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This stuffed endive appetizer is filled with strawberries and goat cheese and topped with chives or green onion in a light vinaigrette. What is great about endive appetizers is they are so easy to make and do not require an oven! In less than 15 minutes you can have a delightful cold appetizer.
These little endive boats are easy to customize. For winter, you can do a blend of oranges or figs instead of strawberries. Pair them with cream cheese pinwheels and Boursin stuffed mushrooms for the perfect vegetarian party appetizer.
Table of Contents
An Endive Boat Appetizer
One of my favorite restaurants is Jaleo, a Spanish tapas dining experience by José Andrés. There’s a dish at Jaleo called “Endibias con queso de cabra y naranjas”…it’s basically endives, goat cheese, oranges, and almonds. It is refreshing, light, delicious. However, I am sensitive to almonds and oranges these days, so I wanted to capture the essence of that dish with ingredients I love.
- A perfect cold appetizer – It’s easy to make on hot days without turning on the oven,
- It’s packed with nutrients – Instead of using chips, you’re getting the same crunch but also eating more vegetables!
- Easy to make – This recipe looks elegant but it’s really simple to whip up for a last minute party dish.
- Customizable – This recipe is naturally gluten free, but can be dairy free! Either use your favorite dairy free cheese or leave it out entirely. The strawberry filling is so flavorful that you won’t miss it too much.
- Vegetarian – This is a great vegetarian or vegan appetizer, with just a few edits.
What is Endive?
Sadly we don’t use endive enough, but it’s widely available and easy to use! Belgian endive is torpedo shaped leafy vegetable that when pulled apart creates small little “boats”. It sometimes comes in a light yellow or purple color. The purple color tends to be slightly more bitter in flavor.
The flavor is delicate, yet distinct. Often endive is braised or paired with something sweet to balance the bitterness. It is high in fiber, potassium and folate!
Ingredients & Substitutions
The ingredients are very simple for this stuffed endive appetizer recipe. See the full recipe card below for amounts used.
- Endive – I buy these at Trader Joe’s in a package of three. It’s really the best deal you can get!
- Strawberries – These are perfect for summer, but they can also be substituted with blueberries, pomegranate seeds, oranges, figs, or chopped apples.
- Green onion or chives – I tend to prefer chives for a more delicate flavor, but both will work.
- Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) – These provide a nice crunch and also make this a great nut-free recipe. If you’re ok with nuts, roasted almonds or pecans also work well here.
- Vinegar – You can use white wine vinegar, champagne vinegar, or apple cider vinegar. If you’re on a migraine diet, use distilled white vinegar.
How to Wash and Cut Endive
Endive can usually be found in the vegetable section around lettuce. They also sell it pre-packaged at Trader Joe’s. All you have to do is trim the ends and carefully peel off each layer until it makes a “boat”.
To wash endive – once the layers have been peeled, add to a colander and run under cool water. Use a towel to dry off each endive boat. Make sure you get all the dirt off, sometimes it lurks near the stem.
You can easily do this step ahead and place the endive boats wrapped in a damp paper towel, in a bag in the fridge. This will keep them crisp till you’re ready to serve.
Step by Step Process
These endive canapés are so easy to make with just two steps!
Step 1: Mix the strawberry filling
Add the olive oil and vinegar to a small bowl and whisk till combined thoroughly. Stir in chopped strawberries and green onion.
Step 2: Fill the endive boats
Carefully spoon the strawberry relish into each boat and then top with pepitas and crumbled goat cheese. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Drizzle with extra olive oil for decoration.
Serving Suggestions
This endive appetizer pairs well with a light meal, but it could also be a NYE party appetizer if using pear or apples that are in season. Other vegetarian appetizers to include could be bang bang brussels sprouts, artichoke hummus, or caramelized shallot dip.
Winter appetizer – Pair with Boursin pasta, chicken wellington, dutch oven pork roast, cast iron chicken thighs, or shrimp stuffed salmon.
Summer appetizer – Serve this with shrimp scampi without wine, baked chicken kabobs, or clams without wine.
Storage Tips
If you’re prepping these endive boats for a party, I would recommend washing and cutting the endive, then placing that in the fridge separately from the strawberry relish. Combine everything right before serving.
The strawberry relish can be made up to 1 day in advance and can be stored for up to 4 days, but it is best consumed right away. This recipe will not freeze well.
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Endive Appetizer with Strawberries and Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 cup strawberries, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoons white distilled vinegar (or white wine vinegar)
- 1 1/2 teaspoons good quality extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Belgian endive
- 1/4 cup toasted pepitas/pumpkin seeds
- 1 tablespoon chopped chives or green onions
- 2-3 oz fresh goat cheese (chevre)
Instructions
- Trim stem end of the endive and pull leaves apart carefully. Wash in cool water, dry, and set aside. In a bowl, mix together chopped strawberries, vinegar, and olive oil. Spoon strawberries into endive cups.
- Add crumbled, fresh goat cheese and top with chopped chives or green onions and toasted pepitas. Finish with a small sprinkle of salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Cover and chill or serve immediately.
Notes
- Other flavor combinations include: oranges and almonds, blueberries and goat cheese, strawberries and goat cheese or blue cheese, figs and goat cheese, apples and pecans with goat cheese.
- Endive boats are best served fresh. Prep the strawberry filling and endive separately, then combine before serving to keep things crisp.
- Substitution for pumpkin seeds – If tolerated, toasted almonds or pecans can be used instead of the pepitas.
- Trader Joe’s has the best deal on a 3 pack of Belgian endive.
- Goat cheese can be left out for a vegan/dairy free edit.
- HYH – Use distilled white vinegar, pumpkin seeds, and goat cheese with strawberries, apples, or blueberries.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This post was originally published April 19, 2018 and has been updated May 2022 with new instructions, photographs, and pairing suggestions.
So light and perfect for summer bbqs! A refreshing and fancy app or side. And easy to assemble!
Delicious and easy for my memorial day bbq!