Is it just me, or does the word “nachos” strike a comfort food chord for you too? There’s something about the combo of crunchy, cheesy, salty, and juicy that tastes so darn good! The non-comforting part about nachos is their tendency to be a bit higher in the calorie and fat counts. Well, I recently came up with a lighter, healthier version of nachos when I needed a quick snack for my kiddos.
These nachos were one of those happy accidents, where I grabbed a few things from the refrigerator and threw them together and it worked out better than anticipated. It worked out so well, in fact, that I decided it was the perfect snack to share with you as my OnDiva post this moth for Discover Endive!
Instead of chips, I substituted crispy endive leaves, topping them with a bit of sliced ham, quartered plum tomatoes, and shredded aged cheddar cheese. They spent a couple of minutes in the oven under the broiler and then they were ready to eat. They made great finger food and disappeared almost before I was able to take a couple of pictures.
The bit of heat helped subdue the bitterness of the endive, and the nutty creaminess of the cheese, with the acidity of the tomatoes, and umami of the ham helped take care of the rest. It was a good thing the nachos only took me five minutes to make, because they were gone in less than three.
Hurray for kids eating their veggies!!
Print This Recipe
Ham & Cheese Endive Nachos
Makes 2 servings
1 head endive, separated into leaves
2 ounces thinly sliced smoked ham
1/2 cup quartered plum tomatoes
1 ounce aged cheddar cheese, shredded
1. Preheat the broiler (set on low heat for about 10 minutes).
2. Fan endive leaves out on a baking sheet. Place a small piece of ham inside each leaf. Fill each leaf with about 1 tablespoon of tomatoes, then sprinkle with shredded cheese.
3. Place under the broiler until the cheese has melted and the edges of the leaves are curling slightly, about 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for a couple of minutes before serving.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, this seems interesting and looks delish!
OK, now I’m ready to cook with endive – beautiful. I know Larry will eat these. X0
i just had endive for the first time a few weeks ago (I know!) and love it! This looks awesome.
This looks delish and very healthy dish for children. Have to try this wonderful recipe soon.
Wow! This is a wonderful idea! I gotta give this a try :)
“Spice it Up”
This looks great! I mentioned it to my hubby just now and he even said to go ahead and make it. So, that’s what I’m gonna do for him and I.
Thanks for the recipe,
Grandma Kat
XOXOXOXOXO
What a great post to entice kids to eat endive. Can’t wait to try this innovative nacho twist. Thanks for the creativity.
Endive Guy (aka Rodger Helwig)
I love this – it’s such a great idea. Very, very creative, and loved the photos of your kids. Rodger sent this to me to make sure I saw it. Great job.
This is delicious, simple and fast. It is a perfect recipe for party. Probably some paprika will spice up the taste. :)
Time for nachos–Flanders-Style! Cucumbers with cottage cheese!
these look delicious and healthy!
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