Spinach Tart Food

SPINACH MADELEINE TART WITH CHEESY PASTRY

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unravel the pastry on a lightly floured work surface, and sprinkle the 2 tbsp of hard cheese over one half of the pastry along with ½ tsp cayenne and a crack of black pepper. Fold the other half of the pastry over to close it like a book, and roll out, squashing the cheese in the middle, until it fits into a 22cm tart tin with an overhang. Prick the base with a fork, cover with a sheet of parchment and fill with baking beans. Cook for 15 mins, then remove the parchment and beans. Bake for 10-15 mins until lightly golden, then leave to cool in the tin.
• Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Spoon small piles of the remaining hard cheese (about 16) in a thin layer onto the sheet, then bake for 5-7 mins until bubbling and melted. As soon as they look lacy, remove from the oven or they will burn quite quickly. Transfer to a wire rack to cool and crisp up. Will keep in an airtight container for two days.
• Put the spinach in a sieve over a clean bowl, and squeeze well with the back of a spoon. Keep the liquid.
• Heat the butter in a heavy-based pan and fry the shallots with a pinch of salt for 10 mins. Stir in the garlic, thyme and 2 tbsp flour, then pour in 250ml of the spinach water, boiling for 1-2 mins. Stir in the mascarpone, nutmeg and a pinch of cayenne, and cook for 5 mins.
• Fold through the cheddar and spinach, tip into a bowl and leave to cool for 5-10 mins. Stir in the eggs. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the tart case, then pour in the filling. Bake for 35-40 mins until golden. Leave to cool a little before topping with thyme and the cheesy crisps.

MUSHROOM & BABY SPINACH TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use it to line a deep 22cm flan tin. Let the edges overhang, don't trim them yet. Chill in the fridge or freezer for at least 15 mins.
• Line the tart case with baking parchment and fill it with baking beans. Place on a baking tray, then bake for 15-20 mins. Remove the beans and parchment, then return to the oven for another 5 mins to cook the base. Remove, then reduce oven temperature to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan, then cook the mushrooms for 1 min. Add the spinach, then cook for 3 mins more or until wilted down. Combine the eggs with the milk and cream in a jug and season well. Build up the tart by sprinkling the cheese onto the base, then scatter over the vegetables and pour over the cream and egg mix. Sprinkle the thyme over the top, then bake for 40-45 mins or until set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Trim the pastry edges and serve in slices with the salads, below.

CREAMED SPINACH TARTLETS

Steps:

• For the filling: Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl one-third full with ice. Add cold water to cover the ice. Set a colander into the bowl.
• In batches, cook the spinach in the boiling water just until bright green, about 1 minute. With tongs, immediately plunge the spinach into the colander to stop cooking and set the color. When all of the spinach is cooked and cooled, lift the colander from the water and squeeze out the excess water from the spinach. Chop the spinach and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a deep skillet or broad saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic; cook an additional minute, until toasted and fragrant. Add the cream, the blanched spinach and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil and cook until the cream has cooked down and thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the Parmesan, feta, white pepper, nutmeg and more salt to taste. Stir to blend, then remove from the heat.
• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Unroll the phyllo and cover it with a damp kitchen towel; keep the pastry covered while working to keep in the moisture. Cut the phyllo in half crosswise.
• Using a pastry brush, coat six 4 1/2-inch tart pans with melted butter. Gently lay a "square" of phyllo in one of the pans, letting it fall loosely into place. Brush with butter, covering the pastry sheet completely. Repeat with five additional sheets. Using kitchen shears, trim the excess dough, leaving a good 1 inch of overhang. Shape the phyllo around the perimeter of the tart pan to create an attractive, rustic edge. Repeat for the remaining five pastry tarts. Fill each tart with the creamed spinach mixture.
• Place the filled tart pans on a baking sheet. Bake on the center oven rack until the crust is golden brown, 30 minutes.

SPINACH AND ONION TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a 10-inch tart pan and line it with the pastry. Keep it in the refrigerator while you prepare the filling.
• Steam the spinach above an inch of boiling water for 2 to 3 minutes, until wilted. You will probably have to do this in batches. I like to use a pasta pot with an insert for steaming spinach, as I can get a lot of it into the insert. Rinse briefly with cold water, squeeze out excess water and chop medium-fine.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large, heavy skillet and add the onion. Cook, stirring often, until it is tender and beginning to color, about 8 minutes. Add the spinach, thyme and salt and pepper to taste, and stir together. Remove from the heat.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl. Add salt to taste (I use about 1/2 teaspoon) and whisk in the milk. Stir in the onion and spinach mixture and the cheeses. Scrape into the pastry-lined tart pan. Place in the oven and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until tart is set and beginning to color on the top. Remove from the heat and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes before cutting. Serve warm or room temperature.

EASY CRUSTLESS SPINACH SAVOURY TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 °C.
• Grease a 22 cm pie dish.
• Place spinach, onion and cheese into the pie dish.
• Combine remaining ingredients and pour into pie dish.
• Bake for 35 minutes or until set.

PAUL MCCARTNEY'S SPINACH TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400.
• Place lined tart pan in oven, bake for 10-15 minutes.
• Gently cook spinach with half the butter, until wilted. Drain and chop finely.
• Heat rest of butter and cook onions until soft.
• Spread spinach and onion over bottom of pie crust.
• In processor or blender blend eggs, yolks, cream, mustard and seasonings.
• Stir in cheese then pour over spinach and onion and return to oven for 20-25 minutes, until top is golden.
• Turn off heat and leave in oven for 5 miutes (may leave oven door ajar to prevent over browning).
• Serve.

SPINACH QUICHE TARTS

Steps:

• Line 3 tart tins with pastry.
• Brush pastry with 2 tbsp.
• melted butter and refrigerate for 30 minutes before filling.
• Add 1 teaspoon of drained spinach to each shell.
• Top each tart with cheese.
• Beat 3 eggs and 1 cup half and half cream.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Spread 1 tablespoon of mixture into tart shells.
• Bake at 375° for 20 to 25 minutes.

SPINACH & FETA TARTS (SPANAKOPITA)

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Mix all ingredients except phyllo dough and butter until blended.
• Brush 1 phyllo sheet lightly with butter; cover with 4 of the remaining phyllo sheets, lightly brushing each sheet with some of the remaining butter before covering with next phyllo sheet. Cut into 6 (4-inch) squares. Press 1 phyllo stack into each of 6 muffin pan cups. Repeat with remaining phyllo sheets and butter.
• Spoon spinach mixture into phyllo cups.
• Bake 10 min. or until golden brown. Cool in pan 5 min. Remove to wire rack; cool slightly.

SPINACH, BACON & ROQUEFORT TART

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out the pastry onto a lined baking sheet. Using the tip of a sharp knife, mark a 2cm border around the edge. Brush the pastry all over with the egg and bake for 10 mins. Leave for 5 mins, then press down the centre with your hands, leaving the border. Top with the spinach, tomatoes and roquefort, and return to the oven for 10-15 mins. Meanwhile, fry the bacon until very crispy. Drain and chop or break into shards and scatter over the tart.