Stilton Walnut Tarts Food

STILTON & WALNUT TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas6.
• Peel the onions and thinly slice them.
• Heat the oil in a large frying pan, add the onions and fry until softened and lightly browned, stirring occasionally.
• Splash in the vinegar, season, then cook for a further 5 minutes until lightly caramelized. Leave to cool while you prepare the pastry.
• Use the pastry to line a 9x13 in oblong tin.
• Spread over the onions, then crumble the Stilton on top and scatter with walnuts. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the pastry is crisp , golden and the cheese has melted.
• Cool the tart for 5 minutes before serving cut into squares.

STILTON WALNUT TARTS

Steps:

• Roll half the dough into a 1/8-inch thick rectangle on a floured surface, fit it into a 14 x 4 1/2-inch rectangle flan form set on a baking sheet, and fold the edges inward, crimping them decoratively. Make another shell with the remaining dough in the same manner. (Alternatively, the shells may be made in two 9-inch tart pans with removable fluted rims.) Sprinkle the ground walnuts evenly in the pie shells and press them gently into the dough. Prick the bottoms of the shells lightly with a fork and chill the shells for 30 minutes. Line the shells with foil, fill the foil with the rice, and bake the shells in the lower third of a preheated 425°F. oven for 10 minutes. Remove the rice and foil carefully, bake the shells for 5 to 6 minutes more, or until they are golden, and let them cool on the baking sheets on the racks.
• In a saucepan combine the half-and-half and the Stilton, bring the liquid to a simmer, and stir the mixture and the eggs, divide the mixture between the shells, and bake the tarts in the middle of a preheated 375°F. oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the custard 1/2 inch from the edge comes out clean. (The custard may not be fully set in the center but will continue to cook after the tarts are removed from the oven.)
• Let the tarts cool to room temperature and remove the flan forms carefully. Transfer the tarts to platters, garnish them with the walnut halves, and garnish the platters with the watercress. To serve the tarts halve them lengthwise and cut them crosswise into sevenths.

PEAR, WALNUT & BLUE CHEESE TART

Steps:

• To make the pastry, blitz the walnuts in a food processor until they resemble breadcrumbs. Add the flour and a large pinch of salt. Pulse briefly to combine, then add the butter and pulse until it resembles large crumbs. Add the egg yolk and pulse until the dough comes together (add 1 tbsp cold water if it seems dry). Squash the dough into a disc, then wrap in baking parchment and chill for at least 30 mins.
• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 5. Heat the butter and 1 tbsp oil in a heavy-based frying pan or skillet over a medium heat, and cook the shallots, sage and chard stalks for 5-8 mins until soft and starting to caramelise. Add the chard leaves and continue to cook until wilted, then remove from the heat.
• Put the chilled pastry between two sheets of baking parchment and roll out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use it to line a 20cm tart tin, then chill for 30 mins until firm. Toss the pear slices in 1-2 tsp oil on a baking sheet.
• Scrunch up a sheet of baking parchment and use it to line the pastry case, then fill with baking beans. Bake for 15 mins, alongside the pears. Remove both from the oven. Remove the parchment and beans from the pastry case, then bake for 8-10 mins more, until the bottom is golden and crisp.
• Lightly beat the eggs in a bowl, then season with some nutmeg and whisk in the crème fraîche. Stir in the cheese. Pour half the mixture into the tart case, then layer in two-thirds of the chard mixture. Arrange the roasted pear slices and remaining chard mix on top, then pour over the remaining custard. Dot over the walnut halves, then bake for 28-30 mins, or until golden and cooked through. Leave to cool for 20 mins, then slice and serve.

STILTON AND FRESH PEAR TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F.
• Mix flour and salt together. With your fingers, mix in butter that is at room temperature until crumbly.
• Press into bottom of 8" or 9" tart pan with removable bottom. Prick holes in bottom of pastry with a fork.
• Blind bake for 5 minute Remove from oven and let cool.
• Turn oven down to 350°F.
• Sprinkle crumbled stilton into cooled pastry shell.
• Place sliced pear over stilton, in a spoke pattern.
• Beat eggs and then beat in the half and half.
• Pour egg mixture over the pears and stilton until the tart pan is almost full.
• Bake for 30-40 min or until set.
• Let cool for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.

ONION, WALNUT & MUSHROOM TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Peel the onions and cut each into 6 wedges through the root. Heat the oil in a large pan, add onions, then gently fry for 20 mins until softened and lightly coloured.
• Add the mushrooms, sugar, salt and pepper and give it a good stir. Gently cook, stirring now and then for a further 5 mins. Stir in the walnuts. Line the base of a 20-23cm sandwich cake tin (not loose-based) with baking parchment. Spoon over the onion mixture and press it down lightly. Crumble the cheese over.
• Roll out the pastry and trim to a round, about 5cm larger than the tin. Put the pastry over the filling and tuck in the ends. Bake for 35-40 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden. Cool for 5 mins in the tin, then turn out onto a flat plate and cut into wedges. Serve with a green salad.