Sunny Asparagus Tart Food

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.

MUSHROOM TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C/320°F fan).
• On medium heat, heat olive oil in a pan. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook stirring occasionally until the mushrooms release their liquids and it cooks off (about 8 minutes).
• Melt butter (optional)*, and saute garlic until its fragrant. Add thyme, cook for a minute, and remove from heat.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, this will prevent the puff pastry from sticking to the sheet pan. Unroll the puff pastry sheet, then score the edges using a sharp knife leaving a 1-inch border. Then using a fork, prick the puff pastry sheet.
• Top the puff pastry with grated cheese, followed by sauteed mushrooms.
• Using a pastry brush, brush the border with an egg wash.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the puff pastry is puffed and lightly browned.
• Sprinkle some chili flakes if desired, then cut into 6 squares, and serve warm.

SUNNY'S HEIRLOOM TOMATO AND PESTO TART

Steps:

• Set the crusts. Unroll and press the pie crusts into two 9-inch tart pans. If using rectangular pans, just trim one-third of each crust and press the pieces together to fit. Then, use your pointer finger to press the dough into the sides of the tart pan. Use a knife to remove the excess crust along the top edges and discard the scraps. Using a fork, prick the bottom of the crust a few times to allow for venting (maybe 3 pricks per quadrant). Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Prebake the crusts. Spray the shiny side of 2 pieces of aluminum foil with a bit
• of nonstick spray and press into the tart shells, sprayed side down. Fill with dried beans or pie weights and bake until the edges are golden and the sides are set, about 15 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and bake another 10 to 12 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
• Make the pesto. Blend the parsley, basil, thyme, garlic, Parmesan, almonds,
• lemon zest, and lemon juice in a food processor until the ingredients resemble a rough paste. Taste the pesto and season with salt and pepper, if needed. To finish, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the feed tube while blending.
• Assemble and bake the tarts. Divide the pesto equally and, using a rubber spatula, evenly spread it over the bottom of each prepared crust. Starting around the outer edges, place the tomatoes over the pesto, overlapping each slice slightly as you move around the tart pan. Then make a smaller circle of overlapping slices within the starter ring. Continue until the entire pan is covered in circles of tomato slices. Repeat for the second tart. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top of each tart and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the tomatoes appear roasted in texture and the edges of the crust are golden brown. If the dough browns too quickly, tent the edges with foil.
• Garnish the tarts and serve. Remove the tarts from their rings and sprinkle Parmesan on top. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.

CRISPY FILO TART WITH SEASONAL VEG

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and pop in a baking sheet to heat up. Use a little of the oil to lightly grease an 18 x 25cm tart tin (ours was 3cm deep). Line the tin with a few strips of baking parchment - this will help you to lift out the tart later.
• Unfold the pastry, but keep it covered with a damp tea towel as you work to prevent it from drying out. Taking 1 sheet at a time, brush each piece well with oil, then use to line your tart tin, leaving a little pastry hanging over the edges. Sprinkle a thin layer of breadcrumbs between each layer of pastry as you go - this will help to keep the pastry crisp. When you get to the final layer, brush with a little extra oil and scrunch the edges together to create a pretty border.
• Toss the asparagus and courgettes with seasoning and the remaining oil and tip onto a baking tray. Place the pastry case on the top shelf of the oven, with the veg on the shelf below and cook for 10 mins.
• Remove the veg from the oven. Brush the tart with a little beaten egg and bake for a further 5 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crunchy.
• Whisk the remaining egg with the lemon zest, herbs, crème fraîche and seasoning. Lay half the veg in the bottom of the pastry case and add half the feta. Pour over the egg mixture, then top with the remaining veg and feta. Bake for 40 mins until the filling has set. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Serve with a grinding of black pepper and scattered with small salad leaves or herbs, if you like.

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.