French Comte cheese is a melting cheese with a nutty, almost caramelized, taste. Substitute gruyere if necessary.

Ingredients

• Four 6-oz (175-g) salmon filets, skin on

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Salt and freshly ground pepper

• 1 teaspoon chopped thyme

• 2 tablespoons butter

• 4 Belgian endives, sliced lengthwise into quarters

• ½ teaspoon sugar

• ¼ cup white wine

• ½ cup chicken stock

• ¾ cup whipping cream

• ½ cup grated French Comte cheese or gruyere

• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

  Method

Preheat oven to 450 F.

Rub salmon with olive oil and season with salt, pepper and thyme.

Heat butter in an oven-proof skillet over medium heat. Add endive and sprinkle with sugar. Cook on each side until lightly browned, about 4 minutes.

Top with salmon, place skillet in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until white juices begin to appear and salmon is just cooked through. Move salmon and endives to a serving dish and keep warm.

Add wine to pan and bring to boil. Boil until wine is reduced to 2 tablespoons, scraping any bits from base of pan. Add stock and reduce by half. Add cream and boil until slightly thickened. Remove skillet from heat and stir in cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over salmon and endive and sprinkle with parsley. Serves 4.