Chicory And Parma Ham Gratin

Total Time: 55 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 4
• olive oil (for greasing)
• 6 heads chicory lettuce (whole heads)
• 75 g gruyere cheese
• 75 g parma ham
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 150 ml milk
• 150 ml double cream
• salt and pepper

Recipe

• 1 grease a baking dish and set aside.
• 2 boil the chicory in salted water for 5 minutes. drain, cover with cold water and simmer for a further 12-15 minutes until tender, then drain.
• 3 preheat the oven to 190c/375°f.
• 4 grate the cheese and slice the ham thinly.
• 5 melt the butter over low to medium heat in a heavy pan and gradually stir in the flour to form a roux. stir for 1-2 minutes to allow flour to cook.
• 6 add the milk slowly, stirring until the sauce thickens.
• 7 season to taste and simmer for 5 minutes over low heat.
• 8 add the cream and simmer for a further 3-4 minutes.
• 9 add half the cheese to the sauce, stir to incorporate the cheese, then season to taste.
• 10 drizzle about 3-4 tablespoons of the cheese sauce over the bottom of the baking dish.
• 11 arrange the chicory in the dish then cover with the slices of ham.
• 12 spoon over the remaining sauce and sprinkle the cheese over top.
• 13 bake 20-25 minutes until golden brown and bubbly.