In northern Europe, notably Switzerland, the greens of chard, chicory and curly endive are often discarded, as it’s the crisp stems that are prized. There’s no need to waste either part of these tasty, healthy vegetables. Use the greens in a pie, salad, pasta or the delicious chicory in olive dish in the video below, then turn the stems into a delicious side dish like this chicory gratin baked in a creamy, cheese-topped béchamel sauce. If you don’t have leek, use a large, chopped onion and add a few chopped green onions if you have them. You can cook the vegetables in the white sauce, top with cheese and then refrigerate until ready to bake. This recipe is easy to double or triple to feed a crowd. It’s hard to get Swiss wine in Australia, so I turn to neighbouring Germany for a wine match. A glass of Keller Limestone Kabinett riesling is a wonderful accompaniment to this rich chicory gratin. It’s delicate and aromatic with a lovely citrusy zing to refresh the palate between mouthfuls of creamy cheese sauce.

Serves 2 as a side dish

Ingredients
  • 40g butter
  • 1 leek, finely sliced and washed well
  • Salt flakes and freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
  • 1 head chicory, stems washed, trimmed and sliced (about 175g cleaned weight)
  • 20g plain flour (6 teaspoons)
  • 1 cup milk (250ml)
  • 60g freshly grated Gruyere or Comté
Method
  1. Melt butter in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Add leek and a good pinch of salt. Stir well, cover and cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender.
  3. Stir in the chicory stems, cover and cook for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  4. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 180°C.
  5. Stir in flour and cook for 5 minutes, stirring regularly to remove any bits stuck to the base of the pan.
  6. Add milk, increase heat to medium–high and stir constantly until it boils.
  7. Reduce heat so that it’s just simmering and stir for a further 2 minutes.
  8. Remove from heat, taste and stir in salt and nutmeg.
  9. Transfer to a baking dish and top with cheese.
  10. Bake for about 20 minutes, until bubbling and well-coloured.
  11. Serve chicory gratin in the baking dish alongside any meat or poultry.

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Chicory in Olive Oil

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