Belgian endive gratin with ham and cheese sauce

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Braised endives wrapped in ham, covered in cheese sauce and baked until bubbling.

Serves: 4 people

Preparation time: 25 min

Ingredients

• Belgian endives – 8
• cooked ham – 8 slices
• butter – 4 tbsp
• flour – 4 tbsp
• milk – 2 1/2 cups
• Gruyère or Emmental – 1 1/2 cups, grated
• nutmeg – 1 pinch
• lemon juice – 1 tsp
• salt – to taste
• white pepper – to taste

Method

1. Trim the endives and steam or braise them with a little butter, salt and lemon juice until tender. Let them drain very well so the dish stays creamy, not watery.
2. Wrap each endive in a slice of ham and place them side by side in a buttered baking dish.
3. Melt the butter, stir in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and simmer until smooth and thick. Add most of the cheese, the nutmeg and white pepper.
4. Spoon the cheese sauce over the wrapped endives and scatter the remaining cheese on top.
5. Bake at 200°C for 20 to 25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
6. Serve hot with boiled potatoes or bread if you like.