One of my favourite dishes when we visit the Netherlands and go out to eat is chicory wrapped in ham in a savoury sauce. I don’t know if every restaurant serves it as The Triangle does – Cafe Den Driehoek, but it’s my favourite choice! It probably tastes extra good as we are in such fine company with our friends!
I’ve come across a recipe which seems to approximate what it’s like, but so far I have failed to find chicory… here’s the recipe anyway:
- 4 heads of chicory
- 4 slices of cooked ham
- chicken stock
- milk
- grated cheese, plus extra for topping
- flour
- nutmeg
- pepper and salt
- chopped fresh herbs of your choice, maybe parsley, chives, coriander… or chervil if you have it
- nutmeg
- simmer the chicory in the stock until they are just tender, you don’t want them floppy and slimy
- remove from the stock – set it aside to make the sauce
- roll the ham round the chicory and place in a buttered heat-proof dish.
- make a sauce from the stock, milk, butter, cheese and flour, season to taste with salt, pepper and plenty of nutmeg
- pour the sauce over the chicory and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese
- place under grill or in oven to gratné for 10 minutes
- garnish with herbs and serve with creamy mashed potato (with plenty of butter, chopped herbs, and nutmeg)
My featured image is nothing to do with triangles, the Netherlands or chicory!!
Lois Elsden 