Pear and Blue Cheese Endive Boats
These Pear and Blue Cheese Endive Boats make a unique party appetizer! This recipe combines the crisp crunch of Belgian endive with sweet and juicy pears and the rich, tangy flavor of blue cheese. Topped with harissa candied walnuts for a touch of spice and sweetness, these easy-to-assemble boats are as beautiful as they are flavorful.
Ingredients
White Wine Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tsp mayonnaise
- ½ tsp sea salt
Harissa Candied Walnuts
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp harissa paste
- pinch of salt
Endive Boats
- 3 heads Belgian endive
- 1 whole pear thinly sliced
- 50 grams blue cheese crumbled
- thinly sliced strips of basil for garnish optional
Instructions
- Candy the Walnuts: In a skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add maple syrup, harissa paste, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine, then add chopped walnuts. Cook for about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently until the walnuts are golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and let cool.
- Prepare the Dressing: In a small mason jar combine white wine vinegar, olive oil, maple syrup, mayonnaise, and sea salt and shake well. Pour half of the dressing into a shallow bowl for dipping.
- Note: This vinaigrette recipe makes double the amount you'll need for the endive boats, and you will not use all of the smaller endive leaves. Feel free to use the extra dressing to enjoy a side salad, so that the smaller endive leaves aren’t wasted.
- Slice the Pear and Crumble the Cheese: Thinly slice a pear and crumble blue cheese.
- Assemble the Endive Boats: Cut the ends off Belgian endive and carefully separate the leaves. Choose the larger leaves and set aside the smaller leaves. Dip each leaf in the dressing, allowing excess to drip off. Place a slice of pear at the bottom of each endive leaf, then top with candied walnuts, crumbled blue cheese, and a few strips of basil.
- Serve: Arrange the assembled endive boats on a round plate and drizzle with an additional spoonful of dressing and serve immediately.
Notes
- Prep Ahead: Candy the walnuts and prepare the dressing ahead of time for quick and easy assembly when you're ready to serve.
- Choose ripe pears: For the best flavor, pick pears that are ripe but still firm -- juicy but not too soft.
- Choose a mild blue cheese: A milder blue cheese will provide the same tangy flavor without overpowering the other ingredients.
- Serve Immediately: For the best texture, assemble the endive boats just before serving to maintain the crispness of the leaves.