This no cook, no fuss Stuffed Endive Appetizer recipe features Belgian endive filled with Granny Smith apples, chunks of blue cheese, pistachios, and an orange honey dressing. Plus, it requires only 15 minutes of prep!

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So here we are again. New Year’s Eve. Ugh. Does anyone even like this holiday? Like actually truly enjoy it?
I’m not the biggest fan of NYE. Probably because of the inevitable letdown I’ll feel tomorrow. Goodbye, Christmas tree and lights. Hello, sub zero temps and four more months of winter!
Still, a girl’s gotta eat to ring in the New Year. And since I do run a food blog after all, I decided to whip up a fancy schmancy Belgian endive hors d’oeuvre for all you party people.
But here’s the kicker. This dish LOOKS super fancy, but it takes only 15 minutes to prepare! Even less if you’re a fast chopper.

Besides the minimal prep time, here’s why you’ll love this Stuffed Endive Appetizer:
- Melt-in-your-mouth blue cheese is a perfect companion to tart Granny Smith apples and rich, earthy pistachios. I’m telling you, this combo is the BOMB. I ate several spoonfuls of it while I was shooting the photos for this recipe.
- It requires ZERO cooking. AKA it’s perfect for when your friends say they’re coming over in 15 minutes.
- How often do you eat endive? I mean, come on, probably not that much. And that’s a shame, because endive is so delicious!

And since it really is a lesser-known vegetable, let me give you some fast facts about endive.
What is Belgian Endive?
Part of the Chicory family, Belgian endive is a cylindrical vegetable with pale yellow leaves and a mildly bitter flavor. The bottoms of endive leaves are crunchy, while the tops are tender.
The shape and texture of endive makes it perfect to stuff for an appetizer! But you can also make it into a salad (see my Endive Orange Salad with Tahini Dressing for an example) or bake it (like in my Roasted Endive with Honey and Pine Nuts).
Is Belgian Endive good for you?
Endive is a source of fiber and several vitamins and minerals. In particular, it’s loaded with vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin that’s critical for proper blood clotting and bone health.
So, yes, stuffed endive is actually good for you too!!

How to Make a Stuffed Endive Appetizer
- Peel off each endive leaf and place them on a serving tray.
- In large bowl, combine the diced apples, pistachios, and blue cheese. Pour the dressing on top.
- Fill each endive with a spoonful of the stuffing. Top with chopped fresh mint.
Expert Tips
- Store endive in a dark area, such as in a brown paper bag, in the fridge so that it stays fresh before making this recipe.
- Look for heads of endive that have fairly large leaves that are big enough to stuff with filling.
- You may want to use your knife to carefully shave some of the back part of each leaf. This will help the leaves stay flat on the serving tray.
- This recipe is best enjoyed shortly after preparing, since the leaves can get soggy over time.
- If you don’t have the patience to stuff endive, just chop it all up and make a salad!

More Stuffed Veggie Recipes
- Buffalo Chickpea Salad Celery Sticks
- Vegetarian Italian Stuffed Peppers
- Lentil Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Chickpea Salad Cucumber Boats
Looking for another veggie appetizer while you’re here? Check out the Healthy Cucumber Canapes with Whipped Feta.
I’d love to hear how you like this recipe! Rate/review using the stars on the recipe card or in the comments, and follow the Veg World on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Looking for something totally different? Browse the recipe library.
📖 Recipe

Stuffed Endive Appetizer with Blue Cheese and Apple
Ingredients
- 3 heads Belgian endive - ~30 leaves
- 1 Granny Smith apple - diced
- ½ cup pistachios - shelled
- ¼ cup blue cheese - crumbled
- Fresh mint leaves - chopped, for garnish
For the dressing:
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 orange - juiced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 small shallot - minced
Instructions
- Gently peel the leaves off of the endive heads. Set them on a platter. You may want to use your knife to carefully shave off some of the back part of each leaf so that they lay flat on the tray.
- In a large bowl, combine the apples, pistachios, and blue cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk together the olive oil, orange juice, honey, apple cider vinegar, dijon, and minced shallot. Pour the dressing over the other ingredients and mix well.
- Scoop a spoonful of the filling into each leaf. Garnish with freshly chopped mint. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store Belgian endive in a brown bag or wrapped in a towel in the fridge (it likes the dark). Look for heads that have large leaves that are big enough to stuff.
- This is best enjoyed shortly after making it, since the leaves can get soggy over time.
- You can also put all of these ingredients together as a salad. Just chop the endive instead of keeping the leaves whole.
Nutrition
Cheers to a happy and healthy 2020!
Lizzie
Bob
Delicious recipe and that dressing could be used in a lot of other dishes. Well done!
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Bob, I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe and dressing. Thank you!!
Pekio T Vergotis
this morning i discovered that my grocery delivery service substituted the radicchio I ordered with endives. always up for culinary exploration, I did a random google search for recipes and came across this one. super excited to make it as it checks off all of my marks – healthy, easy, tasty – and uses things I already have on hand. i love your recommendation that the ingredients could also be chopped up as a salad, and that this will fare well as a quick lunch or a company-worthy bite. thinking it will also lend itself to some delicious variations, as well.. hazelnuts instead of pistachios, fromage blanc instead of bleu cheese, tarragon or chives instead of mint. thank you so much for sharing this recipe with us! 🙂
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Pekio, I’m so glad that you found this recipe interesting and are going to give it a try! Thanks for your comment! I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Rita Simonetta
Still waiting for this recipe to appear in my mailbox
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Rita, I just resent the email with the recipe. Let me know if you received it?
Eileen
Absolutely delicious!!!! My new favorite appy!!! I used a honey crisp because that is why I had. The crunch!!!!!! Use good blue cheese! Will definitely make this again and again!!
Lizzie Streit, MS, RDN
Hi Eileen, I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! It’s one of my favorites! Thanks so much for leaving a review!