Cheese And Sun Dried Tomato Mini Tarts Recipes

TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Unfold a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll it lightly to an 11 by 11-inch square. Using a 6-inch wide saucer or other round object as a guide, cut 2 circles from the sheet of puff pastry, discarding the scraps. Repeat with the second pastry sheet to make 4 circles in all. Place the pastry circles on 2 sheet pans lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until ready to use.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium to low heat and add the onions and garlic. Saute for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are limp and there is almost no moisture remaining in the skillet. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, the wine, and thyme and continue to cook for another 10 minutes, until the onions are lightly browned. Remove from the heat.
• Using a sharp paring knife, score a 1/4-inch-wide border around each pastry circle. Prick the pastry inside the score lines with the tines of a fork and sprinkle a tablespoon of grated Parmesan on each round, staying inside the scored border.
• Place 1/4 of the onion mixture on each circle, again staying within the scored edge. Crumble 1 ounce of goat cheese on top of the onions. Place a slice of tomato in the center of each tart. Brush the tomato lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with basil, salt, and pepper. Finally, scatter 4 or 5 shards of Parmesan on each tart.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown. The bottom sheet pan may need an extra few minutes in the oven. Serve hot or warm.

BACON & SUN-DRIED TOMATO PHYLLO TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and peppers; cook and stir 6-8 minutes or until tender. Add garlic and oregano; cook 1 minute longer. Cool completely., Place tart shells on ungreased baking sheets. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, lemon juice and salt until smooth. Add egg; beat on low speed just until blended. Stir in tomatoes, bacon, basil and onion mixture., Spoon 2 teaspoons filling into each tart shell. Top each with 1/2 teaspoon crushed crackers and 1/2 teaspoon cheddar cheese., Bake 10-12 minutes or until set. Serve warm. Freeze option: Freeze cooled baked pastries in freezer containers. To use, reheat pastries on a baking sheet in a preheated 350° oven 15-18 minutes or until heated through.

TOMATO AND CHEDDAR TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Unroll 1 pie dough into a round. Arrange three 4 1/4-inch nonstick tartlet pans on the dough and use a paring knife to cut a circle of dough around each that is about 1/2 inch larger than the pan; these don't have to be perfect, but you want to make sure you cut enough excess dough to fill the pan and up the sides. Press the dough evenly into each pan; if any excess dough goes over the top, simply use the top edge of the tartlet pan to cut it away. Use a fork to dock the bottom of the pie crusts. Repeat this process with 3 more tartlet pans and the remaining pie dough. Place the 6 tartlet pans on a baking sheet and put in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, toss together the cherry tomatoes, garlic, salt and pepper. Let the tomatoes sit for 10 to 15 minutes for the flavors to combine.
• Bake the crusts until the dough is cooked part of the way through without any color and bubbles form on the bottom and sides, about 6 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• To each tartlet, add about 3 tablespoons of grated Cheddar and spread evenly over the bottom. Top the cheese in each with 8 tomato halves cut-side up, making sure to get some garlic with each tomato. Bake until the crusts are golden brown, the cheese is bubbling and the tomatoes are softened but have not burst, about 30 minutes. Let cool until cool enough to handle, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the tartlets from the tart pans and garnish with small basil leaves.
• These tartlets can be stored in the refrigerator after they have cooled completely and reheated in the oven the next day for great leftovers!

CHEESE AND SUN-DRIED TOMATO MINI TARTS

Steps:

• Thaw puff pastry for 1 hour.
• Unfold onto a cutting board, and cut into one inch squares.
• Bake at 350 degrees until browned (about 10 minutes). Remove from oven and allow to cool.
• Thoroughly mix cream cheese, blue cheese, and sun-dried tomatoes.
• Spread each pastry square with about 1/4 teaspoon cheese mixture. (This process is made much easier by using a pastry bag and piping the softened mixture onto the pastry.).
• Top each with a small dab of pesto sauce.
• Sprinkle with walnuts then Parmesan cheese.
• Put onto an un-greased cookie sheet, and broil just until cheese melts (about 3 to 4 minutes).
• Serve immediately.

ZUCCHINI, SUN-DRIED TOMATO, AND MOZARELLA TART

Steps:

• Roll out pastry on floured surface to 1/8-inch-thick square. Trim pastry edges to form 13-inch round. Transfer to 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Fold in overhang to form double-thick sides. Pierce with fork. Cover; chill 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Line pastry with foil; fill with beans or pie weights. Bake pastry until sides are set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Bake crust until bottom is golden brown, pressing with back of fork if bubbles form, about 8 minutes. Cool 5 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 400°F. Sprinkle mozzarella over bottom of crust. Top with 6 tablespoons Parmesan, tomatoes, basil, green onions, and oregano. Arrange zucchini rounds in concentric circles to cover top of tart. Whisk eggs, half and half, salt, and pepper in medium bowl. Pour mixture into tart. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan.
• Bake tart until custard is set and crust is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

TOMATO TARTS WITH ROASTED GARLIC & GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Slice the tops off the garlic bulbs and sit on a sheet of foil. Drizzle over 1 tbsp of the oil, season and wrap into a parcel. Roast for 50 mins or until soft, then leave to cool - this can be done the day before.
• Use a sharp knife to cut the pastry into quarters. Roll out each piece and cut into a 14cm-diameter circle. Use a saucer as a guide if you don't have a cutter. Pop the circles on a baking tray and score a 1cm border around the edge of each, being careful not to cut all the way through. Avoiding the border, prick the pastry all over with a fork, then chill.
• Increase oven to 200C/180 fan/gas 6. When the garlic is cool enough to handle, squeeze the flesh from the bulbs into a bowl. Add the mustard, remaining oil and some seasoning, and use a fork to mash to a paste. Spread this over the pastry, leaving the border clear, then top with the tomato halves, skin-side down, and season well.
• Brush the edges of the pastry with egg, crumble over the goat's cheese and bake for 25-30 mins until the pastry is golden and crisp, and the tomatoes are starting to shrivel. Remove from the tray and allow to cool to room temperature. Scatter over the basil before serving.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in processor. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette slices.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Roll the pie dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut into rounds using a 2-1/2 inch cutter. You should have about 30.
• Place rounds into mini muffin tins and prick the dough with a fork.
• Bake about 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Allow to cool.
• For filling:.
• Combine the egg, milk, sherry, basil, garlic, flour and pepper in a bowl. Whisk to blend. Sesgt aside.
• In another bowl, mix together the goat cheese, tomato and green onion.
• Place 1 t. of goat cheese mixture into each shell. Fill nearly full with egg mixture, about 3/4 t. per shell. Bake until filling is set about 6-8 minutes.