Summer Squash Lattice Tart Food

SUMMER SQUASH LATTICE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Have ready a 14-by-4 1/2-inch bottomless rectangular tart form or one with a removable bottom on a parchment-lined baking sheet. On a lightly floured surface, roll pate brisee dough into a 7-by-16-inch rectangle. Fit the dough into the mold, and trim the sides flush with the top of the mold. Transfer the shell to the freezer to chill for 20 minutes.
• Remove the shell from the freezer, prick bottom with a fork, and line with parchment paper cut to fit. Fill with dried beans or metal pie weights. Bake until the crust is just beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, and remove beans or weights. Return the crust to the oven, and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes more. Remove from the oven, and set aside on a wire rack.
• Using a mandoline or vegetable peeler, very thinly slice 1 green zucchini and 1 yellow squash lengthwise. Place slices in a colander in a single layer, and sprinkle lightly with salt. Place colander in a bowl, and set aside to drain for 30 minutes.
• Cut the remaining zucchini and squash into 1/3-inch dice. In a large skillet, melt butter over high heat. Add leeks and diced squash, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden brown but still firm, about 8 minutes. Evenly distribute cooked vegetables in the crust. Sprinkle Gruyere on top.
• Place salted squash slices between double layers of paper towels. Gently press down to remove as much liquid as possible. Alternating squash colors, weave a lattice pattern over the top of the cheese and vegetables, covering the entire surface. Trim or tuck in ends to fit.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together egg, egg yolk, and cream, and season with salt and pepper. Lift the edges of the lattice in several places, and pour in the egg mixture. Using a pastry brush, coat the lattice with olive oil. Bake, loosely covered with aluminum foil, until the custard is set, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove lattice tart from oven, and place on a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH-SPINACH TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: Combine the olive oil and water in a measuring cup. Pulse the flour and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor. With the machine running, add the olive oil mixture and pulse until the dough clumps together, adding up to 1 more tablespoon water if needed. Turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap; press into a disk and wrap. Let sit at room temperature while you make the filling.
• Make the filling: Wrap the squash in a kitchen towel and wring out as much liquid as possible; transfer to a large bowl. Repeat with the spinach and add to the squash; stir to break up any clumps. Add the ricotta, fontina, parmesan, half-and-half, scallions, parsley, 2 eggs, the nutmeg, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper; mix until combined.
• Position a rack in the bottom of the oven; preheat to 375 degrees F. Brush a quarter sheet pan or 9-by-13-inch straight-sided baking pan with olive oil. Cut off one-quarter of the dough; set aside. Roll out the remaining dough into an 11-by-15-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Trim the edges with a fluted cutter or a knife and ease into the pan. Spread the filling over the dough.
• Roll out the reserved dough into a 6-by-12-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Cut lengthwise into 10 strips with the fluted cutter; arrange in a lattice pattern over the filling, trimming as needed. Fold in the overhanging edges. Beat the remaining egg with a pinch of salt and brush on the crust. Bake until the crust is golden and the filling is set, about 50 minutes. Let cool on a rack 30 minutes before cutting.

PATE BRISEE FOR SUMMER SQUASH LATTICE TART

Steps:

• Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor, and process for a few seconds to combine. Add the butter, and process until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 10 seconds.
• Add 5 tablespoons ice water in a slow steady stream through the feed tube with the machine running, just until the dough holds together. Do not process for more than 30 seconds.
• Divide the dough in half, and turn each half out onto a piece of plastic wrap. Press each piece of dough into a flattened rectangle, and wrap in the plastic; refrigerate the dough for at least 1 hour.

SUMMER SQUASH LATTICE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F. Have ready a 4 1/2 × 14-inch bottomless rectangular tart form or one with a removable bottom on a parchment-lined baking sheet. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a 7 × 16-inch rectangle. Fit the dough into the mold, and trim the sides flush with the top of the mold. Transfer the shell to the freezer to chill for 20 minutes.
• Remove the shell from the freezer, prick the bottom with a fork, and line with parchment paper cut to fit. Fill with dried beans or metal pie weights. Bake until the crust is just beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, and remove the beans or weights. Return the crust to the oven, and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes more. Remove from the oven, and set aside on a wire rack.
• Using a mandoline or vegetable peeler, very thinly slice 1 green zucchini and 1 yellow squash lengthwise. Place the slices in a colander in a single layer, and sprinkle lightly with salt. Place the colander in a bowl; let drain for 30 minutes.
• Cut the remaining zucchini and squash into 1/3-inch dice. Melt the butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add the leeks and squash, and season with salt and pepper. Cook until golden brown but still firm, about 8 minutes. Evenly distribute the cooked vegetables in the crust. Sprinkle the Gruyère on top.
• Place the salted squash slices in between double layers of paper towels. Gently press down to remove as much liquid as possible. Alternating squash colors, weave a lattice pattern over the top of the cheese and vegetables, covering the entire surface. Trim or tuck in the ends to fit.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, egg yolk, and cream, and season with salt and pepper. Lift the edges of the lattice in several places, and pour in the egg mixture. Using a pastry brush, coat the lattice with olive oil. Bake, loosely covered with aluminum foil, until the custard is set, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the lattice tart from the oven, and place on a wire rack to cool slightly before serving.