Leek And Spinach Tart With Rice Crust Food

SPINACH & RICOTTA SLICE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Melt half the butter with the oil in a sauté pan. Add the onion and cook for 10 mins until softened. Remove to a bowl.
• Add a few handfuls of spinach to the pan and cook for a few mins until it has wilted down. Remove from the heat and drain in a colander. Repeat until all the spinach is cooked. Press with the back of a spoon to remove any excess liquid. Now roughly chop and tip into the bowl with the onion. Stir in the nutmeg, ricotta, egg yolks, Parmesan and some seasoning and mix well.
• Roll out one pack of pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 25 x 30cm rectangle, then lay on a large baking sheet. With the longest side facing you, pack the spinach mixture down the middle of the pastry, leaving a 5cm border all the way around. Brush the pastry all the way round with some beaten egg.
• Roll out the second pack of pastry to a rectangle slightly larger than the first. Drape over the top and gently press down the edges to seal both pastry layers together. Trim the edges to neaten and crimp with your fingers, or seal down with a fork.
• Brush all over with beaten egg and, if you like, lightly score the pastry with the back of a knife in a criss-cross fashion, making sure you don't cut all the way through. Bake for 40 mins. Leave to rest for 10 mins before serving.

LEEK TART

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour, salt and sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes., In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings. Saute leeks in drippings until tender; stir in the bacon. Stir in flour until blended; set aside., On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Transfer to an ungreased 10-in. springform pan. Spoon leek mixture into crust. Trim pastry to 1/4 in. above filling; press pastry against sides of pan. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat the eggs, cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Pour over leek mixture. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes longer. Serve warm.

SPINACH AND LEEK TART

Steps:

• Melt butter in pan, add sliced leek.
• Cook, stirrng for 3 minutes till soft, remove from heat.
• Place thawed spinach into sieve and press to remove excess water.
• Add to leek mixture.
• Combine sour cream and eggs in a bowl.
• Stir in leeks,spinach,cheese and salt and pepper.
• Heat oven to 190 C.
• Lightly grease pie tin.
• Line tin with pastry, prick base with fork.
• Bake pastry for 15 minutes.
• Pour mixture into pastry shell.
• Bake 30 minutes.

LEEK TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Line a 9-inch pie pan with dough. Clean and trim leeks, and julienne. Melt the butter, add leeks and season and cook covered over medium to low heat for 20 minutes until softened. Mix the eggs and cream and all but 1/4 cup of the cheese and add the cooled leeks. Pour into pie shell, top with cheese and bake for 40 minutes.
• BRAISED LEEKS
• In an 8-inch skilled saute leeks in butter. Add chicken broth to almost cover. Cover pan, and to cook for about 20 minutes, until tender. Remove leeks to a platter. Reduce cooking liquid, pour over platter of leeks and garnish with fresh thyme.
• FRIZZLED LEEKS
• Heat oil to hot, but not smoking. Toss julienned leeks with some flour in a bowl. Add to hot oil and fry. Can be used as a garnish.

LEEK AND SPINACH TART WITH RICE CRUST

Steps:

• THE CRUST: Cook the rice for about 45 minutes in boiling water, or until quite soft; drain well but do not rinse; mix all the crust ingredients together and press into the base and sides of a lightly oiled 10 inch flan dish and chill while making the filling.
• THE FILLING: Heat the oil in a non-stick pan and, over a low heat, sauté the leeks and garlic slowly for about 15 minutes; add the baby spinach leaves and sauté until they have just wilted, about 2 minutes. Set aside.
• In another pan, blend the oil and flour and heat gently until bubbly, then stir in the milk or soy milk, tamari and freshly ground pepper.
• Bring to the boil and cook, while stirring, to make a thick white sauce. Combine the leeks mixture and the sauce, and pour the mixture into the pie crust.
• Bake in a moderate oven for 15-20 minutes. If you want a golden crisp topping, add the (optional) grated cheese in the last 5 minutes of baking. Or if you'd like some extra flavour and crunch, add the (optional) pine nuts in the last 5 minutes of baking.
• Serve with a simple green salad or one of Theodore Kyriakou's fabulous Greek salads: Recipe #141988 or Recipe #141992.
• NOTES: Tahini (one of the ingredients in most hummus recipes) is made from ground sesame seeds, and tamari is a pure form of soy sauce, free of chemicals and preservatives. Tamari can be used in any recipe instead of stock cubes. Both tahini and tamari are available in health food stores and larger supermarkets.

CREAMY LEEK TART RECIPE

Steps:

• Remove the pastry from the fridge and allow it to come to room temperature.
• Roll out the pastry thinly on a lightly floured surface and line a 25 x 5cm (10 x 2 inch) flan dish. Chill for at least 20 minutes, and then lightly prick the base with a fork.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C (fan 180°C/400°F/gas 6). Place a baking sheet in the oven to heat up in the meantime.
• Cover the pastry with parchment paper and fill with baking beans. Place the tart tin on the baking sheet and bake blind for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven. Place the baking sheet back in the oven.
• Meanwhile, chop the leeks and melt the butter in a large frying pan. Add the leeks and stir to coat in butter. Cover and cook gently, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes until very soft, but not coloured. Season well. Set aside and cool.
• Beat the egg yolks and cream together, adding a little nutmeg if you like. Spread the leeks in the pastry case and pour over the egg and cream mixture.
• Bake in the oven at 200°C (fan 180°C/400°F/gas 6) for 15 minutes then lower the oven setting to 190°C (fan 170°C/375°F/gas 5) and bake for a further 30-35 minutes, or until set and browned on top.
• Serve with a fresh, green salad and new potatoes. Enjoy!

SPINACH, LEEK, AND CHEESE PIE

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, 6 minutes. Add the leek, season with more salt and the pepper, and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are very soft and translucent, about 8 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set in an ice bath to cool.
• 2. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325°F.
• 3. Generously coat an 8-inch round nonstick springform pan with butter and chill.
• 4. Sift together the flour and baking powder in a medium bowl; set aside.
• 5. Combine the yogurt, feta, onion-and-leek mixture, spinach, and dill in a large bowl. Add the eggs and stir to combine. Using a rubber spatula, gently stir in the flour mixture and season with more salt and pepper. Pour into the prepared pan, gently tapping the sides to level the top.
• 6. Bake for 30 minutes. Increase heat to 425°F and bake until golden brown and set in the center, about 10 minutes more.
• 7. Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes before unmolding.
• 8. Cut into wedges and serve.