Endive with Figs, Blue Cheese, and Pecans
TIME/SERVINGS
Total: 30 mins
Active: 20 mins
Makes: 24 hors d'oeuvres
By Dana Williams and Daniel Flores, Bread & Wine, Los Angeles
Endive leaves are the perfect delivery device for mouthfuls of sweet roasted figs, crunchy candied pecans, and pungent, salty blue cheese. Easy, too!
Game plan: The pecans can be prepared a day ahead of time and stored in an airtight container.
This recipe was featured in our Killer Apps menu.
- Heat oven to 400°F. Melt butter in a medium sauté pan over medium heat until foaming. Add pecans, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and maple syrup. Cook, stirring often, until sugars dissolve and mixture bubbles. Turn mixture onto a piece of aluminum foil or wax paper, set in a dry place, and let cool.
- Quarter figs lengthwise, toss them in olive oil, season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and roast in the oven until just soft, about 10 minutes.
- Trim off bottoms of endive and separate heads into leaves. Choose best 24 leaves (do not use the hearts). Place 1 fig quarter and 1 teaspoon blue cheese crumble on each leaf. Top with a pecan and serve.
Beverage pairing: Hartley & Gibson’s Amontillado, Spain. This simple, off-dry amontillado sherry complements every part of the dish (except the endive) without overly asserting itself. It has to have enough sweetness to handle the maple syrup and the nuttiness to work with the cheese and pecans. Serve it slightly chilled.
COMMENTS | ADD YOUR OWN
I have tried other endive/bluecheese/pecan combos, and this is by far the most outstanding. I dare say this is THE BEST appetizer I have ever made.
Make sure your figs are ripe. You can also get spiced pecans at Trader Joe's instead of making them yourself.
yummy..
This is also great with a rasberry or champagne vinagrette mixed in with the bleu cheese and pecans.
You can substitute pecans with Macadamia nuts or walnuts, lightly toasted. Yummy!
I make something like this with carmelized onions instead of the figs.
I made this last night. It's almost too easy. I substituted figs with Whole Foods' fig spread and it worked perfectly. It will make you look good at a party.
This sounds absolutely delightful- I need to make it very soon!
It would also be yummy with romaine hearts and sugared walnuts standing in for the endive and pecans.
We tried this when it was first featured....fantastic!
For the holidays, sprinkle some pomegrante seeds on the endive for color and crunch- and anti-oxidants!
What a nice combination of flavors! They look great and I'll definitely have to try this recipe.