Smoked Salmon Tart Food

SMOKED SALMON AND HERB PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F with a rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Lightly flour a work surface and gently unfold the puff pastry dough. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle. Score a 1-inch border along all four sides with a sharp knife then prick the area inside the border all over with a fork. This allows steam to release and a rim to rise around the tart.
• Transfer the puff pastry to the prepared baking sheet and bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown and puffy, about 18 minutes total. Remove the pastry from the baking sheet and allow it to cool on a cutting board or wire rack for 10 minutes. (see Cook's Note)
• While the pastry is baking, whip the cream cheese, yogurt, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Fold in the capers, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons chopped dill and 2 tablespoons chopped chives and set aside.
• Just before serving, evenly spread the cream cheese filling over the baked pastry with an offset spatula, leaving the 1-inch border exposed. Arrange the smoked salmon and cucumber on top and sprinkle the tart with the dill fronds, remaining 1 tablespoon chives and some black pepper.

RADISH AND SMOKED SALMON TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out the puff pastry into an 11-inch square on a sheet of parchment paper. Transfer the dough on the parchment to a baking sheet. Beat the egg with a splash of heavy cream. Brush a 1-inch border of the egg wash around the edges of the dough, then fold in each about 1/2 inch to make a thin border and press to seal. Prick the center of the dough all over with a fork, then brush all over with the egg wash.
• Bake the dough until crisp and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Prick the center of the dough with a paring knife and gently press with the bottom of a measuring cup to flatten, if necessary. Remove to a rack and let cool.
• Meanwhile, soak the sliced radishes in a large bowl of ice water until crisp and just starting to curl, about 15 minutes; drain and pat dry with paper towels.
• Mix the garlic-herb cheese spread and heavy cream in a medium bowl until smooth. Whisk the vinegar, tarragon, parsley and a pinch of kosher salt in a large bowl. Add the radishes and smoked salmon and toss to coat.
• Spread the cheese mixture on the cooled crust, then pile the radishes and smoked salmon on top. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt.

SMOKED SALMON TART FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Make the pastry: Put flour, baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse briefly, then add butter all at once and whir until mixture resembles wet sand. Add egg and continue just until dough comes together. (Alternatively, cut butter into dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix by hand.) Knead dough lightly on counter-top, then divide into four pieces and form each into a ball. Wrap with plastic film and flatten to 1-inch-thick disks. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Make the horseradish cream: Mix together crème fraîche, horseradish, mustard and lemon zest. Season generously with salt and pepper, then keep cool. (If cream firms upon standing, beat with a fork.)
• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Put onion in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. Add olive oil and mix to coat. Roll out each piece of dough to an 8-inch-diameter circle. Place the pastry disks on parchment-lined baking sheets. Sprinkle onion slices over each round.
• Bake tart rounds for 6 to 7 minutes, until pastry is lightly browned and puffed, and onions are starting to brown. (Turn pans halfway through for even browning.) Let cool for a minute or two.
• Put pastry on a cutting board. Cut into 6 or 8 wedges. Spoon some horseradish cream onto each wedge. Tear salmon slices into wide ribbons and lay them over the cream. (Use 1 ounce salmon per tart.) Top each wedge with a tiny spoonful of roe, if using, and sprinkle with chives and tarragon. Serve directly from the board.

SMOKED SALMON, DILL & ONION TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. On a floured board, roll out the pastry to about the thickness of a £1 coin. Press into a 20cm tart tin with a removable bottom. Line the pastry with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans. Bake for 20-25 mins until the sides of the pastry turns golden brown. Remove the baking beans and greaseproof paper and prick all over the base and sides of the pastry with a fork. Put the tart shell back into the oven for another 10 mins until the base is cooked and the pastry is biscuity brown all over. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
• In a saucepan, cook the onions in the olive oil for 5 mins until soft. Season with salt and pepper if you like, and set aside to cool. Stir together the lemon juice and crème fraîche, and then set aside.
• Assemble the tart: spread the onion over the base and arrange the smoked salmon pieces on top. Sprinkle over the capers, dill and lemon zest. Keep the tart in its tin, cover with cling film or foil and refrigerate until serving, drizzled with crème fraîche.

SMOKED SALMON SOUFFLé TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out the pastry on a flour-dusted surface and use to line a 22cm tart tin, leaving the excess pastry overhanging the edge. Line with baking parchment and baking beans, and bake blind for 15 mins. Remove the paper and bake for 10 mins more.
• Meanwhile, make the filling: put the butter, flour and milk in a pan. Heat, stirring all the time, until it makes a very thick, smooth sauce. Stir in the egg yolks, lemon zest, dill and seasoning.
• Beat the egg whites in a clean bowl with an electric hand whisk until they hold their shape, then fold carefully into the sauce.
• Tear the salmon slices into large pieces and arrange half over the base of the tart with half the goat's cheese. Spoon over the soufflé sauce, then arrange the remaining salmon and cheese on top with some extra dill and black pepper. Bake for 25-30 mins until puffed up and golden. Trim the pastry edges. Transport still in the tin, or on a serving plate, wrapped with foil.

SMOKED SALMON TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Brush pastry with egg white and bake for 5 minutes; let cool slightly.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Distribute salmon over bottom of pastry and sprinkle with cheese.
• Beat all remaining ingredients together except garnish and pour over cheese.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking until top is golden, about 15 minutes.
• Garnish with caviar, if desired, and serve.