Ricotta and Endive Appetizer

This Sunday, February 26, the 84th Academy Awards will be broadcast. Paula, from Bellalimento shares her delicious Ricotta and Endive Appetizers, which make a great snack to share during award show viewing! Elegant, delicious, easy and nutritious. What more could you ask for? Read Paula’s full recipe here!

Bacon, Gruyere and Endive Quiche (Low Carb and Gluten-Free)

Today, Carolyn from All Day I Dream About Food treats us to this wonderful quiche. An ode to comfort food during the long days of winter, her quick and easy quiche combines bacon, Gruyere cheese, heavy cream and endive, which has been sauteed in the rendered bacon fat.  Check out her full recipe here!

When last we saw Rachael, one of our fearless OnDivas, she was filling us in on all the reasons to include California endive in your diet. On Day 8, Rachael breaks down the difference between red and white (or pale yellow) endive. Can you guess what it is?

On Day 9, Rachael recounts all the different names that endive goes by. What you may not realize is that endive grown in California is purported to be less bitter than its European ancestors. However, it still packs a nutrient-dense punch!

And don’t forget you have a chance to win a shipment of freshly packed California endive just for sharing your favorite dip recipe at the Saucy Dipper. Visit this Dipstock post for more information!

Cucumber-Yogurt Dip

Makes about 2 cups, serves 8 to 10

1 medium cucumber, preferably seedless, peeled and grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1/2 bunch scallions, thinly sliced then chopped

1 clove garlic, minced (optional)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill, or 2 teaspoons dried dill
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

Mix cucumbers with salt and marinate 15 minutes at room temperature, or until liquid comes out of cucumbers. Drain cucumbers, gently pressing out excess liquid. Combine with remaining ingredients and serve with endive spears.

And don’t forget you have a chance to win a shipment of freshly packed California endive just for sharing your favorite dip recipe at the Saucy Dipper. Visit this Dipstock post for more information!

Raspberry-Yogurt Dip

Makes about 2 cups, serves 8 to 10

1 cup walnuts
1 cup frozen raspberries, defrosted and drained
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest (green part only)
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

Place walnuts in the bowl of a food processor and process until finely ground. In a large bowl, fold together the ground walnuts with the remaining ingredients. Serve with endive spears.

And don’t forget you have a chance to win a shipment of freshly packed California endive just for sharing your favorite dip recipe at the Saucy Dipper. Visit this Dipstock post for more information!

Carrot-Orange Dip

Makes about 2 cups, serves 8 to 10

1 pound carrots, peeled and sliced
3/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, defrosted
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons peeled and chopped fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine the carrots, orange juice concentrate, olive oil, and ginger in a medium
pot and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes, stirring
occasionally, or until the carrots are very soft. Cool to room temperature. Combine
carrot mixture with remaining ingredients and chop finely in a food processor. Season
to taste with salt and pepper and serve with endive spears.

But sack the high-calorie chips and crackers! There’s a healthier way to enjoy these crowd-pleasing snacks.

With approximately one-calorie per leaf and an impressive nutritional profile of vitamins A, B, C and K, beta carotene, potassium and fiber, substituting California endive leaves is one great call.

And because the cost per pound of endive is less than most chips and crackers, it’s a less expensive choice as well.

The perfect slimmer dipper, California endive leaves are ideally shaped, crisp enough to glide through a bowlful of dip or safely cradle a yummy bite without the threat of drips or spills.

Try these easy, make-ahead dips to eat deliciously healthy while celebrating the big game in style. And young football fans will love endive’s juicy crunch, especially when scooping up “pretty in pink” raspberry dip.

Romesco Dip

Makes about 2 cups, serves 8 to10

4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon roughly chopped garlic
1 cup garlic croutons
1 (16-ounce) jar roasted red peppers, drained
1 cup roasted almonds or hazelnuts, peeled or whole
2 teaspoons Spanish pimentón (sweet smoked paprika), or paprika
1 teaspoon hot red pepper sauce (optional)
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
Salt to taste

Combine 2 tablespoons of the olive oil with the garlic in a small pan and cook
together until the garlic is fragrant but not browned, about 1 minute. Cool, then
combine the garlic mixture with the remaining ingredients and chop finely in a food
processor. (If using salted nuts, rinse lightly and drain, and do not add more salt.)
Season to taste with salt and serve with endive spears.

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For more endive information and recipes, visit the Discover Endive website!

California endive is grown exclusively by California Vegetable Specialties, the only endive grower in the U.S., in Rio Vista, Calif.

When we last saw Rachael, she was extolling the anti-cancer benefits of endive. Next, Rachael shared 12 fantastic ways to “Add Some Diva to Your Salad.” Yes, please! And on Day 8…find out about the mysterious evolution of red endive. Thanks, Rachael, for all you do to educate us on all things endive!

But wait! There’s more? Yes, more…

You can win your very own shipment of freshly packed California Endive. How? Well, check out this juicy (or should I say “Saucy”) tidbit:

Another bonus is that endive does not need to be washed. During the growing process, it never touches dirt, nor is it handled directly. That’s a great time-saver when you just can’t wait to bite into some endive!

For more fun endive facts, check out Rachael’s on-going series, 12 Days of Endive. You could even win a shipment of endive yourself. But hurry!