Basler Kaeswaie Swiss Cheese Tart Recipes

BASLER KAESWAIE (SWISS CHEESE TART)

Steps:

• Set a rack in the lowest level of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees.
• For the dough, combine the dry ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade and pulse several times to mix. Add the butter and pulse until the butter is in 1/4-inch pieces. Add the water and pulse until the dough forms a ball. Invert the dough to a floured work surface, carefully remove the blade, and form it into a thick disk.
• Flour the dough and roll it to a 12-inch disk. Fold the dough in half and transfer it to a 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom, lining up the fold with the diameter of the pan. Unfold the dough into the pan and press it well into the bottom and side of the pan. Use a bench scraper or the back of a knife to sever the excess dough at the rim of the pan.
• Toss the cheese with the flour and evenly distribute it on the pastry crust. Whisk the remaining ingredients together and pour over the cheese.
• Bake the tart until the crust is baked through and the filling is set and well colored, about 25 to 30 minutes.
• Cool the tart briefly on a rack and unmold it to a platter; serve immediately or later at room temperature.
• Serving: Unmold the tart and slide it off the pan base onto a platter. Serve warm or at room temperature as a first course or as the main course of a light meal with a mixed salad.
• Storage: Keep the tart at room temperature on the day it is baked. Wrap and refrigerate leftovers and bring to room temperature or heat briefly at 350 degrees before serving again.

KIWI RICOTTA CHEESE TART

Steps:

• For the pastry, sift the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder into a bowl. Cut in the butter until the mxture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix the egg yolk and cream. Stir in just enough to bind the dough.
• Transfer to a lightly floured surface, flatten slightly, wrap in waxed paper and chill for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thick and transfer to a 9 inch springform pan. Crimp edges.
• Prick the bottom of the dough all over with a fork. Line with waxed paper and fill with baking beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the paper and beans and bake until golden, 6-8 minutes more.Remove from oven. Let cool. Reduce oven heat to 350°F.
• Grind the almonds finely with 1 tablespoon of the sugar in a food processor or blender.
• With an electric mixer, beat the ricotta until creamy. Add the cream, egg yolks, remaining sugar, flour, salt, rum, lemon rind and 2 tablespoons of the lemon juice. Beat to combine.
• Stir in the ground almonds until well blended.
• Pour into the shell and bake until golden, about 1 hour. Let cool, then chill, loosely covered for 2-3 hours. Unmold and place on a serving plate.
• Combine the honey and remining lemon juice for the glaze, set aside.
• Peel the kiwis. Halve them lengthwise, then cut horizontally into 1/4 inch slices. (will look like half circles).
• Arrange slices in rows across the top of the tart. Just before serving brush with honey glaze.

BASLER LECKERLI (SWISS SPICED HARD BARS)

Steps:

• Melt honey very slowly in a pan, add almonds, sugar and swirl until the sugar is melted too.
• Let cool slightly.
• Add all other ingredients until the Kirsch and mix well.
• Add the flour and eventually the baking soda and work to a compact dough.
• Roll the dough out on two greased baking sheets approximately 5 mm thick.
• Store overnight.
• Preheat the oven at 180°C (heat and timing are basing it on convection oven).
• Prepare the glaze heating in a pot water and sugar until boiling point. Reduce the heat but let it boil slowly.
• Bake 15-20 minutes at 180°C (I need 18 minutes).
• In the meanwhile the glaze should be ready. It takes about 15 to 20 Minutes until it thickens, it's bound and crystals appear.
• Remove from the heat but keep on a slightly warm plate.
• When the dough is baked, remove pans to a rack and immediately cut in rectangles (but don't separate them completely) brush the tops with glaze.
• When cooled dived the rectangles and store in airtight containers.
• Note: you can built a gingerbread house with this dough! I used 3 fold quantities for the gingerbread house of the picture!

SWISS CHARD, LEEK AND GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Place the flour, rosemary, thyme and salt in a food processor; process until blended. Add the butter; pulse until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal, with pieces no bigger than small peas, about 13 to 15 one-second pulses.
• Transfer dough to a medium bowl; drizzle with 1/4 cup of the water. Mix with a fork to form a "shaggy" dough. Squeeze some in your hand. If it doesn't hold together, add the remaining water, 1 Tbsps. at a time. Form into a disc; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Position the oven rack in the lower third of the oven; heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 13-inch circle. Ease dough into a 10-inch tart pan, fitting it snugly against the sides and bottom; trim the excess. Prick the bottom of the tart with a fork; cover with parchment paper. Fill the tart with pie weights or beans; bake 25 minutes. Remove the weights and parchment; set shell aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, for the filling, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the leeks; cover skillet. Cook, stirring often, until leeks soften, 8-10 minutes. Add the chard; cook, uncovered, until excess water evaporates, 6-8 minutes.
• Beat the eggs, cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Add the vegetable mixture; toss to coat. Pour the mixture into the tart shell. Sprinkle raisins and pine nuts over the top; dot with the goat cheese. Place on a baking sheet; bake until the filling is set and puffy, about 25 minutes. Cool on a rack to room temperature.

RUSTIC CHERRY RHUBARB CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Unroll pie crust and place in 10-11" tart pan.
• In mixer or food processor, blend cream cheese, egg, and 1/2 cup sugar. Pour in bottom of unbaked pie crust.
• Place fruit in bowl. (If using frozen fruit, let defrost partially and drain off juice.) Add 1/2 cup sugar and tapioca flour. Mix and let stand about ten minutes. Using slotted spoon, carefully place fruit on top of cream cheese layer. Bake 35 minutes at 400 degrees.

TOMATO & GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Defrost puff pastry according to package directions.
• Peel, quarter, and thinly slice the onion. Peel and mince garlic.
• Heat 1 T oil in medium sautee pan. Sautee onions and garlic over medium heat until the onions are soft and beginning to caramelize.
• Season onions with salt and pepper, deglaze with wine, and stir in thyme.
• Once the puff pastry is defrosted, unfold it onto a cutting board. Cut 2 6-inch rounds out of defrosted puff pastry. You can use a small plate or saucer and a paring knife for this. Put the puff pastry onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Score the puff pastry 1/2-inch from edge. This will allow the edge to rise more, creating a crust. The ingredients will go within this circle, leaving the edge empty.
• Sprinkle the grated parmesan within the scored circle. Top with caramelized onions.
• Crumble the goat cheese and sprinkle over the onions.
• Slice the tomato in half. Cut 1 thick slice from each half of the tomato (1-inch thick). Place in the center of the tart, over the onions and cheese.
• Drizzle 1-2 T olive oil over the tomatoes to encourage browning.
• Julienne the basil, and sprinkle evenly over the tomato.
• Put a few slices of parmesan on top of each tart and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Bake at 425F for 20-25 until golden brown.

APPETIZER CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Remove one crust from pouch and place on ungreased cookie sheet, pressing out fold lines.
• Mix all ingredients well, except for the cilantro.
• Spread on crust to within about an inch of the edge.
• Fold the edges over and flute.
• Bake 25 to 40 minutes until the crust is golden brown.
• Sprinkle with the cilantro and let stand 10 minutes before serving.