Asparagus Basil Cream Cheese Tart With Optional Bacon Food

CHEESY PUFF PASTRY ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 220ºC/430ºF. Line a baking sheet with baking/parchment paper.
• To make the cheese mixture, combine the cream cheese, egg yolks, Parmesan, thyme, lemon zest, salt and pepper and mix well.
• Gently roll the puff pastry out into a large rectangle (to fit the baking sheet). Score a border around the edge (taking care not to cut all the way through the pastry).
• Spread the cream cheese mixture onto the puff pastry, staying within the borders then top with the asparagus and season with salt and pepper.. Brush the edges of the pastry with beaten egg.
• Place the tart into the oven and allow to bake for 15-20 minutes until the pastry is golden and cooked through.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving.

BACON-ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line half sheet pan with parchment paper. Mix together 1 egg and heavy cream to make egg wash. Set aside.
• Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface to make a slightly larger rectangle. Using a sharp paring knife, gently score a 3/4" border, carefully cutting halfway through pastry. Using a fork, gently prick center area all over. This will prevent the middle from rising out of control. Brush border lightly with egg wash and bake 10 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack and let cool slightly. Reserve egg wash.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon and drain, and reserve about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Add the asparagus to pan and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. (The asparagus will cook more in the oven).
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan, gruyere, chives, remaining egg, remaining egg wash, and black pepper. Spread cheese mixture evenly across center of puff pastry, leaving 3/4" border. Evenly arrange asparagus across center of pastry. Lightly drizzle asparagus with olive oil and bake until pastry is golden brown and asparagus is fork tender, 25 minutes.
• Sprinkle with Maldon sea salt and serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS, BASIL, & CREAM CHEESE TART WITH OPTIONAL BACON

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place thawed pastry on a lightly floured rolling space and, using a rolling iron, roll into a 10-inch by 14-inch rectangle.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and carefully transfer the puff pastry to the baking sheet. Bake until golden brown, about 12 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit until cool, at least 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the cream cheese, onion, garlic, basil, salt, and pepper to a small bowl. Mix together with a fork. Set aside.
• Bring a large bot of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl with cold water and ice. Add asparagus to the boiling water and cook for one minute. With tongs, lift the asparagus out of the boiling water and dunk in the ice water to help stop the cooking.
• Make a pile of 3 - 4 paper towels and move asparagus to the paper towels. Gently blot until dry. Add asparagus to a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat.
• Spoon cream cheese onto cooled puff pastry crust. Spread to within 1/2 inch of the edge. Arrange asparagus on top of cream cheese layer. Sprinkle with a pinch or two of coarse salt, if desired.
• Return tart to oven and bake for about 10 minutes, until cream cheese is warm and asparagus is tender.
• If adding bacon, sprinkle it on after baking, or cut into squares and top individual squares if desired.

BACON-ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200ºC (180ºC fan). Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Mix together 1 egg and cream to make egg wash. Set aside.
• Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface to make a slightly larger rectangle. Using a sharp paring knife, gently score a 2cm border, carefully cutting halfway through pastry. Using a fork, gently prick centre area all over. This will prevent the middle from rising out of control. Brush border lightly with egg wash and bake 10 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack and let cool slightly. Reserve egg wash.
• Meanwhile, heat a large pan over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until crispy. Remove bacon and drain, and reserve about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Add the asparagus to pan and cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. (The asparagus will cook more in the oven).
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine ricotta, parmesan, gruyere, chives, remaining egg, remaining egg wash, and black pepper. Spread cheese mixture evenly across centre of puff pastry, leaving a 2cm border. Evenly arrange asparagus across centre of pastry. Lightly drizzle asparagus with olive oil and bake until pastry is golden brown and asparagus is fork tender, 25 minutes.
• Sprinkle with Maldon sea salt and serve immediately.

ASPARAGUS QUICHE

Steps:

• Bake crust at 425° for 6-7 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside. , Cook the asparagus spears in a small amount of water until tender. Drain and cool. Set aside three spears for garnish; cut the remaining asparagus into 1/2-in. pieces. Combine the asparagus pieces and onions; add flour and toss. Pour into crust; sprinkle with cheese. Whisk together eggs, cream, salt, basil and cayenne; pour over asparagus mixture. , Bake at 325° for 25 minutes. Split the reserved asparagus spears lengthwise and arrange, cut side down, in a wheel pattern on top of filling. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.

ASPARAGUS, GOAT CHEESE & BACON TART

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 450°F.
• In a medium frying pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 8 minute Transfer to paper towels. Pour off all but 1 Tbs. of the bacon fat from the pan. Add the shallot to the pan and sauté for about 1 minute Add the asparagus and cook over medium-high heat until the asparagus is crisp-tender, about 5 minute Remove the pan from the heat. Crumble the bacon into tiny pieces and mix it with the asparagus and shallot.
• On a lightly floured piece of kitchen parchment, roll out the pastry to a 10x16-inch rectangle. Transfer the pastry and the parchment to a baking sheet.
• Using your fingers, pat the goat cheese onto the pastry, spreading it as evenly as you can and leaving a 1-inch border around the edge. Sprinkle the asparagus, bacon, and shallot mixture evenly over the goat cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
• Brush the edge of the tart with the egg wash. Bake until the pastry is golden brown, 20 to 25 minute (be sure to cook the pastry fully to get it light and crisp). Let cool slightly and serve warm.

HERBY ASPARAGUS & BACON TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out the pastry to about 15 x 30cm, the thickness of a £1 coin, and trim the edges. Transfer to a lightly floured baking tray. Score a 1cm border, making sure you don't go all the way through the base. Prick all over the base with a fork, brush the edges of the tart with beaten egg and bake for 15 mins.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a small pan and fry the lardons until golden and crisp. Mix the ricotta, mascarpone, lemon zest, herbs and half the Parmesan in a bowl with salt and lots of black pepper.
• Remove tray from the oven, squash down centre of the tart and spread with cheese mixture. Scatter over the bacon, reserving the oil. Place asparagus along length of the tart, alternating direction of the tips. Brush with a little bacon oil, scatter over the remaining Parmesan and bake for 20 mins more. Serve warm.

ASPARAGUS & CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Put the flour in a bowl, add the butter to the flour and rub in with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the grated cheddar into the pastry and mix. Add 3 tbsp cold water and mix until the pastry forms a ball. Wrap in cling film and chill for 5 mins. Butter a 20 x 6cm deep loose-bottom tart tin, or a 35 x 12cm rectangular tart tin.
• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Lightly dust the work surface with flour, roll out the pastry and line the tin. Chill in the freezer for 20 mins, then line the pastry case with baking paper, fill with beans and cook for 15 mins. Remove the beans and paper, then return the pastry case to the oven for 10 mins.
• Crack the eggs into a jug, whisk, then add the milk and whisk again. Sprinkle half the grated cheese over the pastry case, then add the asparagus, egg mix and remaining cheese (if using a rectangular tin, you may not need all the mixture, so add it gradually). Bake in the lower half of the oven for 30-35 mins or until the egg mix is set.

ASPARAGUS, BACON & SHALLOT TART

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to an 11-in. tart pan and press into edges. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400°. Prick crust with a fork 5 or 6 times; line with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice. Bake on a lower oven rack until edge is light golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake until bottom is light golden brown, 4-5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce oven setting to 375°., Trim tough ends from asparagus. Reserve 8 spears; cut remaining asparagus into 1/2-in. pieces., In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, 6-8 minutes; remove and drain. Add olive oil to skillet, then red onion, shallot and chopped asparagus; cook and stir until softened, 6-8 minutes. Stir in vinegar; cook 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Return bacon to pan; stir in tomatoes, parsley, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Spoon into crust., Whisk eggs and cream; stir in cheddar cheese until blended. Pour over top. Arrange reserved asparagus spears in a spoke pattern with tips facing outward. Sprinkle with Gruyere cheese. Bake until a knife inserted in center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting.

ASPARAGUS, GOAT CHEESE AND TARRAGON TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a medium bowl, use a fork or a wooden spoon to mash together the goat cheese, egg, garlic, tarragon, lemon zest, salt and nutmeg until smooth. Switch to a whisk and beat in the crème fraîche until smooth.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry into a 13-by-11-inch rectangle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a parchment-lined cookie sheet. With a sharp knife, lightly score a 1/2-inch border around the edges of the puff pastry.
• Spread the crème fraîche mixture evenly inside the scored border. Line up the asparagus spears on top, and brush them with olive oil. Sprinkle some salt and the grated Parmesan over the asparagus.
• Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Let it cool on the cookie sheet for at least 15 minutes or up to 4 hours before serving. Then sprinkle black pepper, red-pepper flakes (if using), the shaved Parmesan and tarragon leaves. Drizzle a little oil on top.

CHILLED ASPARAGUS WITH BASIL CREAM

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, bring 8 cups water to a boil. Add half the asparagus; cook, uncovered, just until crisp-tender, 2-4 minutes. Remove and immediately drop into ice water. Drain and pat dry. Repeat with remaining asparagus. Arrange on a serving platter., Place mayonnaise, cream, 3 tablespoons basil, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor; cover and process until blended. Spoon over asparagus. Garnish with pine nuts, lemon peel and remaining 1 tablespoon basil.