Roquefort Leek And Walnut Tart Recipes

ROQUEFORT AND LEEK TART

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 6, 200ºC. First, pop a baking sheet into the centre of the oven while it's pre-heating. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a frying-pan, add the chopped spring onions and leeks and cook them over a medium heat for 5-6 minutes. Now, using oven gloves, place the pastry case, still in its foil container, on the baking sheet, arrange the onion-and-leek mixture over the base and crumble the Roquefort on top. Whisk the double cream and the eggs together in a jug, season and then pour this over the cheese and leeks. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the surface, then transfer the baking sheet to the centre of the oven. Reduce the heat to gas mark 4, 180ºC and bake the tart for 35-40 minutes, till golden and firm in the centre. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before serving with a tossed green salad. Note: this can also be made in 6 frozen tartlet cases; cook as above.

LEEK, GOAT'S CHEESE, WALNUT & LEMON TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, then add the butter. Once sizzling, add the leeks and cook over a medium heat until softened but not coloured. Stir in the thyme and half the lemon zest, then increase the heat. Add the lemon juice and cook for about 30 secs until the lemon juice reduces, then season well. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Unroll the pastry and lay on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Lightly mark a 1cm border around the edges with the tip of a sharp knife, then prick the base all over with a fork.
• Spread the lemony leeks on top of the pastry, within the border. Crumble over the cheese, scatter with the walnuts, then season with pepper. Drizzle with some olive oil, brushing the edges with a little oil as well. Put tart in the oven for 15-20 mins until the pastry puffs up around the edges and is golden brown. Scatter with parsley and the remaining lemon zest. Serve hot, warm or cool.

ROQUEFORT LEEK TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out pastry and line quiche or tart pan. Line with foil and weight with pastry weights or dry beans. Bake 10 minutes, remove foil and weights and bake until golden, about 15 minutes more.
• While pastry bakes, heat butter in large skillet. Add leeks, season with pepper and sauté over low heat until soft but not brown. Remove from heat.
• When pastry is done, remove from oven and lower oven heat to 375 degrees. Spread leeks in pastry. Add cheese and thyme. Mix eggs and half-and-half and pour over ingredients in pastry.
• Bake tart 35 to 40 minutes, until filling feels fairly firm to the touch and has barely begun to brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ROQUEFORT, LEEK AND WALNUT TART

Steps:

• Blend together flour, baking powder and half the salt in a bowl or a food processor. Beat egg yolk with 5 tablespoons cold water. Stir in olive oil. Pour this mixture over the flour mixture and beat with a fork if using a bowl, or pulse about a dozen times in the processor, until dough starts to come together. Add another teaspoon or two of water if mixture is too dry.
• Gather dough together and knead briefly on a lightly floured surface to form into a ball. Roll and trim to make an oblong 9 by 13 inches or a 12-inch round. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Fold up a half-inch border all around either shape. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Spread bacon in a heavy skillet and cook until very lightly browned. Stir in leeks and remaining salt and cook until softened and translucent. Stir in walnuts, sauté about 30 seconds, and remove from heat. Mash Roquefort and work in crème fraîche. Spread on pastry. Scatter leek, bacon and walnut mixture evenly on top. Bake 20 minutes, allow to cool briefly, cut in squares or wedges and serve.

SPINACH, BACON & ROQUEFORT TART

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out the pastry onto a lined baking sheet. Using the tip of a sharp knife, mark a 2cm border around the edge. Brush the pastry all over with the egg and bake for 10 mins. Leave for 5 mins, then press down the centre with your hands, leaving the border. Top with the spinach, tomatoes and roquefort, and return to the oven for 10-15 mins. Meanwhile, fry the bacon until very crispy. Drain and chop or break into shards and scatter over the tart.

FIG & BLUE CHEESE TART

Steps:

• First make the pastry. Tip the flours into a food processor with ½ tsp salt and the diced butter. Pulse until you can't feel any lumps, then tip in the walnuts. Mix the egg yolks with 3 tbsp cold water, then dribble this into the machine while you pulse again until the pastry comes together. Tip the pastry out onto a floured surface, lightly bring it together into a ball, then roll out and line a deep 20-23cm tart tin with overhang. The pastry may crack, but just patch it back together, then cover and chill for 1 hr.
• To make the filling, melt the remaining butter in a large pan, then add the shallots and soften for 10-15 mins, until golden and squishy. Stir in the thyme for 1 min, then remove from the heat. Beat the eggs in a jug with the crème fraîche and cream. Crumble in the cheese and season with pepper and a small amount of salt.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Blind bake the pastry for 20 mins, remove the baking beans and paper, then bake for a further 15-20 mins until golden and sandy. Reduce the oven temp to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Add the cooled onions to the cream mixture and pour into the case. Sit the fig halves on top, cut side up, sprinkle with some more thyme and bake on the middle shelf for 1 hr-1hr 10 mins until the tart is browning and has a slight wobble - the cheese middle will firm up on sitting. Cool for about 15-20 mins, then remove from tin and serve with a green salad.

ONION, WALNUT AND ROQUEFORT TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• On a floured, cold surface, roll out the pie dough to a 14-inch circle, about 1/8-inch thick. Roll the dough onto the rolling pin and unroll onto the tart pan (use an 11" pan with a removable bottom).
• Gently mold the dough around the edges to completely line the pan. Roll the rolling pin over the edges of the pan to cut off the excess dough. Patch any spots with the extra dough and then freeze any remaining for later use. Chill the molded pie shell for about 20 minutes before baking or freeze, well wrapped until ready to use.
• When ready to bake, score the bottom of the tart shell with fork marks to prevent the dough from bubbling. "Blind bake" the tart shell by covering it fully with a sheet of parchment paper and filling the tart with rice or dried beans, making sure to completely fill in the shape of the shell with the beans. This weighted process will allow the crust to bake without shrinking or losing its shape.
• Bake for about 30 minutes, until shape has set and the dough is lightly colored.
• Remove the beans and parchment and store for later use.
• Return the tart shell to the oven and bake another 10 minutes until it is golden brown.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter and oil in a heavy based sauté pan. Add the onions and cook gently over medium heat, until the onions are caramelized, about 30 minutes.
• Once caramelized add the sherry and cook until the liquid has evaporated and the onions are dry.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Remove to a plate and chill in the refrigerator. The onions can be made two or three days ahead.
• Toast the walnuts in the oven until lightly colored, about 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, coarsely chop the nuts and then place in a colander or large holed strainer and shake until most of the bitter skins or "dust" is removed. Set aside until ready to use. The nuts can also be prepared ahead and kept well covered.
• To make the custard, simply whisk together the yolks and the heavy cream until mixed and season with salt, pepper and cayenne.
• To assemble, cover the bottom of the tart shell with an even distribution of the caramelized onions.
• Repeat again with the walnuts and then the Roquefort.
• Cover with the custard and bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, or until just golden. Remove from the oven and allow to set before serving.