Leek Goats Cheese Traybake Tart Food

LEEK & GOAT'S CHEESE TARTLETS

Steps:

• Wash the leeks in a colander but don't worry about drying them as you want a bit of water clinging on. Heat the butter in a wide saucepan until sizzling, then add the wet leeks and thyme leaves plus salt and pepper. Sweat the leeks really gently for 20-25 mins until they have practically melted but not coloured, adding a little more butter if needed. Set aside and allow to cool.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Roll the pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut out 4 saucer-size circles and place on a baking sheet. Spread the leeks over the circles leaving a slight border around the edge. Put a slice of goat's cheese in the middle of each tart and top with a thyme sprig. Pinch the pastry edge together to slightly encase the leeks, then bake the tarts for 25 mins until puffed up and golden. Serve hot and drizzled with flavoured oil if you have it.

GOAT-CHEESE LEEK TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack on lowest shelf. In a medium bowl, toss leeks with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together goat cheese, cream cheese, milk, 2 egg yolks, and thyme. Lightly season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, beat remaining egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash.
• Place pie crust on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread goat-cheese mixture on crust, leaving a 2-inch border. Top with leeks. Fold edge of dough over filling, pinching folds together to seal. Brush dough with egg wash.
• Bake until crust is golden brown, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into wedges; serve.

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, CHEESE & BACON TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then gently fry the leeks until soft, about 5 mins. Cool. Unroll the pastry onto a baking sheet. Spread the soft cheese over the pastry to within 3cm of the edges. Scatter over the leeks, bacon and grated emmental.
• Flip the edges of the pastry over the filling. Bake for 20 mins until golden.

LEEK-AND-GOAT-CHEESE TART WITH RYE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 11-by-14-inch rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick. Fit into an 8-by-11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom; trim edges. Dock bottom with a fork and refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Line chilled dough with parchment and fill with dried beans or pie weights; bake until dry to the touch, 35 to 40 minutes. Carefully remove beans and parchment and bake until golden brown all over, 10 to 15 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool at least 30 minutes. (Baked crust can wrapped in plastic and stored at room temperature up to 1 day.)
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring gently, until just turning light golden, about 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water; cover and cook until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add scallions and cilantro; remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper and let cool 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine cheese, eggs, milk, cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; pulse to combine. Pour into crust. Top with leek mixture, spreading evenly. Bake until set in center, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and let cool in pan at least 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. (This tart is best eaten the day it is made, but can also be refrigerated, wrapped in plastic, up to 2 days.)

LEEK, GOAT'S CHEESE, WALNUT & LEMON TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, then add the butter. Once sizzling, add the leeks and cook over a medium heat until softened but not coloured. Stir in the thyme and half the lemon zest, then increase the heat. Add the lemon juice and cook for about 30 secs until the lemon juice reduces, then season well. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Unroll the pastry and lay on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Lightly mark a 1cm border around the edges with the tip of a sharp knife, then prick the base all over with a fork.
• Spread the lemony leeks on top of the pastry, within the border. Crumble over the cheese, scatter with the walnuts, then season with pepper. Drizzle with some olive oil, brushing the edges with a little oil as well. Put tart in the oven for 15-20 mins until the pastry puffs up around the edges and is golden brown. Scatter with parsley and the remaining lemon zest. Serve hot, warm or cool.

GOAT CHEESE-LEEK TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F, with rack on lowest shelf. In a bowl, toss leeks with oil, and season with salt and pepper.
• Whisk together goat cheese, cream cheese, milk, 2 egg yolks, and thyme; season with salt and pepper. In another bowl, lightly beat remaining egg yolk with the water, for egg wash.
• Roll out dough to a 13-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick, on a lightly floured work surface. (Or unfold store-bought dough.) Place on a baking sheet. Spread goat-cheese mixture on crust, leaving a 2-inch border. Sprinkle leeks evenly on top. Fold edge of dough over filling, pinching folds together to seal. Brush dough with egg wash.
• Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until crust is golden brown and filling is browned in spots, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a wire rack. To serve, cut into wedges.
• Preparing Leeks
• Trim root end and dark green tops. Halve leeks lengthwise, then thinly slice crosswise into half-moons. Wash well in several changes of cold water, swishing leeks to release any grit, until water is clear. Drain, and dry on paper towels.

LEEK AND GOATS CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan160°C/gas4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to line four 12cm loose bottomed, fluted tart tins. Prick the pastry, line with grease proof paper and fill with baking beans. bake for 12 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large frying pan and fry the leek and pepper until softened. Remove the paper and beans from the tarts. Fill each tart with the leek and pepper mixture. Scatter over the thyme, olives and goats cheese.
• Cook for 10-12 minutes, until the pastry is golden and the cheese is slightly melted. Serve immediately with either a salad of mixed leaves or fresh seasonal veg.

WELSH GOAT'S CHEESE & LEEK TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then soften the leeks for 5 mins. Add the bacon, cook for a further 5 mins, season, then tip onto a plate to cool.
• Unroll the pastry and cut out two 12 x 18cm rectangles - save or freeze the rest for another time. Lift onto a baking sheet. Using the tip of a sharp knife, mark a border inside each one, about 1.5cm from the edge.
• Mix the crème fraîche and mustard together, then spread over the inside of the pastry frames. Spoon the leek and bacon mix over the mustard mix, then place the goat's cheese on top. Bake for 15-20 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden. Serve with salad.