Alsatian Pork And Zucchini Tart Recipes

TARTE FLAMBEE (ALSATIAN BACON & ONION TART)

Steps:

• Place bacon in a skillet and cook over medium-high heat until cooked but not crisp and fat has rendered out, about 8 minutes. Drain in a strainer; reserve the fat.
• Place skillet back over medium heat. Add sliced onions. Cook briefly just until they lose their raw edge and soften up slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add a teaspoon or 2 of bacon fat if pan seems too dry. Remove skillet from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Mix fromage blanc, creme fraiche, nutmeg, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a mixing bowl.
• Place 1 ball of pizza dough on a well-floured surface. Flatten and roll out to a 10- or 12-inch thin circle. Transfer to a cold cast iron pan. Heat over medium-high heat to pre-cook the bottom of the crust. As dough heats and bubbles appear, deflate them with the tines of a fork so crust ends up thin and crisp (not chewy). When bottom is nicely browned and just about to start getting charred, 5 to 7 minutes, remove from heat. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Spread a generous amount of cheese mixture over the crust. Top evenly with some onions and then the bacon. Broil 5 or 6 minutes until edges are browned and starting to lift. Repeat for remaining tartes.

ZUCCHINI PORK DINNER

Steps:

• In a skillet over medium heat, cook pork in oil until browned, about 5 minutes. Add onion and garlic; cook for 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Add tomato juice and seasonings; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Add the zucchini; cook and stir until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Serve over noodles.

ALSATIAN ONION TART

Steps:

• Step 1: make the crust - Mix the flour, salt and butter with your fingers or pulse in a food processor, until you get a crumbly consistency and pea-size bits of butter are still visible. Add the water, one tablespoon at a time, and mix until the dough roughly comes together into a ball; do not overmix. Add a few more splashes of water if you feel the dough is too crumbly/dry. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Pre-heat your oven to 350°F (180°C) with a rack in the middle.
• Grease and flour a 9-inch (22.9 cm) tart pan. Transfer the dough onto a floured working surface and roll it out to a 12-inch (31cm) circle. Transfer the crust to the tart pan. Cut any excess crust that hangs over the edges and crimp the edges (optional). Poke the bottom of the crust all over with a fork. Line the top of the crust with foil or parchment paper and place pie weights or dried beans over top, to keep the pie crust from puffing when baking.
• Bake the crust for 15 minutes. Carefully remove the parchment paper filled with weights and set the crust aside. Leave your oven on at 350°F (180°C).
• Step 2 : Caramelize the onions - Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium-low heat. When the butter is sizzling, add the onions slices and stir to coat with the butter. Using a spatula or wooden spoon, spread the onions evenly onto the pan. Let the onions cook for 15 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. The trick is to let the onions brown - so do not stir too often. But you don't want to let them burn either.
• After 15 minutes, when the onions should start to dry out, add salt and the beef stock. Stir to coat and continue cooking for about 15 more minutes, until the onions are melty and golden. Set aside.
• Step 3: Make the filling - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and the heavy cream. Add the black pepper and grated cheese. Adjust more seasoning if needed (salt, pepper).
• Step 4: Assemble the tart - Scatter the caramelized onions evenly onto the bottom of the pre-baked crust. Pour the prepared liquid filling over top. Sprinkle evenly with the caraway seeds.
• Bake for 25 minutes, until the crust starts to become golden - the middle will be slightly wobbly and puffy, and will firm up and deflate as it cools down. Transfer onto a cooling rack and let cool at least 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy it warm or at room temperature.

ALSATIAN PORK AND ZUCCHINI TART

Steps:

• Prepare the tart shell and set it aside.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut the zucchini into one-quarter-inch slices. Stack the slices and cut them into one-quarter-inch strips. Cut the strips into one-quarter-inch cubes. There should be about two cups.
• Heat the butter in a skillet and add the onions. Cook, stirring, until they are wilted. Add the pork and cook, stirring and breaking up any lumps with the side of a heavy metal spoon. Sprinkle with the scallions and the zucchini and cook until any liquid has evaporated and the mixture is relatively dry. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, nutmeg and curry powder.
• Combine the whole egg, egg yolk, cream and milk in a mixing bowl and beat thoroughly. Add the meat mixture. Stir to blend.
• Pour the mixture into the tart shell. Place a baking sheet in the oven. Put the filled tart shell on the sheet and bake 30 to 35 minutes or until the custard is set.

ALSATIAN PORK AND SAUERKRAUT

Steps:

• Place the bacon in a large, deep pot, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring to turn pieces occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain the bacon pieces on a paper towel-lined plate. With a paper towel, wipe the bacon grease out of the pot but keep as much of the brown bits as possible. Stir in the onion, sauerkraut, brown sugar, and chicken broth, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the potatoes and apple slices.
• Place the juniper berries, peppercorns, cloves, parsley, and bay leaf into a small cheesecloth square, and tie the ends together to make a spice bag (or place the spices into a stainless steel tea ball). Place the spice bag into the pot, and add the pork chops and kielbasa sausage pieces. Add more chicken broth, if needed, to just cover the ingredients. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until the potatoes are very tender, about 1 hour.
• To serve, use a slotted spoon to remove the sauerkraut, potatoes, and apple slices to the center of a serving platter. Arrange bacon, pork chops, and kielbasa pieces around the outside of the platter.

ALSATIAN CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
• Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 12-inch square, then transfer to a large baking sheet.
• Blend cottage cheese, sour cream, salt, and pepper in a blender until smooth.
• Cook bacon in a 10-inch skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until it just begins to brown, about 5 minutes. (Bacon should be tender, not crisp.) Remove from heat.
• Spread cheese mixture evenly over pastry, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Scatter bacon and onion on top, then sprinkle with parmesan. Bake until pastry is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cut into 36 pieces and serve warm.

ALSATIAN TART

Steps:

• Pastry dough can be purchased in either your supermarket in the freezer section, or in a bakery which makes their own.
• Defrost pastry dough; roll out on lightly floured board to 1/4-inch thickness.
• Cut out 4 circles (using a 7" diameter salad or cake plate as a template).
• Prick dough with fork and refrigerate while preparing the filling.
• Cook bacon; drain and crumble; set aside.
• In one tablespoon of canola oil, saute sliced onion until golden.
• In a mixing bowl, combine cheese, creme fraiche, flour, salt and pepper and mix by hand until combined thoroughly.
• Remove pastry rounds from refrigerator, spread each round with cheese mixture.
• Sprinkle top with sauteed onions and arrange crumbled bacon.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Bake 15 minutes until done.
• Very rich and filling served with a salad and a glass of white wine.