Caramelised Endive with Serrano Ham

Roasting vegetables seems to improve their flavour immensely and endive is no exception, successfully reducing its inherent bitterness and bringing out its sweetness. Add some salty Serrano ham and a cheesy breadcrumb topping and you have this dish. It reminded me a little of this recipe with its sweet and salty elements, rich crumb topping and juicy vegetable.

To fully appreciate the balance of flavours and textures it’s important to get all components in every bite but the dish tends to separate into the individual ingredients a little too easily – I wish it were easier to eat.

It made a wonderful starter but I think with a little salad, it would make a nice lunch.