Italian Recipes

Cheese-Stuffed Belgian Endive Boats with Speck and Walnuts

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Belgian Endive Boats with Cheese: A Perfect Appetizer for Any Occasion

If you’re looking for a fresh, delicious, and easy-to-make appetizer that combines rich flavors and textures, these Belgian endive boats filled with a variety of cheeses and topped with delightful garnishes are just the dish you need. Ideal for gatherings, cocktail parties, or as a light snack, these endive boats bring together the crispness of fresh endive with creamy cheeses, savory speck, and crunchy walnuts, offering a burst of flavor in every bite.

Ingredients

Ingredient Quantity
Belgian endive 12 leaves
Goat cheese (Caprino) 180g
Chives (fresh) 10g
Robiola cheese 180g
Speck (Italian cured ham) 30g
Gorgonzola cheese 180g
Walnuts (shelled) 30g

Nutritional Information (per serving)

Nutrient Amount per serving
Calories 120 kcal
Protein 6g
Carbohydrates 4g
Fat 9g
Fiber 1g
Sodium 350mg

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Belgian Endive Leaves
Begin by thoroughly washing the Belgian endive leaves. After rinsing, pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel to ensure they remain crisp and free of moisture. Trim off the hard, fibrous end (the root) of each leaf, being careful not to tear the delicate leaves. You should have 12 sturdy leaves, which will act as the “boats” for the creamy cheese fillings.

Step 2: Prepare the Cheese Fillings
You’ll need to make three different cheese fillings for these Belgian endive boats. Start with the goat cheese (Caprino) and the Robiola cheese:

  1. Goat Cheese & Chive Filling:
    In a small bowl, combine the goat cheese with finely chopped fresh chives (reserve a few teaspoons of chives for garnishing later). Use a fork to break down the cheese into a smooth, spreadable consistency. Transfer this mixture to a piping bag fitted with a star-shaped nozzle, ensuring you can easily pipe the cheese mixture into the endive leaves.

  2. Robiola Cheese & Speck Filling:
    In another bowl, mix the creamy Robiola cheese with finely diced speck. Be sure to keep a few small pieces of speck aside for garnishing the boats at the end. Blend the ingredients together until smooth, then transfer this mixture to a second piping bag with a star-shaped nozzle, ready to fill the endive leaves.

  3. Gorgonzola & Walnut Filling:
    In a third bowl, combine the Gorgonzola cheese with finely chopped walnuts. Make sure the nuts are chopped small enough to fit neatly inside the endive leaves. Once mixed, transfer the filling to a third piping bag.

Step 3: Assemble the Belgian Endive Boats
Now comes the fun part: assembling your Belgian endive boats!

  1. Take one of the endive leaves and pipe a generous amount of the goat cheese and chive mixture into it. Decorate the top with a pinch of chopped chives for added color and flavor.

  2. Next, take another endive leaf and fill it with the Robiola cheese and speck mixture. Garnish with a few small pieces of speck for that perfect finishing touch.

  3. For the final set of boats, fill the endive leaves with the Gorgonzola and walnut mixture. Decorate each with a few more walnut pieces for extra crunch.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy
Once all the endive boats are filled and beautifully decorated, transfer them to a serving platter. These Belgian endive boats with cheese are now ready to be served as an elegant appetizer. The freshness of the endive, the richness of the cheeses, and the savory notes from the speck and walnuts create a delightful combination of flavors that will impress your guests.

Tip: These can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge, but be sure to garnish just before serving to keep everything fresh and vibrant.


A Light, Flavorful, and Elegant Appetizer

These Belgian endive boats filled with creamy cheeses, speck, and walnuts are an excellent choice for anyone looking to serve a fresh, light, and flavorful appetizer. The contrast between the crunchy endive and smooth cheese fillings, along with the rich, salty speck and the earthy walnuts, creates a perfectly balanced bite. Whether it’s for a casual get-together or a special occasion, these endive boats will surely be a hit at your next gathering.

Enjoy the experience of creating these delicious bites and delight your guests with the combination of textures and flavors in every crisp, cheese-filled leaf!

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