Baked Chicory

Ingredients

• 4 Chicory
• 2 Garlic cloves
• 1 Shallot
• 100 g butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 80 ml dry white wine
• 100 ml milk
• 200 ml heavy cream
• 6 sprigs Thyme
• 60 g grated hard goat cheese
• Salt
• nutmeg
• pepper (ground)
• 50 g breadcrumbs
• 30 g Ground Almonds
• 1 tsp organic lemon zest

Instructions

1. 1.

   Preheat the oven to 180°C (356°F) with fan and top heat.

2. 2.

   Clean the chicory, cut it in half lengthwise and remove the bitter stem. Peel and finely dice the garlic and shallot.

3. 3.

   In a small saucepan melt 2 tbsp butter, add the onion and garlic cubes, sauté briefly and dust with flour. Deglaze with wine and reduce slightly. Stir in milk and cream. Wash thyme, shake dry and strip leaves from 2 stems. Add to the sauce and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in half of the cheese and season with salt, nutmeg and pepper.

4. 4.

   Place the chicory in a baking dish and pour the sauce over it.

5. 5.

   Melt the remaining butter in a pan, add breadcrumbs and almonds, brown until golden and mix in the rest of the cheese and lemon zest. Sprinkle over the chicory. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until golden brown. Serve garnished with the remaining thyme.