Chicory topped with ham and cheese

Ingredients for 2 servings:

• 4 chicory
• 8 slices of cooked ham
• 150 g cheese
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1 shot of whipped cream
• Salt
• pepper
• nutmeg
• Breadcrumbs

Instructions

Working time approx. 5 minutes; Cooking/baking time approx. 1 hour; Total time approx. 1 hour 5 minutes

Wash the chicory pods, halve them, cut out the stalks into wedges, and then boil them in lightly salted water for about 3-4 minutes. A pinch of sugar will further reduce the bitterness of the chicory. Wrap each of the halved chicory pods in a slice of cooked ham and place them in a greased baking dish. Make a roux with butter and flour. Add about 1 cup of the previously boiled water and a dash of heavy cream until the desired consistency is reached. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour the sauce over the chicory pods and scatter the grated cheese over them. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and bake in the oven at 180°C for about 45 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes or simply with a baguette.