Cheddar And Spring Onion Tart Recipes

WISCONSIN CHEDDAR, ONION AND BACON TART

Steps:

• Prepare dough by pulsing flour, 1 egg, 1 egg yolk and salt in a food processor. Add butter, piece by piece, pulsing until all is incorporated. Add water and pulse only until dough forms a ball. Remove; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours. Remove dough from refrigerator 30 minutes before assembling tarts.
• Meanwhile, prepare filling by cooking onions in butter in 2 large skillets until tender and translucent. Cool in a medium bowl. Beat 4 eggs, 2 egg yolks and cream together. Stir into onions; add cheese, bacon, chives and salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Divide dough in half. Roll each portion to fit in 10-inch tart pan with removable rim. Trim dough to fit rim height and prick bottom of dough with fork. Bake crust 7 minutes or just until it begins to turn golden brown. Remove from oven, add filling and bake 15 to 20 minutes more until egg mixture is set. Let cool 5 minutes before removing rim from tart pans. Cut into wedges.
• Note: The chef serves this tart with salad of baby spinach, red and yellow teardrop tomatoes, sliced Hass avocado, toasted pecans and apple cider vinaigrette.
• Recipe by Chefs Frank Randazzo and Andrea Curto-Randazzo

PEA & SPRING ONION TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To make the pastry, tip the flour and butter into a food processor, and pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the cheese and pulse to combine. Add 2-3 tbsp cold water and mix to a firm dough.
• Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly. Roll out and line a 30 x 20cm rectangular tin (or a 26cm round flan tin) - no need to trim the pastry edges. Chill for 15 mins, then line with baking parchment, fill with baking beans and blind-bake for 10 mins. Remove the parchment and beans, and bake for a further 10 mins until biscuity brown. Trim off excess pastry using a small sharp knife.
• Reduce oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the spring onions and gently fry for a couple of mins until softened. Add the peas, season and cook gently, stirring occasionally, for a further 5 mins. Tip into the food processor with the milk and work to a purée.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl, then beat in the crème fraîche, nutmeg, half the cheese, the pea purée and seasoning. Pour into the pastry case and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 25-35 mins until the filling is firm and lightly browned.

SCOTTISH CHEDDAR CHEESE AND SPRING ONION TEA-TIME SCONES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to Gas Mark 6, 400F or 200C Grease or butter a large baking/cookie tray.
• Sift flour and mustard powder, or cayenne pepper, into a bowl. Rub in the butter until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add just over three-quarters of the cheese and the chopped spring onion, and mix well. Stir in the eggs and yogurt; I have suggested between 2 and 4 tablespoons of yoghut, add it a tablespoon at a time to get the right consistency. The dough will be very soft. Knead very lightly on a WELL floured surface.
• Pat out dough to about 2.5cm (1in) deep and cut out about 5 scones. Knead the trimmings and pat out, then cut out another 2-3 scones. Put the scones on the baking sheet and sprinkle with the rest of the cheese, and more cayenne, if you like.
• Bake for 20 - 25 minutes until golden brown and risen. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 to 30 minutes.
• Best served warm with butter and a sliver of cheese, or spread with cream cheese and ham.
• Tip: Use a larger cutter to make bigger scones, then serve them with spinach and a poached egg on top. Bake them for slightly longer.
• To freeze: cool and pack in polybag. Seal, label and freeze. Use within 2 months. Thaw at room temperature. Warm through in the oven for serving.