Goats Cheese Spring Onion Hazelnut Tart Food

GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, put the flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Cut 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) of the butter into large dice, add to the bowl, and pulse until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, add the ice water all at once and process until the dough becomes crumbly. Don't overprocess. Dump the dough out on a floured board, gather it loosely into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough on a well-floured board and fit it into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable sides, rolling the pin over the top to cut off the excess dough. Butter 1 side of a square of aluminum foil and fit it, butter side down, into the tart pan. Fill the foil with rice or beans. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the beans and foil from the tart shell, prick the bottom all over with a fork, and bake for another 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a small pan and saute the shallots over low heat for 5 minutes, or until tender. Place the goat cheese in the bowl of the food processor and process until crumbly. Add the cream, eggs, basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the pepper and process until blended.
• Scatter the cooked shallots over the bottom of the tart shell. Pour the goat cheese mixture over the shallots to fill the shell (if the shell has shrunk, there may be leftover filling). Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the tart is firm when shaken and the top is lightly browned. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and serve hot or at room temperature.

SAVORY SPRING VEGETABLE AND GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Roll out pie crust on a lightly floured surface to a 12" round. Transfer to tart pan and press onto bottom and up sides. Bake crust according to package instructions. Let cool in pan on a wire rack.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Cut off top 1 1/2" of asparagus tips; reserve. Slice stalks into 1/4" rounds. Cut white bulbs from spring onions; trim and quarter (halve if using scallions). Slice pale-green parts into 1/4" pieces. Toss asparagus tips and spring onion bulbs in a small bowl with 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Place in a single layer on prepared sheet; roast, turning once, until onions begin to brown and asparagus is bright green and tender, 12-15 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.
• Meanwhile, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil and butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add sliced asparagus and pale-green parts of spring onions; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until onions are soft and asparagus is bright green and tender, 6-8 minutes. Let cool slightly in pan. Spread evenly over bottom of tart crust.
• Whisk cheese and next 5 ingredients in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk in eggs. Pour over vegetables. Scatter asparagus tips and spring onion bulbs over.
• Bake tart until edges of crust are golden brown and filling is set, 20-22 minutes. Let cool in pan for 20 minutes or up to 4 hours.
• Remove sides of pan. Serve tart warm or at room temperature.

ROASTED-SPRING-ONION AND GOAT-CHEESE EGGS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss onions with oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper. Roast, tossing once, until caramelized and tender, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely, then roughly chop.
• In a bowl, beat together cheeses and butter. Fold in onions and chive blossoms. Season with salt.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Scoop 2 tablespoons cheese mixture; pat into a ball and transfer to sheet. Repeat with remaining cheese mixture. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Lightly form each ball into an oval "egg." Refrigerate until firm, covered, at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days. When ready to serve, sprinkle each egg with peppercorns and garnish with more chive blossoms. Serve, with crackers.

GOAT CHEESE & ONION PASTRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp, stirring occasionally. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels. Discard drippings, reserving 2 teaspoons in pan. Add onions, shallots and sugar to drippings; cook and stir over medium heat until vegetables are golden brown, 15-20 minutes., Add wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from pan. Stir in thyme, garlic and pepper. Cook, uncovered, until liquid is evaporated, 2-3 minutes. Stir in bacon., On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry. Cut into three 9x3-in. rectangles. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush dough with egg white; top with onion mixture and goat cheese. Bake until golden brown, 16-20 minutes. Cut each rectangle into 4 appetizers. Garnish with additional thyme if desired.

ONION & GOAT'S CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cut the pastry into 4 rectangles and place on a baking sheet. Mark a border 1cm in from the edge of the pastry with a sharp knife. Spoon the onions into the middle, smooth then top with the cheese and thyme. Drizzle with oil and bake for 15-20 mins, until the cheese has melted and the pastry has risen and is golden brown.
• For the onions: Makes 600g, which is 3 batches. Prep time 5 mins, cook time 30 mins. Melt the butter in a large, deep frying pan and stir through the onions. Cover with a lid and cook gently for about 10 mins, until softened. Remove lid, add sugar, then cook 15-20 mins, stirring, until all of the liquid has evaporated and onions have turned golden. Divide into 3 batches to make the recipes, right. Will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.

BAKED GOAT'S CHEESE WITH HAZELNUT CRUST & BALSAMIC ONIONS

Steps:

• Halve the goat's cheeses horizontally and mix the nuts with the crumbs. Coat the cheese in the egg, then the nut mixture. Mark the cut side of the cheese with a large piece of nut to show which side up it should be.
• For the onions, heat the oil in a non-stick pan, then add the onions. Stir well and cook for 10 mins until softened and starting to turn golden. Tip in the balsamic vinegar and honey, season and stir over the heat until syrupy. If freezing, open-freeze the cheeses until solid, then wrap individually with cling film and foil. Pack the onions into a freezer bag once cool. To defrost, thaw the onions and warm gently in a pan.
• To cook and serve, heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Place the cheese on a sheet of baking parchment on a baking tray and bake for 20 mins. If you're baking from frozen, add another 5 mins.
• Arrange the salad leaves on plates and spoon the onions on top. Add the goat's cheese, drizzle with any juice from the onions and serve immediately.

DOUBLE CHEESE & SPRING VEGETABLE TART

Steps:

• Roll the pastry out into a rectangle on a work surface lightly dusted with flour. Scatter over the cheese, fold the pastry in half and roll out again into a circle that fits a 25cm tart tin with an overhang. Chill for 20 mins. Meanwhile, cook the asparagus in boiling water for 3 mins, then drain and refresh under cold water. Cook the fresh peas the same way for a minute, or simply defrost the frozen peas.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prick the base of the tart well with a fork, line with baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Bake the tart for 30 mins, remove the parchment and beans, prick again if it has puffed up, then bake for another 10-15 mins until biscuit brown.
• Meanwhile, beat the eggs in a bowl, add the crème fraîche and cream, season and add a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg. Scatter the peas and most of the watercress over the tart and crumble over half the goat's cheese. Pour over the creamy egg mixture, then lay the asparagus spears on top. Finally, slice the remaining goat's cheese and arrange on top, then bake for 25-30 mins until the custard is just set and the cheese is golden brown. Leave to cool in the tin, trim the edges of the pastry, then remove from the tin, scatter with the remaining watercress and serve cut into slices. Can be made up to a day ahead, leave out the fridge to keep the pastry crisp.

GOAT CHEESE, POTATO AND ONION TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190 degrees Celsius Roll out pastry to fit a deep 23cm loose bottomed tart tin. Wrap pastry carefully around rolling pin and unravel over tart tin. press gently around sides of tin. Chill 30 minutes, then line with greaseproof papter and fill with baking beans. Bake blind 15 minutes. Remove paper and beans and return tin to oven 5 minutes until pastry is golden. Remove tin from oven and set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 180 degrees Celsius.
• Heat butter and oil in a large frying pan and add onions and potato. Cook gently 10-15 minutes, turning every so often until veg is golden and tender. Season to taste, then add garlic and thyme. Cook another 3 minutes. Tip filling into pastry case. Add goat's cheese and spread in an even layer.
• Whisk eggs and creme fraiche together. Season to taste and pour into pastry case. Bake 30-35 minutes until lightly golden brown. You may have to cover edges of pastry with foil half-way through to prevent pastry burning. Tart is done when center is just set. Serve warm.

GOAT'S CHEESE, POTATO & ONION TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Roll out the pastry so it is large enough to fit a deep 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin, then line the tin with the pastry. Chill for 30 mins. Line the pastry with greaseproof paper, fill with baking beans and bake for 15 mins. Remove the paper and beans and return the tin to the oven for 5 mins until golden, then remove and set aside. Reduce oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.
• Heat the butter and oil in a large frying pan, add the onions and potato and cook over a very gentle heat for 10-15 mins, turning occasionally, until golden and tender. Season if you want to, then add the garlic and thyme leaves, and cook for a further 3 mins. Tip into the pastry case along with the goat's cheese and spread out evenly.
• Whisk the eggs and crème fraîche together, season if you want to, then pour into the pastry case and bake for 30-35 mins until lightly golden brown and just set in the centre. Serve warm, with rocket leaves scattered over if using.