• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
      • Sourdough
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Grab & Go Snacks
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Recipe Search
    • Recipe Index
Vanilla And Bean

Vanilla And Bean

Sweet and Savory Vegetarian

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • About
    • Subscribe
    • A little bit about me…
    • Contact
    • Let’s Work Together
    • Blogs I’m Reading
    • Blogger Resources
You are here: Home / Recipes / Appetizers / Endive with Pear and Blue Cheese

Endive with Pear and Blue Cheese

5 stars (from 3 ratings)
By Traci York — Updated September 9, 2022 — 33 Comments / Jump to Recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my affiliate policy.

Endive with Pear and Blue Cheese makes an elegant appetizer for any special event or gathering. It has a bit of crunch, creamy and punchy vinegar deliciousness! This recipe is vegetarian + gluten free.

Endive leaves each with pear and blue cheese mixture topped with walnuts

This past week, I tried a new veggie. Well, new to me. It was at the International Food Bloggers’ Conference in Seattle where food bloggers gather once a year to learn, mingle with chefs, sommeliers and authors, sample a wonderful assortment of food and connect with other bloggers. California Endive Farm was there and offered a sampling of their delicious endive. Just when I thought I had met every vegetable, I’m introduced to a new one!

Since pears are in season and I had this lovely endive on hand, I thought I would pull together a fresh appetizer utilizing both ingredients. While endive with pear and blue cheese makes an elegant appetizer, this recipe can easily be turned into a salad by simply chopping the endive.

Ingredients neatly placed on a dark table

Endive is a sturdy and crunchy leafy vegetable that has a slightly bitter flavor. Because endive leaves are so sturdy, they make a good vehicle for dips and hold added ingredients in place. Since endive is slightly bitter, it pairs well with various cheeses, fruits and nuts.

Endive has one calorie per leaf, is a good source of potassium, reduces the risk of cancer, is high in fiber and promotes digestive health.  It’s available year round too!

Finely chopped walnuts on a chopping board with knife     A sliced pear on a chopping board with knife     Pear diced on a chopping board with knife

For this recipe, I used d’Anjou pears. They’re in season and pair well with the slight bitterness of endive. d’Anjou pears are sweet and juicy and offer a hint of citrus flavor.

You’ll notice pears in stores are generally firm to the touch. This is because pears are harvested before they’re ripe. To ripen, place pears in a brown paper bag at room temperature and check them each day. You’ll know the pears are ready when the surface, near the stem, yields to gentle pressure.

Blue cheese chopped on a board with a knife     Chopped blue cheese and diced pear mixed in a small bowl with spatula     Endive leaves on a chopping board

Pears have many nutritional benefits including being high in fiber and vitamin C. They are packed with antioxidants, protective against cancer and are anti-inflammatory.

 My favorite ways to enjoy pears is on a salad or in a smoothie, and now, with endive!

Endive leaves each with pear and blue cheese mixture topped with walnuts

Endive leaves each with pear and blue cheese mixture topped with walnuts
Print Recipe

Endive with Pear and Blue Cheese

Prep Time:20 minutes minutes
Cook Time:10 minutes minutes
Total Time:30 minutes minutes
Servings:20 Pieces
Calories:27kcal
Author:Traci York
Fresh, crisp endive pairs with blue cheese, walnuts and d'Anjou pears for this elegant appetizer.

Ingredients

  • 2 Heads of Endive ends trimmed and separated
  • 1/8 C Walnuts
  • 1/4 C + 2 Tbs Blue Cheese small crumbles or chopped
  • 3/4 C Pear small dice (about 1 pear)*
  • 2-3 tsp Balsamic Vinegar high quality
  • 2 Fresh Thyme Stems , leaves removed

Instructions

To Prepare:

  • Preheat the oven to 350. Place walnuts on a sheet pan in a single layer. Toast for 8-10 minutes. They should smell fragrant. Remove from oven and pan by placing the walnuts on a cutting board or on a plate. Set aside to cool.
  • Trim the end of the each endive and separate the leaves. Use the largest leaves for the appetizer and save the smallest ones for your next salad. Set aside.
  • Add the chopped blue cheese and pear to a small bowl and mix gently. Set aside. Chop the walnuts to a fine chop.

To Assemble:

  • On each endive leaf, spoon about 1 1/2 tsp of the pear/cheese mixture on the blunt end of the leaf. Sprinkle 1/4 tsp of finely chopped walnuts over the pear/cheese mixture on each leaf. Drizzle 1/8 tsp of balsamic vinegar over the walnuts on each piece of endive. Sprinkle each piece with fresh thyme leaves. 
  • Serve immediately. 

Notes

*Apples make a delicious, seasonal substitute!
Recipe adapted from California Endive Farm.
Nutrition is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate. If this information is important to you, please have it verified independently.
Calories: 27kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 159mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 1002IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg
Made It? Leave a comment below! The most helpful comment may include recipe rating, feedback, any modifications and/or helping other commenters. On Instagram? Take a snap of your make and share, tagging @VanillaAndBean #VanillaAndBean!

Disclosure: I attended the International Food Bloggers Conference at a reduced rate in exchange for writing three posts about the conference. All opinions are my own. This is my first post.

You might also like:

Homemade Roasted Pumpkin Seeds in a Bowl.

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Sweet and Spicy Maple-Roasted Rosemary Cashews in a bowl ready for snacking.

Sweet and Spicy Maple-Roasted Rosemary Cashews

Roasted Artichokes with Curried Aioli | Vegan + GF | Vanilla And Bean

Roasted Artichokes with Curried Aioli

Chilled Melon Soup in a fancy serving glass setting on a marble round with a mint sprig.

Chilled Melon Soup

  • Cheese
  • Mediterranean
  • Fall
  • Christmas
  • New Years
  • Thanksgiving
Share1.3kPinShareYummly

Sign up for the Vanilla And Bean newsletter and get my Five Secrets to Vegetarian Cooking email series delivered to your inbox!

You will receive recipes and kitchen tips, along with information about our partners and offerings. For more details, review the Vanilla And Bean privacy policy.
Previous Post: « Hot Milk Cake with Lemon Curd and Italian Meringue Buttercream
Next Post: Pumpkin Kasha Energy Bites »

Reader Interactions

33 comments

    Share Your Thoughts! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Avatar for LisaLisa

    February 21, 2020 at 3:08 pm

    Could you email me the number of servings the Endive with Pear and blue cheese will make? Thanks

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      February 22, 2020 at 8:50 am

      Hi Lisa! This recipe makes 20 pieces, so for two pieces each (and this depends on how many pieces each person eats), it’ll serve 10.

      Reply
  2. Avatar for LexyLexy

    October 3, 2016 at 5:28 am

    Can’t wait to make this. My husband is a blue cheese fan, not so much me.
    Without breaking any “bloggers” code and you please recommend what blue cheese you use?
    Waiting for an answer ASAP. Thank you oh so much.

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 3, 2016 at 5:54 am

      Hey Lexy! I love this simple recipe. I like Organic Valley Blue, but it can be hard to find. Otherwise I get Point Reyes Blue from our local cheesemonger. I hope this helps!

      Reply
  3. Avatar for deborah bernsteindeborah bernstein

    November 18, 2014 at 5:27 am

    Yum! Yum! Gorgeous and delicious photos and food ideas. OK, now I too am a Claire fan.

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      November 21, 2014 at 3:28 pm

      Thanks, Deb. Love these little bites. The endive has such a nice, crispness to them and the blue cheese mellows their bitterness. Claire is our little princess :D

      Reply
  4. Avatar for CheeseSticksCheeseSticks

    October 24, 2014 at 12:43 pm

    These are pretty simple to make yet sound gourmet – a great way to impress holiday guests. Claire is adorable.

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 25, 2014 at 4:58 am

      Thank you, CheeseSticks! :) I’ll pass the word to Claire Cat!

      Reply
  5. Avatar for Medha @ Whisk & ShoutMedha @ Whisk & Shout

    October 6, 2014 at 8:38 pm

    What a classy dish! I love sweet fruit and blue cheese together :)

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 6, 2014 at 8:40 pm

      Hi Medha! Thank you! Oh me too! I was thinking, as an alternative to pears, that grapes would be good here too.

      Reply
  6. Avatar for chuckchuck

    October 6, 2014 at 2:06 am

    5 stars
    once again, spectacular presentation ….. your photos compel one to prepare the dish immediately.

    ….. claire looks suspiciously like a cat i was petting on whidbey earlier this year

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 6, 2014 at 8:37 pm

      :D Thank you, Chuck!

      Reply
  7. Avatar for Jess @ whatjessicabakednextJess @ whatjessicabakednext

    October 4, 2014 at 1:00 pm

    Looks delish, Traci! Lovely recipe!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 6, 2014 at 8:38 pm

      Thank you, Jess!

      Reply
  8. Avatar for Isadora @ She Likes FoodIsadora @ She Likes Food

    October 2, 2014 at 8:56 pm

    I love your Claire Cat!! She is such a beautiful cat and so adorable! I definately have a soft spot in my heart for cats :) I tried endive for the first time a few months ago and I absolutely loved it! I love crunchy things, so it is now one of my favorite vegetables. These pear and blue cheese stuffed endive sound amazing and look so pretty! A food bloggers conference sounds like so much fun! I gotta look out to see if they have any near me!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 2, 2014 at 10:18 pm

      Awwhhh, me too Izzy! Cats will always capture my heart. Claire’s had me wrapped around her paw for almost 16 years now! She’s the sweetest.

      Endive is so delightful… I’m looking forward to trying it with other fruits and perhaps a bit of maple syrup! IFBC 2015 is in Seattle next year again. It may be worth a trip for you! :)

      Reply
  9. Avatar for Thalia @ butter and briocheThalia @ butter and brioche

    October 2, 2014 at 8:55 pm

    I love your presentation of this Traci! I have a feeling that these would also make delicious and healthy appetizers for the upcoming holiday event season!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 2, 2014 at 10:15 pm

      Thanks so much, Thalia! This would be a well received appetizer, especially for holiday gatherings. It satisfies the crunch and creamy cravings! :D

      Reply
  10. Avatar for LynneLynne

    October 2, 2014 at 10:37 am

    This looks delicious! We have a beautiful pear orchard up the road I wish you could visit! They sell apples and pears on the honor system; it’s fun to go out there. Claire Cat looks beautiful, too!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 2, 2014 at 1:24 pm

      Oh I’m envious! A pear orchard?! I would pick so many pears and create to my hearts content! They’re one of my favorite fruits. Claire sends you a her purrrs. :)

      Reply
  11. Avatar for Molly CollinsMolly Collins

    October 2, 2014 at 9:12 am

    Lovely recipe, Traci! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 2, 2014 at 1:25 pm

      Thank you, Molly! Thank you for the opportunity and inspiration! :D

      Reply
  12. Avatar for Geraldine | Green Valley KitchenGeraldine | Green Valley Kitchen

    October 2, 2014 at 8:23 am

    I’m looking for Thanksgiving ideas and this would be a lovely appetizer. Easy to do, can be made ahead and then just add the toasted walnuts right before serving. Thanks, Traci – really great photos as always – love your little friend.

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 2, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      Hi Geraldine! Thank you! :) This would be a nice addition to your Thanksgiving. Light enough not to fill you up before feasting!

      Reply
  13. Avatar for CherylCheryl

    October 2, 2014 at 8:14 am

    This is too weird.. I just geeked out so hard when I found some endive at Trader Joe’s this weekend and made a salad of them last night. Dang! I wish I had some left over for this recipe.. sounds amazing! Elegant as always, Traci!

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 2, 2014 at 1:28 pm

      Haha! How funny! Next time I go to the store, I’ll geek out too, over endive! HA! I am so excited about it! I can just imagine making a dip to dip the leaves into. They’re so crisp.. like a chip without the guilt! Thank you, Cheryl!

      Reply
  14. Avatar for AllisonAllison

    October 2, 2014 at 6:15 am

    5 stars
    That must have been so fun to attend a conference full of food bloggers! What a fantastic experience. I wish I lived closer so I could get in on this! I looooove endive. Bitter, crispy, and it’s kind of like it’s own serving vessel already! It would be so nice with the sweet pear and creamy blue cheese. Great appetizer recipe, Traci! This would be lovely with a glass of wine :)

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 2, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      Heeeeyy Allison! :D You nailed it! A glass of wine… hummmm red or white? What would you pair these pear endive with? hehe…. You would have loved IFBC! It’s in Seattle again next year, same time. Perhaps a trip is in order??

      Reply
  15. Avatar for Jennifer CaldwellJennifer Caldwell

    October 2, 2014 at 5:21 am

    Wow, thank you for this offering, Traci. What a delightful recipe and beautiful presentation! It looks so crisp and tasty… an elegant, easy-to-make, nutrition-packed appetizer. Good stuff! Your photos are fantastic, and the way you’ve captured the thyme leaves makes my heart skip a beat, those sublime little wonders of nature. Now that cheese is out of my diet, I won’t be trying this as-is, but I bet it’ll still be delicious without. Veganized! Seeing your little assistant is such a sweet bonus. A lagniappe. Hi Claire! <3

    Reply
    • Avatar for TraciTraci

      October 2, 2014 at 1:33 pm

      Thank you, Jen! :D Delightful, yes and the lovely thyme makes this recipe SING! I’m hoarding it lately.. worried that it’s end is near with cooler temps approaching. I am putting it on everything, just about! Absolutely still delicious without blue cheese!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

well hello!

Traci in front of a barn.

I’m Traci and this is my blog. So Glad You Stopped By!

Here you’ll find full of flavor vegetarian comfort food with vegan and gluten free recipes too. I also share sourdough, sweets and naturally sweetened baked goods and desserts recipes because we all gotta have a little balance!

Learn More About Traci  or  The Blog.

10 Healthy Vegetarian Salad Recipes for lunch or dinner cover with images of those salad recipes.

Start Here!

Why vegetarian, what you’ll find on Vanilla And Bean and fan favorites all right here!

Right this Way to Start

Search

Footer

Affiliate Info

Vanilla And Bean is monetized in part through the use of affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on a link and/or purchase an item after clicking on a link, Vanilla And Bean may receive a percentage of the sales price. I only recommend products that I love and use through my affiliate links. To learn more please see my Affiliate Policy. Thank you for your support!

© Vanilla And Bean, LLC  – 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any content or images without express and written permission from this blog’s owner is prohibited. Licensing inquiries for publication, general distribution, and/or commercial use, please contact me on my contact page.

Copyright © 2023 · Vanilla and Bean · Website by Meyne

Menu

Home · Recipes · Web Stories · Contact · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Accessibility · California Privacy Notice

Copyright © 2023 · Vanilla and Bean On Genesis Framework · Log in

  • Recipes
    ▼
    • Recipe Search
    • Recipe Index
    • Appetizers
    • Bread
      ▼
      • Sourdough
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Condiments
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Grab & Go Snacks
    • Main Dish
    • Side Dishes
  • Start Here
  • Home
  • Shop
  • About
    ▼
    • Contact
    • A little bit about me…
    • Let’s Work Together
    • Blogs I’m Reading
    • Blogger Resources
  • Subscribe to Newsletter!
  • Search
Vanilla And Bean and our partners use cookies to enhance user experience and to analyze performance and traffic on our website. By using the Site, you consent to the use of cookies. Learn More

COOKIE SETTINGS   ACCEPT
Cookie Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.

Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
CookieTypeDurationDescription
__cfduid14 weeksThe cookie is set by CloudFare. The cookie is used to identify individual clients behind a shared IP address d apply security settings on a per-client basis. It doesnot correspond to any user ID in the web application and does not store any personally identifiable information.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary011 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-non-necessary011 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Non Necessary".
OptanonConsent01 yearTracks users cookie consent preferences
viewed_cookie_policy011 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Advertisement
CookieTypeDurationDescription
IDE12 yearsUsed by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. This is used to present users with ads that are relevant to them according to the user profile.
VISITOR_INFO1_LIVE15 monthsThis cookie is set by Youtube. Used to track the information of the embedded YouTube videos on a website.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
CookieTypeDurationDescription
_ga02 yearsThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to calculate visitor, session, camapign data and keep track of site usage for the site's analytics report. The cookies store information anonymously and assigns a randoly generated number to identify unique visitors.
_gid01 dayThis cookie is installed by Google Analytics. The cookie is used to store information of how visitors use a website and helps in creating an analytics report of how the wbsite is doing. The data collected including the number visitors, the source where they have come from, and the pages viisted in an anonymous form.
ad-id16 monthsProvided by amazon-adsystem.com for tracking user actions on other websites to provide targeted content
GPS030 minutesThis cookie is set by Youtube and registers a unique ID for tracking users based on their geographical location
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
CookieTypeDurationDescription
_gat01 minuteThis cookies is installed by Google Universal Analytics to throttle the request rate to limit the colllection of data on high traffic sites.
YSC1This cookies is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos.
YTCpersistent10 minutesThis cookie is set by Youtube to manage the embed and viewing of videos