Endive with Figs, Blue Cheese, and Pecans Recipe
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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 and stored in an airtight container.
This recipe was featured as part of our Killer Apps menu.
INGREDIENTS
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 24 pecan halves
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 6 fresh figs
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 3 heads Belgian endive
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
INSTRUCTIONS
- Heat the 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 waxed paper, set in a dry place, and let cool.
- Quarter figs lengthwise, toss in olive oil, season with salt and pepper, place on a baking sheet, and roast in the oven until just soft, about 10 minutes.
- Trim off the bottoms of the endive and separate the heads into leaves. Choose the best 24 leaves (do not use the hearts). Place 1 fig quarter and 1 teaspoon of the blue cheese 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.
You could use flaked almonds or chopped whole almonds but you would be better to substitute pecan halves as it fits the flavor profile better.
Needs more "mixture" for each endive leaf...cream cheese, maybe.
we can´t get pecans here in Castilla... will almonds do?
What a nice combination of flavors! They look great and I'll definitely have to try this recipe.
For the holidays, sprinkle some pomegrante seeds on the endive for color and crunch- and anti-oxidants!
We tried this when it was first featured....fantastic!
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.
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.
I make something like this with carmelized onions instead of the figs.
You can substitute pecans with Macadamia nuts or walnuts, lightly toasted. Yummy!
This is also great with a rasberry or champagne vinagrette mixed in with the bleu cheese and pecans.
yummy..
Make sure your figs are ripe. You can also get spiced pecans at Trader Joe's instead of making them yourself.
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.