“You say endive and I say chicory—let’s NOT call the whole thing off!”
This is the vegetable in question:
Here in France they call it endive and this is chicorée
In the UK it’s the reverse–perversely.
Oh well–Vive la difference!
This simple method comes from an early Simon Hopkinson book–Roast Chicken and Other Stories.
The bulbs are cooked in a low oven for two hours and emerge with “eat me!” written all over them.
Two medium endive each went well with the chicken last night.
for 2
4 medium endive/chicory bulbs–outer leaves removed, bases sliced off and the bitter little cone carefully removed with the tip of a sharp knife.
2/3 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
juice of a lemon
- Heat the oven to 170C/340F/fan oven 160C
- Heat the oil in a pan with a lid, that can go into the oven.
- Place the bulbs in the pan and season with salt and pepper.
- Turn them in the oil over a medium low flame to color them.
- Add the lemon juice and let it bubble a moment.
- Cover the pan and put it in the oven for two hours.
- Wise to check them now and again–add a little water if necessary.
- It proved popular in-house!–encore! was heard…
Robin Ellis 
Endive, chicory…… I’m Dutch and call it “witlof”, just to add al little to the confusion.
Is witlof red, Dieneke?
I will help Dieneke. In Holland we call it:Witlof. Wit =White !!!and we often put a a slice of ham roll round the witlof and put it in the oven!
Thanks, Caroline.
No, it’s white. The red kind is called “roodlof”. (wit=white, rood=red)
Clear–thanks, Dieneke.
Well, you give me the chance to improve my English and my cooking. And I’ve learned some French words too. So if you ever want to learn some Dutch…. 😉
Ever been to my country?
Sure–even filmed there. In the flower market north of Amsterdam. An undistinguished episode of a series.
I once had to sit down in the Rijksmuseum, I was so moved by a tiny Vermeer!
I live in the north of The Netherlands, in a little village nothing like Amsterdam. Wouldn’t want to live in a big city anyway.
About Vermeer: a talent I can only dream about, but is always an inspiration. So is Rembrandt.
I’ve seen this vegetable in the grocery store — and I believe it is called endive here — and always wondered what it would be good for. Thanks for sharing the recipe — another new thing to try.
Interestingly, it’s known as witlof in Australia too, Robin. I puzzled for ages when I read it in a recipe book there…til I went to the grocers & saw it labelled! I love chicory…we braise it like you, but sometimes in red wine. I also love to eat it raw, and it’s gorgeous with orange segments & a simple vinaigrette as well, I think. Looks beautiful with that soft, lemony chicken. Hoping you are both settled back and enjoying life at home.
Those Dutch/Belgians went everywhere man! I’ll try red wine next time–thanks, Rachel.
I like them both however named. In German french chicorée is called Endiviensalat and is sometimes served mixed with sliced potatoes and roasted bacon bits. Chicoree is very flexible usable as a salad for example with sour cream optional with walnuts or mandarins or warm served like yours.
Those options sound delicious.
I have only tasted chicory in salads at restaurants. There always has been a bitter taste. I never knew there was a way to make them less bitter. Well, I naturally am not fond of chicory!!!What does non bitter chicory taste like? Can any one on the blog discribe it to me?
I’ve learned more wonderful cooking tips and recipes since learning about your blog when you gave a talk in Palo Alto, CA. Your blog is fabulous! Anita
Thank you Anita–I have happy memories of that evening in Palo Alto.
In America, we pretty much all it endive – although we fight over which pronunciation is more affected and, therefore, more attractive: un-deeve or en-dive. We use chicory in New Orleans when we run short of coffee during civil wars, lol!
Off point, I just brought home some baby garlic from our beautiful NYC Union Square Market and have no idea how to use it. Any suggestions?
P.S.: Your dish looks beautiful.
How delicious the pictures look! I’ve never cooked with chicory, but you’ve encouraged me to do so. Thanks!
Once again you are challenging this midwestern-style cook to go places this cook has never gone before! I just bought shallots today for the first time–thank you very much! Following your blog has never had a dull moment. I’ll be missing it for 3 days while I have my knee replaced (tomorrow). Carry on! I’ll be eager to catch up on my return. Again, thank you so much!
Once again you’re taking this plain midwestern cook where she’s never been before. I just bought my first shallots today to try one of your recipes, and found you’re taking us into endive/chicory! All of which I’ve never worked with, so I’m so grateful for all your photos & advice. This new recipe will have to wait until I’m back from my knee surgery & on my feet. Again, thanks to much!
There seems to be some confusion regarding Chicory (Chicorium intybus) and Endive (Chicorium endivia). While both plants belong to Family Compositae they are none the less different plants. Chicory is a European plant growing to 2 metres high with azure blue daisy type flowers and produces large roots similar to parsnips. When mature these roots are trimmed to the base and transplanted to produce “chicons” or “whitlof” as they are now called. This plant grows freely in United States. It’s also Gospel’s truth that these Chicory roots when roasted and ground produce a healthy caffeine free coffee. We used to feel more than lucky to obtain some of it during WWII. Endive is a type of lettuce more suitable to grow in warmer climate and needs “blanching”. This lettuce can also be treated as a bi-annual. Each time Robin puts out a new posting we all learn something new and beneficial from it. I know to who I do send my most sincere thanks…
Thanks, Odette for this. Just for the record I’m sticking with arabaca beans for the moment!
Odette: thanks for the explanations! Much appreciated. The only area where I would disagree is that chicory makes decent coffee. I always order a non-chicory coffee at Cafe du Monde. But I understand the need during war shortages.
Good morning, Robin. Thank you! I didn’t mention that Chicory coffee was very palatable. In times of great crisis you don’t have much choice. What do the British people say? “Beggars cannot be choosers.” Please enjoy your Coffea arabica. I believe we all do. I wish you a happy day…
Hi, Maire, thank you for your message. It’s very much appreciated. I agree with you wholeheartedly that chicory isn’t a very palatable substitute for real coffee. But in time of disaster… I recall too oak tree acorns being roasted and ground into coffee. Oven roasted apple peels did make “reasonable tea.” I’m so very glad to have made contact with you via this 21st Century invention and I wish you a happy and safe day wherever you are…
Hi, Odette! Pleased to meet you! I learned about chicory coffee from the novel “Gone with the Wind.” That book goes into great detail about food shortages during the time of war and some of the strange substitutions. Near the end of the Civil War in America, the South was substiting yams and “parched” corn for coffee! It’s interesting what you have said about WWII – are you in in America or Great Britain? My parents were NYers and never talked much about those food shortages.
Good evening. Dear Maire, thank you for a wonderful surprise found this morning at 6.30 am. I’ve replied immediately but my message is still having a rest in the blue http://www.wordpress. Please, forgive me. Suma sumarum: I most probably didn’t press the right “button”…
Now to your querry. I was an only child and our small family of three persons came to South Australia on 6th June 1952. During WWII I was a refugee child. At the “ripe old” age of 10 years I was homeless and Stateless. We have spent 5 long years among Germany’s ruins. I’ve left Australia only once. After the fall of Soviet Union I’ve returned home to Lithuania to find out if our home had survived the war. After 47 years I’ve found nothing and no one…
I’ve deducted that you may live in the South of United States, “Cafe du Monde” almost gave you away. How very interesting to learn about the corn. I’ve read twice Margaret Mitchel’s book “Gone With The Wind” and I’ve also seen the film. This lady was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She wrote the book in memory of her devastated country by American Civil War and the enormous loss of life. Her book is part of American History.
I’m very grateful for your contact via wordpress. It’s always so interesting to learn about other countries and the people that live there. I hope we’ll keep in touch. Anything you would like to know about Australia you are welcome to it. We are known as “Down Under”. That means that it’s springtime in America and it’s Autumn in Australia and New Zealand.
Sincerely Odette
Dear Maire, the top of the morning to you again… Earlier on about two hours ago I’ve replied to your querries via wordpress. Have you received my message or is it still floating somewhere among the clouds? Odette
Odette, I just got your reply! I should be getting updates from Robin’s blog but I’m not. (I just love calling the great Mr. Ellis “Robin”!) I hope he doesn’t mind us getting off-topic but that’s what happens on blogs.
So you were in Europe during the 2nd World War? Then, sadly, you know about food shortages. As a complete Anglophile, I know quite a bit about food rationing in Great Britain but not much about the rest of Europe. While my parents went through the Great Depression and all its attendant troubles, they never spoke about food shortages during the war. They did speak alot about the friends and family they lost…
My earlier post would lead you to believe I lived in New Orleans – but that’s only a wish. I’m here in New York City but I love “Nola” and go there when I can. I would love to visit Australia. I was a HUGE fan of the Australian film “boom” of the 1970s and yearned to visit.
As an admirer of Margaret Mitchell, I’ve toured her home and various locations associated with her in both Atlanta and Jonesboro, Georgia. Jonesboro is where Tara was located and it is the only town where the Main Street is a cemetary. This is because a battle occurred there and the bodies were immediately buried – without regard to the business section!! It has a fabulous GWTW museum.
So glad to meet you! Cheers, Maire (pronounced Mora).
Good evening, Maire,
in this land of Southern Cross we are about 151/2 hours ahead of New York. We also have met the New Millenium that many hours earlier…
It was wonderful to receive a message from far away United States. Just a small jump across the Pacific and then only some steps to New York. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope we’ll not abuse the very kind system too much… until we’ll know each other a little bit better.
Oh, yes. I was in Europe when Europe was in flames and in ruins. Right in the middle of it all. Believe me, dear Maire, the feeling is unforgetable to this very day. It has put on me a certain stamp. But we all have different feelings.
Thank you for reminding me Jonesboro. I was concentrating on Atlanta. I wasn’t aware the main street of town was a cemetary. American Civil War is a lesson to the World. But has the World learned it? I think not…
Everyone health and finances permitting should visit Australia. But don’t attempt to see “all” in a couple weeks. This island – continent differs from State to State and has five time zones. Our tourists mainly visit the Continental Metropolis of Sydney or Melbourne. That’s not the Spirit of the country at all. One must see the Ayers Rock or Uluru as it’s now called. The Red Heart of this continent. Visit the aborigine people and the Northern Territory. A Member of Parliament whom I’ve met in Vilnius while visiting my former homeland during European Summer 1991 proposed to “see” Australia in two weeks. Ruth stayed here four months and saw only a tip of the iceberg or a volcano as it were.
Well, that wraps it all for the present. I hope we’ll keep in touch. I wish you and everyone yours a very happy and a safe day. Sincerely Odette
Odette: I wrote you a message on your facebook page. I would love to see all the places you have described. I was always intrigued by Ayers Rock and the lives of the Aborigines. Maybe we could get some of their recipes, lol!
Good morning, Maire. 5.41 am in South Australia. I’ve received your message yesterday evening. Thank you! I’ve sent you a reply. Regretfully I’ve never visited the aborigine people and I don’t know their culinary art. Cheers. Odette
Very good is when you do parts of Lemon in it(for sure if it comes from your own Lemon tree), my mother used to do it it’s so refreshing.Kindly regards from Chantal(from Belgium the country of ” Witloof” aka Chicorée (en Français)).