Souffléd Crab Asparagus Tart Food

CRAB AND ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt and cayenne in a bowl or blend in a food processor. Add 6 tablespoons of butter and cut in or pulse until size of peas. Beat 1 egg with 2 tablespoons ice water, scatter on flour mixture and mix with a fork or pulse until a dough can be gathered together. Add a little more water if needed. Form into a disk and roll on a lightly floured surface, then lay it into a 9-inch straight-sided tart pan.
• Trim edges, line with foil and weight with pastry weights or dry beans. Bake 10 minutes, until it starts to look dry. Remove foil and weights and bake 10 to 15 minutes more, until lightly browned. Remove from oven. Reduce heat to 350 degrees.
• Melt remaining butter in a skillet over medium heat, add shallot and cook 1 minute. Add asparagus and cook about 2 minutes, until they start to soften. Remove from heat. Fold in crab meat, lemon juice and chervil. Season with salt. Spread in pastry.
• Whisk half-and-half and cheese until smooth. Beat in remaining eggs until well blended. Pour over crab and asparagus, place in oven and bake about 40 minutes, until set and lightly browned. Let cool 15 minutes, remove sides of pan and serve at once or cooled to room temperature.

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.

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.

CRAB AND ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• First make the pastry. Rub the flour with the butter until you have a rough, crumbly mix. If you do this in a food processor make sure you use the pulse function to avoid overworking. Add the milk and work into a stiff pastry. Chill for half an hour, then roll out and line the tart tin. Chill again for another half-hour before cooking.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6, preferably with a flat tray big enough for the tart case on the top shelf. Prick the pastry in about 4 places with a fork and bake for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the asparagus, crab, eggs, cream and seasoning in a large bowl. Add them to the pre-cooked tart shell and bake for 15-20 minutes. The filling should still be slightly wobbly in the middle - it will set as it cools. Eat warm or cold.

ASPARAGUS CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Make pastry:
• Blend together flour, salt, and butter in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Drizzle evenly with egg and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in processor) just until a dough forms.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 4 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough into a ball, then flatten into a 5-inch disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Make filling while pastry chills:
• Wash leek in a bowl of cold water, agitating water, then lift out leek and pat dry.
• Cook asparagus in a wide 4- to 5-quart pot of boiling salted water , uncovered, until just tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer asparagus with tongs to a bowl of ice and cold water to stop cooking, then drain and pat dry. Cut off and reserve tips (leave more stalk if asparagus is thin), then thinly slice stalks crosswise.
• Heat butter in a 10- to 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately low heat until foam subsides, then cook leek with 1/4 teaspoon salt, stirring, until softened, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in sliced asparagus and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and remove from heat.
• Finish filling and assemble and bake tart:
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 375°F.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and put flan ring in center of baking sheet. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into an 11-inch round, then fit dough inside flan ring, pressing dough against bottom edge and side of ring. Run rolling pin over top edge of ring to cut off excess dough.
• Whisk together cream, 2 eggs, tarragon, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Lightly beat remaining egg with water in a small bowl and brush tart shell all over with some egg wash. Spoon asparagus mixture into shell, spreading evenly, then pour cream mixture over asparagus.
• Bake tart until filling is just beginning to set but still loose on top, 20 to 25 minutes. Scatter asparagus tips over top, pressing lightly if necessary to help them settle into filling, then continue to bake until custard is golden and just set but still slightly wobbly in center, about 30 minutes more (custard will continue to set as it cools).
• Cool tart on baking sheet on a rack until warm, about 30 minutes. Loosen edge with a small sharp knife, then lift off flan ring. Serve warm or at room temperature, cut into wedges.
• *Available at cookware stores and Bridge Kitchenware (212-688-4220; bridgekitchenware.com).

CRAB AND ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion and celery in butter. Stir in the flour, seafood seasoning, salt, pepper and nutmeg until blended; gradually add water and bouillon. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in potatoes. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 10 minutes., Add asparagus; cook 8-12 minutes longer or until vegetables are tender. Stir in the cream and crab; heat through. If desired, sprinkle with parsley and pepper.

EASY CREAMY CRAB AND ASPARAGUS SOUP

Steps:

• Cook and stir the bacon and onion in a saucepan over medium-high heat until the onion is translucent, 7 to 10 minutes.
• Stir the garlic and yellow bell pepper into the bacon mixture; cook and stir together another 2 minutes.
• Mix the diced potato, asparagus, crabmeat, skim milk, half-and-half, salt, and black pepper into the bacon mixture; bring to a simmer, reduce heat to medium, and cook until the potatoes are tender, 20 to 30 minutes.

CRAB ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: Place the butter, flour and water in a food processor.
• Pulse until it begins to form a dough.
• Remove, gather in a ball, flatten, wrap in plastic film and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• For the filling: Saute asparagus pieces in some garlic and olive oil until slightly softened.
• Add tomatoes just enough to warm through.
• In a large bowl, mix together ricotta, eggs, cream and parmesan.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Remove dough from refrigerator.
• Cut dough in half and roll each half out with a rolling pin to about 1/2 inch thickness.
• Place each in bottom of a 9” pie pan.
• With a fork, poke holes on the bottom, then place in the middle of the oven and bake for about 15 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool.
• Pour half of the filling inside each of the two baked crusts, and return to the oven.
• Bake for about 40-45 minutes, until the batter is set and slightly golden on top.

SOUFFLéD CRAB & ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out pastry and line a 25cm tart tin. Line the case with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans. Bake for 15 mins, then remove paper and beans and cook for 5 mins more. Trim off excess pastry. Reduce oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5.
• Melt the butter in a non-stick pan, stir in the flour and cook for 1 min. Gradually add the milk, stirring all the time until the sauce is smooth and glossy. Add nutmeg, chilli and salt and leave to cool slightly.
• Flake up the crabmeat and add to the sauce. Blanch the asparagus for 3 mins, drain well and cool under cold running water. Pat dry with kitchen paper and scatter over the pastry case.
• Stir the egg yolks into the sauce. Whisk the whites until stiff, then fold into the sauce in 3 batches. Spoon into the tart case and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for 30-35 mins until puffed and golden.

MUSHROOM-CRAB-ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F; spray bottom and side of 12-inch tart pan with removable bottom or 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray.
• Cook asparagus as directed on box; drain and cool.
• Meanwhile, in 12-inch skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
• Add mushrooms; cook about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, just until tender.
• Stir in bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and pepper.
• Press mushroom mixture evenly in bottom and up side of sprayed tart pan or in bottom of sprayed baking dish.
• Sprinkle shredded cheese over mushrooms.
• Top with asparagus and crabmeat.
• In medium bowl or blender, place spreadable cheese, eggs and 1 tablespoon of the parsley.
• Beat with electric mixer on medium speed or cover and blend on low speed until smooth.
• Pour evenly over crabmeat.
• Bake at 375°F for 30 to 35 minutes or until set in center and edges are golden brown.
• Sprinkle remaining tablespoon parsley over top.
• Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
• Carefully remove side of pan.
• Cut into wedges or squares.

ASPARAGUS TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Roll out pastry, line tart pan with the pastry and cover the pastry with foil. Weigh down with dry beans or pastry weights. Place in the oven and bake 10 to 12 minutes, until the pastry looks dry. Remove foil and weights and continue baking until the pastry is golden, about 15 minutes longer. Remove pastry from the oven and increase oven temperature to 375 degrees.
• Melt butter in a skillet, add the onions and saute slowly until they are transluscent and tender. Snap the ends off the asparagus and peel them about half way up from the bottom. Cut the asparagus into half-inch-thick slices on a sharp slant. You should have about one cup of cut asparagus. Add to the skillet with the onions, toss in the butter and add the chives. Season with salt and pepper.
• Scatter the asparagus mixture in the baked pastry shell. Whisk the eggs and half and half together and pour into the shell. Sprinkle with the cheese. Place in the oven and bake until set and golden brown, about 40 minutes.

ASPARAGUS CRAB AU GRATIN

Steps:

• Place asparagus in a greased 1-qt. baking dish. Top with crab and sprinkle with cheese; set aside. In a saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter. Stir in flour until smooth. Whisk in milk, mustard, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. , Remove from the heat; stir in lemon juice. Pour over asparagus. Melt remaining butter; toss with bread crumbs. Sprinkle over top. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 30 minutes or until heated through.

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.