Endive Spears With Stilton Cheese Toasted Pecans And Sauteed Pears Recipes

WHIPPED CHEESE ENDIVE SPEARS WITH CRISPY PROSCIUTTO AND PICKLED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Put the jalapenos in a small bowl. Heat the vinegar, sugar, garlic, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan until just simmering. Pour the liquid over the jalapenos and refrigerate, covered, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lay the prosciutto on a baking sheet lined with parchment and bake until a few shades darker and crispy, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain (they will crisp more as they cool).
• Separate the endives into leaves, keeping 16 nicely-sized leaves (discard the remaining or reserve for another use).
• Beat together the goat cheese, cream cheese, parsley, chives, lemon zest, a pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper in a separate bowl.
• With a spoon, dollop the cheese mixture onto the endive leaves, leaving the base of the stem bare so that they can be picked up easily. Break the prosciutto into small pieces and put a piece on each endive. Put a pickled pepper on each and arrange decoratively on a platter.

FRIED ENDIVE SPEARS

Steps:

• Quarter 3 endives lengthwise; season with salt and pepper. Whisk 1 cup buttermilk with 2 tablespoons chopped parsley and 3/4 teaspoon hot sauce. Dip the endive spears in the buttermilk mixture, then dredge in flour. Fry in 1/2 inch hot vegetable oil, turning, until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on paper towels; season with salt. Serve with ranch dressing and lemon wedges.

ENDIVE, STILTON AND PEAR TART

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add endive, shallots and curry; sauté until endive is golden, about 8 minutes. Add pears and vinegar and cook until pears are tender, about 2 minutes. Transfer to bowl and cool.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Place both pastry sheets on lightly floured work surface. Cut one 9-inch round from each pastry sheet. Place 1 round on heavy cookie sheet. Brush pastry with egg. Stir cheese and chives into endive mixture. Arrange endive mixture atop pastry round, leaving 1/2-inch border. Cover with remaining pastry round. Press and crimp edges to seal. Brush tart with egg. Using small sharp knife, cut small hole in center of tart. Freeze 10 minutes.
• Bake tart until puffed and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let tart stand 1 hour before serving.

ENDIVE, PEAR, AND STILTON SALAD

Steps:

• Make dressing:
• Chop shallot and crush star anise. In a blender blend shallot, oil, orange juice, and Port until emulsified. Transfer mixture to a small bowl or jar and add star anise and salt and pepper to taste. Chill dressing, covered, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day. Pour dressing through a sieve into a bowl and discard solids. Whisk dressing until combined well.
• Make salad:
• Preheat oven to 400°F. and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Halve and core pears. Cut pears lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices and arrange in one layer on baking sheet. Roast pears in middle of oven until pale golden, about 10 minutes, and cool on baking sheet.
• Separate endive leaves, and, if desired, cut leaves crosswise into 1 1/2-inch-thick pieces.
• On a platter or 4 salad plates arrange pears, endive leaves, and Stilton and drizzle dressing on top. Garnish salad with parsley or chervil.