Endives with Ham Recipe: Easy French Gratin Classic 2026

Endives with ham gratin is one of those French classics that looks far more elegant than the effort it takes. Tender steamed endives get wrapped in cooked ham, blanketed in a silky béchamel, and finished with a golden layer of melted cheese in the oven.

The result is a comforting contrast of textures: the slight bitterness of the endives, the savory ham, the creamy sauce and the crisp, toasted cheese on top. It works beautifully as a main course served with a protein-rich salad on the side, or as a starter if you prefer something lighter.

Everything comes together with simple pantry staples — butter, flour, milk, salt, pepper and nutmeg — plus two main ingredients. In about 40 minutes you will have a bubbling, golden dish that feels like a French bistro dinner at home.

Ingredients for Endives with Ham Gratin

This recipe makes 2 servings.

• 4 endives
• 25 g butter (plus a little more for greasing the baking dish)
• 25 g wheat flour
• 250 ml cold whole milk
• Salt
• Ground pepper
• Nutmeg
• 4 slices cooked ham
• 60 g grated cheese

How to Make Endives with Ham Gratin Step by Step

1. Steam the endives

Cut the base off the 4 endives without letting the leaves separate, wash them, and steam them by placing a basket or colander over a pot of water for 8-10 minutes with the lid on. If you do not have a steamer, you can boil them in boiling water instead. Either way, once tender, drain the endives on a colander or on paper towels, pressing them lightly so they release excess water before wrapping.

2. Make the béchamel

Meanwhile, melt 25 g butter in a saucepan, add 25 g wheat flour and toast it for 5-7 minutes. Pour in 250 ml cold whole milk a little at a time and whisk until the béchamel thickens slightly. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.

3. Wrap each endive in ham

Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Season the endives with salt and pepper, wrap them with the 4 slices cooked ham, and arrange them in a baking dish lightly greased with butter.

4. Cover with béchamel and cheese

Cover the endives with the béchamel sauce and finish with 60 g grated cheese sprinkled over the entire surface.

5. Bake the endives

Bake the endives with ham for 15 minutes until gratinated.

6. Serve the gratin hot

Serve the endives with ham gratin freshly made, straight from the dish while the cheese is still melted and bubbling.

Tips for the Best Endives with Ham Gratin

Steam, don't boil, for better texture

Steaming the endives keeps them from filling up with water, which is exactly what happens when you boil them. If you must boil them, drain them very well and press gently before wrapping so the béchamel does not turn watery in the oven.

Make it gluten free

If you want to prepare this dish without gluten, simply swap the wheat flour in the béchamel for rice flour to make a gluten-free béchamel. Everything else stays exactly the same.

How to serve it

This French recipe can be served as a first course, or as a main course accompanied by a protein-rich salad such as a tuna salad. Either way, serve it hot so the cheese stays melted and the gratin keeps its contrast of textures.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

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