan along with 1 tablespoon coconut oil. Place the endive halves cut side down in the pan, cook on medium-high heat until they are brown. Add ½ cup chicken broth and simmer until almost all liquid is gone. Remove from pan sprinkle with Kosher salt, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar
3. Brush sliced endive with olive oil, sprinkle with kosher salt and pepper, a little Parmesan cheese and grill on the BBQ until lightly brown on both sides.

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