Jills Basic Potato Tart Food

CARAMELIZED ONION POTATO TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Set a large skillet over medium heat and add 4 tablespoons of olive oil. Add sliced onions and cook over medium heat for 10 to 12 minutes until they are tender and brown all over.
• Using a mandolin (or sharp knife), finely slice the potatoes into rounds (you can place them in a bowl with a wet towel over the top to stop them from going brown while you work). Place the potatoes into a bowl and season with salt and pepper. When ready, add the onions and toss to combine without breaking potatoes.
• Add about 1 tablespoon water to the same pan the onions were cooked in and allow it to come to a bubble. Using layered paper towels, wipe the pan clean.
• Add some extra-virgin olive oil to the pan and add the potatoes to the pan, making sure the potatoes are flat. Top with the diced butter.
• Take a piece of parchment paper and fold in half. Find the middle of the parchment along the crease and hold in place with your finger. Taking the right side of the parchment, pull it towards the center and fold it straight down to create a diagonal edge. Fold the parchment in half to create a triangle. Place the pointed edge in the middle of the saute pan on top of the potatoes to find its radius. Make a marker of where the pan edge ends (or starts). At this point you can cut the parchment at this marker and open to reveal a circle.
• Cover the potatoes with the parchment paper and press down. Drizzle some extra-virgin olive oil over the top so it down burn and rub it in.
• Place the pan into the oven on the top rack and bake for about 45 minutes.
• When done remove from oven and run a knife around the edge to separate from the pan. Place a large plate on top of the saute pan and flip. Remove the saute pan. Allow to cool slightly before cutting into slices.

SWEET POTATO TART

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the flour, butter, and salt, and pulse until the mixture is very coarse. Pour the flour/butter into a large bowl and add the ice water. Pour out onto a clean, flat surface into a large log. Using the palm of your hand, gently push and pull the mixture to form it into a dough.
• Do not knead, you are just slightly manipulating it. Form into a disc and wrap. Chill. Roll out on floured surface and place in greased 9-inch tart pan. Blind bake tart shell for 10 minutes in a 350 degree F oven.
• In a mixing bowl, combine sweet potato puree, eggs, sugar, orange juice, heavy cream, butter, and spiced thoroughly. Pour sweet potato mixture into tart shell and return to 350 degree F oven and bake for 25 minutes or until center is set. Let cool.
• Whip cream, cinnamon, and sugar to desired consistency.

CRISP POTATO-EGGPLANT TART

Steps:

• Place eggplant in a nonreactive bowl. Toss with 1 teaspoon of salt and allow to sit for 20 minutes. Remove to a clean kitchen towel and tightly twist to squeeze out all moisture. Set aside.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the eggplant and shallots and saute for about 6 minutes, or until very tender. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Peel potatoes. Using a hand grater or mandoline, shred potatoes into a clean kitchen towel. Tightly twist to squeeze out as much moisture as possible.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Heat remaining 1/4 cup of oil in a 9-inch ovenproof, nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Using a spatula, evenly press half of the potatoes into the pan. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Spread the reserved eggplant over the top. Pat remaining potatoes evenly over the eggplant. Again, season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Cook for about 10 minutes, or until bottom is golden. Carefully turn and dab the crust with bits of butter. Cook for about 5 minutes, or until bottom begins to crisp. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked and tart is golden and crisp. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Using a sharp serrated knife, cut into 6 wedges and serve immediately.

SAUSAGE, SPINACH AND POTATO TART

Steps:

• For the dough: Add flour and salt to the bowl of a food processor and pulse a few times to mix. Add the butter to the bowl and pulse until the mixture looks like crumbly sand. Add the egg and water and pulse again until the dough comes together.
• Very lightly flour the work surface. Dump the dough onto the floured surface and knead a few times until it comes together. Shape the dough into a disc and roll out to a 13-inch circle. Press the dough into the bottom and sides of an 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Level the edges with your fingers. Prick the bottom of the tart with a fork. Freeze until firm, 25 minutes.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• While the tart is in the freezer, add the potatoes to a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Add a big pinch of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook the potatoes until tender but still with a bit of resistance, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain and cool.
• Lightly drizzle the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, and cook, breaking up with the back of a wooden spoon until crumbly and browned, 6 to 8 minutes. Add the spinach by the handful and stir until it just wilts down. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and stir in the green onions. Remove to a bowl to cool.
• Crack the eggs into a medium bowl and stir in the milk. Whisk together until combined and then add some salt and pepper.
• Remove the tart from the freezer. Cover the top with parchment paper and add pie weights or dried beans. Place on a sheet tray and bake for 20 minutes.
• Remove the pie weights and parchment paper and continue baking for 10 minutes more.
• Turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees F.
• Evenly sprinkle the par-baked tart shell with half of the grated cheese, then the cooked potatoes, and finally top with the sausage and spinach mixture. Pour the eggs over the top and sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Bake for 45 minutes.
• Cool the tart for 10 minutes before serving. Can be served warm or at room temperature.

SAVORY POTATO TART

Steps:

• Put flour and salt in a mixing bowl (or use a food processor or a stand mixer with paddle attachment). Add half the butter and mix well, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add remaining butter chunks and the water and mix until dough comes together. Remove dough, divide into two equal pieces and dust with flour. Quickly form each piece into a ball, then press down to make two 1-inch-thick disks. Wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour. (May be made a day in advance or frozen for up to 2 weeks.)
• Slice potatoes as thinly as possible, using a sharp knife, mandolin or food processor. Put potato slices in a large bowl and add crème fraîche, salt, pepper, nutmeg, garlic and thyme. Mix well with hands, making sure all slices are coated and seasoning is well distributed. Set aside.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a well-floured surface, roll out each pastry disk to 12 1/2 inches in diameter. Line an 11-inch fluted French tart pan (with removable bottom) with one sheet of pastry, pressing in at the sides and leaving a 1-inch overlap hanging.
• Add the potatoes to the tart pan in even layers, making sure to scrape in all remaining crème fraîche with a rubber spatula. Lay the second pastry sheet on top. With a paring knife, trim excess dough and crimp the edges all around to seal. Make a few slits in the dough to allow steam to escape. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set tart on it. Stir egg yolk and cream together and paint the top of the tart generously.
• Bake for 10 minutes at 425 degrees, then reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake for 1 hour more, until top is golden and potatoes are tender when probed with a paring knife. Cool slightly, then set tart pan over a small, sturdy bowl, so that the bottom of the tart pan is elevated and the fluted ring comes off. Carefully transfer tart to a plate. Serve small slices, hot or at room temperature. May be cooled completely and reheated if desired.

SOUTHERN SWEET POTATO TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. Place potatoes on a foil-lined baking sheet. Bake until tender, 40-50 minutes., On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. tart pan with removable bottom. Press onto bottom and sides of pan; trim edges to edge of pan. Refrigerate while preparing filling., Remove potatoes from oven; increase oven setting to 425°. When potatoes are cool enough to handle, remove peel and place pulp in a large bowl; beat until smooth (you will need 1 cup mashed). Add butter, brown sugar, flour, pie spice and salt; beat until blended. Beat in egg, cream and bourbon. Pour into crust. Bake on a lower oven rack 15 minutes., Meanwhile, for topping, mix butter, brown sugar and corn syrup until blended. Stir in pecans., Remove pie; reduce oven setting to 350°. Spoon topping evenly over pie. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 8-10 minutes. , Cool on a wire rack. Serve within 2 hours or refrigerate, covered, and serve cold.