Baby Tarts Of Blue Cheese German And Vegetarian Food

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.

FISH CAKES WITH HERBED SAUCE (GERMAN)

Steps:

• Coarsely grate potatoes & squeeze out all excess moisture. Coarsely grate onion. Add half the onion to the potatoes & reserve the other half for the sauce.
• Chop fish fillets roughly, place in a food proc w/some freshly ground black pepper & whizz to a smooth paste.
• Combine fish paste w/the potato/onion mixture & add salt as desired, remembering the smoked fish provides a salt component. Shape mixture into 8 rd cakes & set aside.
• Wash out the food proc & make the sauce by blending your chosen herbs till finely chopped (See note below Re Herb Mix).
• Add remaining sauce ingredients + reserved grated onion & pulse to a slightly chunky puree - not smooth as it should have some texture. Taste sauce, add salt & pepper as desired, transfer to a bowl & set aside.
• Dust fish cakes lightly w/flour. Heat oil to a depth of 1/2-inch & fry cakes (in 2 batches as needed) for about 3 min on ea side over med-heat. Drain on paper towels & reheat oil to cook 2nd batch. Serve fish cakes w/sauce & a fresh tomato salad.
• RE HERB MIX: (Quoted from recipe) "Choose from parsley, chives, chervil, dill, marjoram, sorrel, coriander, basil, tarragon, borage, lovage, rocket or baby spinach. Use the more pungent herbs sparingly.".
• NOTE (Added 4/3/08) ~ When I made this dish, I unexpectedly found myself w/o smoked fish to use -- so I subbed Icelandic baby shrimp & it worked very well. If you make the recipe using this sub, I advise adding 1 tsp (or more as desired) of Old Bay Seasoning to the fish cake mixture.

BLUE CHEESE & PEAR FILLING FOR MINI-TARTLETS (GERMAN)

Steps:

• Mash cheese w/a fork in a bowl. Mix in the celery + black pepper, gradually beat in the cream cheese & fold in the chives. Chill in the fridge till required.
• Peel, quarter & core pears 20-30 min b4 serving. Cut crossways into slices & mix w/the lemon juice to stop them turning brown (I usually use my pastry brush for this).
• Fill 18 pre-baked mini-tartlet shells w/the cheese mixture, stand a pear piece on top & sprinkle lightly w/poppy seeds (if using).

HEIRLOOM TOMATO & BLUE CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400.
• On a floured surface, roll out the puff pastry into a circle a scant ¼-inch thick and about 10 ½ inches in diameter. Transfer it to a 9-inch tart pan. Pat into the bottom and sides and trim the edge so it's even with the rim. Freeze for 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, using a fork, crumble the cheese and mash together with the milk, starting with ½ tablespoon, until the consistency is spreadable but still has some lumps. May need up to 2 Tablespoons. Set aside.
• Slice tomatoes about ¼-inch thick. Blot with paper towels to remove most of juices; set aside.
• Remove pastry from freezer. Bake until light golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool about 15 minutes.
• Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the bottom of the pastry. Cover with the tomato slices in a tightly packed single layer. Sprinkle with the pepper and thyme and drizzle with the olive oil.
• Bake until the crust is deeper golden brown and the tomatoes have collapsed, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let stand for 20-30 minutes before serving.
• To serve, gently slide a knife around the edges, then remove the bottom and place the tart on a serving plate. Cut into wedges and serve warm or room temperature.

ANY VEGETABLE TART

Steps:

• Put a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner or parchment paper. If you like, you can sprinkle Gruyère or Cheddar onto the center of the liner or paper in an approximate 10-by-13-inch rectangle.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, Parmesan, lemon zest or rosemary, garlic (if using), and pinch of salt and pepper until smooth. Beat in the crème fraîche until smooth.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry to form a 10-by-13-inch rectangle, about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to prepared baking sheet. (Place directly on top of the grated cheese, if applicable.) With a sharp knife, lightly score a 3/4-inch border around the edges of the puff pastry, making sure not to cut the pastry all the way through. Using a fork, prick the pastry all over inside the border at 1-inch intervals.
• Spread crème fraîche mixture evenly inside the scored border. Arrange vegetables in an even layer, using just enough to cover the surface in one layer. Scatter scallions and thyme or rosemary sprigs on top. Lightly drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden, and the vegetables are cooked through, about 25 to 35 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving. Serve topped with microgreens, herbs or baby lettuces, and accompanied by lemon or lime wedges, for squeezing.

SUMMER HERB DIP (GERMAN)

Steps:

• Mix quark & yogurt in a mixing bowl. Add next 7 ingredients (garlic thru lemon juice).
• Mix well, taste & season w/salt & pepper to pers pref. Chill in refrigerator for at least 2 hrs b4 serving.
• NOTE #1: I confess I have not used Quark as an ingredient & do not know if I can get it here in Iceland. However, Roz said "Quark makes a quick light dip & has fewer calories than richer cream cheese." Taking this cue from her, my assumption is cream cheese may be used as an alternative to quark.
• NOTE #2: As written the recipe offered a choice of using single cream OR low-fat yogurt. I opted for the latter, but the former may be your choice. Feel free. :-).