Endives in Ham Rolls with a Cheesy Mornay Sauce & Mashed Potato Gratin | Belgian Classic

gruyere cheese

🥗Healthier: low-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: mozzarella cheese

Low-fat cheese reduces calories while maintaining creaminess.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: pecorino cheese

Pecorino is often less expensive and offers a similar flavor.

Cut off the hood end of each Belgian endive and remove the hard core with a small knife.

In a pot, heat salted water to a soft boil and boil the endives for about 10 minutes until tender.

Check for doneness with a knife tip; it should slide through easily.

Drain the endives in a colander and press out the excess moisture to prevent the sauce from splitting during baking.

Peel the potatoes and set them to boil for about 20 to 25 minutes until tender.

Test the potatoes for doneness with a knife tip; it should slide through with no resistance.

Drain the potatoes, add butter, and season with salt, white pepper, and nutmeg.

Mash the potatoes until smooth; if too thick, add milk and an egg yolk.

Transfer the mashed potatoes to an oven dish and roughen the surface with a fork.

Melt butter in a pot to make a béchamel sauce, then whisk in flour to create a roux and cook for 1 minute.

Slowly pour in the cold milk while whisking constantly to prevent lumps, adding the remaining milk gradually until fully incorporated.

Bring the sauce to a soft boil for 1 minute to thicken it.

Once the béchamel is ready, add grated gruyere cheese and whisk until incorporated; season with salt, white pepper, and nutmeg.

Roll each endive in a slice of cooked ham and place them in an oven dish.

Cover the ham-wrapped endives with the Mornay sauce and finish with more grated cheese and optional breadcrumbs for crunch.

Bake both the mashed potatoes and the endives in a preheated oven at 180°C (355°F) for 15 minutes.

Switch to the grill for 5 minutes to create a golden crispy crust, being careful not to burn the cheese or mash.

Remove the mashed potatoes from the oven if they finish cooking before the endives, and grill the endives for one more minute.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens