Sweet Savory Tartlets Food

SAVOURY PARMESAN TARTLETS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out pastry sheet on a lightly floured work surface to a large oblong measuring 30 x 40cm. Stamp out 24 rounds with a 6.5cm round cutter, then carefully place them in fairy cake or muffin tins to form tiny tarts. Prick the bases with a fork.
• Brush the pastry with the beaten egg, scatter with the parmesan and bake for 10-12 mins until golden. Scrunch the pastry trimmings together, then re-roll and stamp out 4 more rounds. Glaze and bake as before. When all the pastry cases come out of the oven, roast the cherry tomato halves on a baking tray for 8 mins. The cases will keep in a tin for up to 3 days or freeze for 3 months. The tomatoes will keep in the fridge for 24 hrs.
• To serve, fill some cases with a teaspoon of hummus, a cherry tomato and a few snipped chives. Fill others with soft cheese, a twirl of salmon, dill and black pepper and capers, if you like.

SAVORY TOMATO TARTLETS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. Have ready six four-inch fluted tartlet pans with nonremovable bottoms. Using the large holes of a box grater, grate the cheese into a large bowl. Set aside.
• Place 1 sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured work surface. Without rolling out the dough, cut out 4 circles. Transfer the circles to the prepared baking sheet. From the second sheet of puff pastry, cut out 2 more circles; transfer these to the baking sheet. Cover the dough with plastic, and transfer the baking sheet to the refrigerator to chill.
• Arrange the tartlet pans on a clean work surface. Drizzle 1 teaspoon olive oil into the bottom of each pan. Sprinkle half of the chopped herbs in an even layer over the oil. Arrange the dried tomatoes on top of the herbs, evenly covering the bottoms. Sprinkle with the reserved grated cheese and the remaining herbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and 1 teaspoon water. Remove the chilled dough from the refrigerator. Center the rounds over the tomato filling in pans. Brush rounds with egg wash. Transfer tartlet pans to the freezer, and chill 15 minutes.
• Remove the tartlet pans from the freezer, and transfer to the baking sheet. Bake until pastry is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack until pans are cool enough to handle.
• Using your fingers, gently unstick crusts from rims as needed. Turn out each tartlet onto a plate, tapping to loosen any tomatoes. Serve tartlets warm or at room temperature.

SWEET ONION TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Unroll pie dough 1 at a time. Use a 2 1/2-inch round cutter and cut as many rounds as possible (about 14 to 16), reserving scraps repeat with second pie dough. Gather together scrap dough and cut out as many rounds as needed to make 24 in total. Fit dough rounds into cups of mini muffin pan. Place in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, half-and-half, golden onion soup mix, and fines herbs. Set aside. Divide onions among tartlet shells, about 1/2 teaspoon each. Stir the egg mixture and fill tartlets to cover the onions. Top each with 1/2 teaspoon of cheese. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

SWEET STRAWBERRY TARTLETS

Steps:

• Mix the strawberries and 3 tablespoons of the sugar in a small bowl. Let the strawberries macerate at room temperature for 1 hour. (I put mine in the fridge overnight).
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange 6 individual tartlet pans with removable bottoms on a baking sheet. (You could also use a 9 inch tart pan.) Spray the tartlet pans with nonstick cooking spray. Blend the Maria crackers and the piloncillo in a processor until coarse crumbs form. Add the butter and process until the crumbs come together (this took a few minutes). Press the crumbs into the prepared tartlet pans. Bake until the tartlet shells are golden brown, about 10 minutes. (They may appear a bit soft, but will set upon cooling.) Cool completely.
• Using an electric mixer, whip the cream cheese and the sour cream in a small bowl, until fluffy. Add the remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and whip until well combined. Add the whipping powdered topping and whip until very fluffy. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the macerating liquid from the strawberries. Fold the strawberries and the reserved 2 tablespoons of liquid into the cream mixture. Spoon the filling over the tartlets, dividing equally. Tarts can be prepared 1 day ahead, covered and refrigerated. (As I mentioned in the introduction, I ate this all week and it was still really good!).
• *Cook's Note: Maria Crackers (Galletas Marias) are a round sweet biscuit with vanilla flavor. They are the Mexican version of the English Marie biscuit and can be used in layered deserts as you would with lady fingers. They can easily be substituted with graham crackers.
• **Cook's Note: Piloncillo is often used in Mexican cuisine to sweeten drinks or deserts. It is unrefined cane sugar, usually found in the shape of small cones and can be substituted with brown sugar.

SWEET & SAVORY TARTLETS

Steps:

• Process the grapes and salt in a food processor until grapes are coarsely chopped. Strain for 15 minutes or longer.
• Combine the green onions, vinegar, walnut oil, rosemary, garlic and pepper in a bowl and mix well.
• Stir in the grape mixture.
• Arrange the pastry shells on a baking sheet.
• Spoon a small amount of the walnuts, Brie and grape mixture into each shell.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 5 minutes or until Brie begins to melt.