Greek Asparagus Tart Food

SPRING ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lightly flour the work surface and roll out the puff pastry to a 9- by 12-inch even rectangle. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Combine the mascarpone, 1 1/4 teaspoons of the salt, the flour, egg and lemon zest, and then fold in the chives and tarragon. Spread over the puff pastry, leaving a 3/4-inch border. Make small cuts around the border about 1 inch apart with the tip of a paring knife.
• Toss the asparagus with the olive oil in a bowl. Lay half of the asparagus in a neat row across the surface of the tart so the tips meet the edge. Do the same in the opposite direction with the remaining asparagus. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and some pepper. Bake until the border of the tart is deep golden and puffed and the top is lightly spotted golden brown, about 25 minutes. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes and serve.
• Serve with lightly dressed greens.

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.

ROASTED ASPARAGUS WITH FETA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Heat olive oil, minced garlic, lemon zest, oregano, and red pepper flakes in a small pan over low heat until garlic becomes golden and oil becomes fragrant; remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Bend asparagus gently until it breaks at a natural point and discard ends.
• Toss asparagus pieces with infused olive oil and place in a single layer on a baking sheet (one with a side edge).
• Season asparagus with salt and pepper.
• Sprinkle asparagus with crumbled feta cheese.
• Roast at 400F for 12 minutes or until cooked to your liking.
• Sprinkle with chopped parsley and squeeze the lemons over the asparagus, being careful to catch the seeds.
• Serve hot.

CHEF JOHN'S ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
• Lay puff pastry out on the prepared baking sheet. Fold edges up to create a 1/2-inch wide border. Prick inside base of dough completely with a fork.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and puffed, about 10 minutes. Press puffed center down with the back of a fork to deflate.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook uncovered until bright green, about 1 minute. Drain in a colander and immediately immerse in ice water for several minutes until cold to stop the cooking process. Drain.
• Stir mustard, creme fraiche, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a small bowl; spread into the bottom of the cooled tart shell. Lay asparagus spears, trimming as necessary to fit the tart shell, in the center of the tart on top of the mustard spread. Brush melted butter over the asparagus and crust and sprinkle Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over the top.
• Bake in the oven until pastry is browned and asparagus is tender, 10 to 12 minutes.

GREEK ASPARAGUS SALAD

Steps:

• Remove papery outer skin from garlic (do not peel or separate cloves). Cut top off of garlic bulb. Brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Wrap bulb in heavy-duty foil. Bake at 425° for 30-35 minutes or until garlic is softened. Cool for 10 minutes., Meanwhile, place asparagus on a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Drizzle with remaining oil; toss to coat. Bake at 425° for 20-25 minutes or until tender, turning once., Squeeze softened garlic into a small bowl; mash slightly. Stir in the asparagus, onion, olives and vinaigrette; toss to coat. Sprinkle with feta before serving.

ASPARAGUS AND CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring about 1 inch of water to a boil in a large skillet. Add the asparagus; cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Drain and transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking; drain and pat dry. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Roll out the puff pastry into a 10-by-16-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Bake until light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool slightly on the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, mix the fontina, comte, shallot, egg yolks, milk, nutmeg and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl until combined. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the puff pastry, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Toss the asparagus with the olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Arrange the asparagus on the tart and bake until the cheese mixture is slightly puffy, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the lemon zest. Serve warm or at room temperature.

GREEK ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Press Greek Baking-Powder Piecrust into a 10-inch quiche dish coated with cooking spray.
• Combine eggs and egg whites in a medium bowl; beat well with a whisk. Brush 2 tablespoons egg mixture over crust; set remaining egg mixture aside. Bake for 7 minutes; cool on a wire rack.
• Snap off tough ends of asparagus; remove scales with a knife or vegetable peeler, if desired. Cut asparagus into 5-inch pieces. Steam asparagus, covered, 5 minutes or until tender. Rinse under cold water. Drain well; set aside.
• Add skim milk and remaining ingredients to remaining egg mixture in bowl, and beat well. Pour into prepared crust. Arrange steamed asparagus spokelike in egg mixture, alternating stems and tips.
• Bake tart at 375° for 35 minutes or until a knife inserted near center of tart comes out clean.

CHEESY ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add the butter. When the butter has melted, add the leeks, then sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden brown around the edges, 8 to 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Unroll the two pie crusts and lay on a sheet pan so that the pieces overlap slightly. Trim the edges of the pastry where it rides up the sides of the sheet pan and press these trimmings into the bare areas so that you are left with a 10-by-16-inch pastry rectangle.
• Sprinkle over the fontina, leaving a 1-inch border, then top with the leeks. Dollop on the ricotta. Scatter the thyme and asparagus pieces over the ricotta and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Fold the uncovered pastry edge inwards to make a 1/2-inch border all the way around the tart, in the style of a galette.
• Whisk the egg with a splash of water in a small bowl. Brush it all around the pastry edge.
• Bake the tart until it is a deep golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. (If the crust is browning too fast, reduce the heat to 425 degrees F.)
• Remove the tart from the oven, then allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Cut into pieces and serve.

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.

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.

FANCY ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Defrost 1 sheet of frozen puff pastry (usually this takes 40 minutes at room temperature).
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Drain and rinse the beans. Clean the asparagus, trim their tough ends and cut them in half.
• Add all ingredients, except for the asparagus and puff pastry, to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until everything is nice and smooth. You might need to use more or less rice milk depending on the consistency you want.
• Lay a parchment paper on top of a cookie sheet. Spread the puff pastry on it (you can roll it a bit if you want to). Cut the pastry sheet into 4 equal pieces.
• Spread your bean mix on top of the pastry leaving a 1/2 inch border on all sides. Top with the asparagus halves.
• Bake the individual tarts for 22-24 minutes.

SALMON & ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 170C/340°F.
• Place all of the pastry ingredients (except for the olive oil) into a food processor and pulse until combined. If the mixture is too sticky, add more ground almonds.
• Grease your pie tin with the olive oil and place the pastry mixture inside it, pressing it along the bottom and up the sides until everywhere is covered.
• Bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, start making the filling. Place the lentils in a saucepan and cover with 500ml water, bring to the boil, then simmer for 15 minutes.
• Break the tops from the asparagus spears. Add the asparagus, frozen peas and spinach to a large pan, cover with water, bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Drain, then set aside.
• Cut the salmon fillets into chunks and remove the skin. Add the milk and salmon to a large pan, and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 4-5 minutes, then drain.
• Heat the olive oil in a frying pan, slice the onion and gently fry until softened.
• Whisk together the eggs, egg whites, Greek yoghurt, nutmeg and black pepper until combined, then add in the onion, peas, mustard, dill, lemon zest, salmon, spinach, and lentils.
• When the pastry is ready - remove from the oven and pour in the filling mixture, then place your asparagus and fresh dill on top.
• Place back into the oven and bake for a further 10-15 minutes, until the filling has set and the crust has started to brown.

CAESAR ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Blend garlic cloves, dijon mustard, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and gradually add oil while blending.
• After it's well mixed, add paremsan cheese and black pepper.
• Blanch asparagus (boil for 1-2 minutes then place in an ice bath).
• Spread out asparagus in a baking pan, top with the caesar salad mixture.
• Prepare the puff pastry dough, roll it out flat until you have a rectangle shape.
• Create a border around the edges of the puff pastry, approximately 3/4" wide, using a small sharp knife.
• Then create diagonal score marks around the edges of the puff pastry.
• Poke holes throughout the pastry dough using a fork.
• Brush the egg yolk + water wash around the crush (edges).
• Bake the pastry at 400F for 10mins.
• To make part filling, combine egg, ricotta cheese, parmesan cheese, chives, black pepper--mix using a whisk.
• Spread tart filling evenly on top of the pastry.
• Spread the asparagus evenly on top of the filling.
• Gently place 2 eggs (make sure not to break the yolk) on top of the asparagus.
• Bake at 400F for 25mins.