Braising Week: Braised Bacon-Wrapped Endive

C – I had to ask what other vegetables I could braise.

Luke wanted to show me how to braise endive. Isn’t it the same as the leeks? Yup, pretty much. But, you have to be a lot more careful with these endives. They can turn bitter if you overcook them.

No one likes bitter endives.

His technique was similar. We added one more element to the finished dish. Bacon. After cooking the endives in braising liquid, we wrapped them with thin bacon and pan seared them.

Just cook the bacon until browned, but not extra crispy. That is crucial. This is the step I messed up. Luke executed really well. Mine turned out bitter. His were just right.

We couldn’t stop eating these. You really can’t have anything better and more gourmet than bacon-wrapped endives as an appetizer. They were delicious.

Braising Week: Braised Bacon-Wrapped Endive

Recipe type: Sides

Author: Christina

Prep time: 10 mins

Cook time: 1 hour

Total time: 1 hour 10 mins

Serves: 4

Ingredients

4 endives, cut in half lengthwise
5 cups water
1 cups white wine
½ shallot, with skin on, halved
½ head garlic with skin on, cut in halved
3 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp peppercorn
6 sprigs parsley
¼ bunch thyme + 1 Tbsp, divided
8 slices of thin-sliced bacon, cut 7 inches long

Instructions

Place water and wine into a sauce pan and bring to a boil.
Add shallot, garlic, salt, peppercorn, parsley and ¼ bunch thyme into pan. Let boil for 5 minutes
Remove from heat and strain.
Place liquid into a roasting pan or ¼ hotel pan.
Add endives cut side up. Heat pan on medium low and let it come up to a simmer. Do not boil. It will take about 35 minutes until it gets tender. Flip over half way.
Once tender remove from pan and place on a paper towel to dry.
Wrap with bacon.
Place endives wrapped in bacon into a saute pan. Cook until the bacon is almost crisp. Do not burn the bacon. Overdone bacon may make the endives overcooked and bitter.
Serve as a side dish or an appetizer.
Enjoy!