Unusual Carrot Tart Food

CARROT TART WITH RICOTTA AND FETA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry into a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Using a paring knife, lightly score a border around the perimeter of the puff pastry about a 1/4-inch away from the edges. Place puff pastry on a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick the pastry inside the border using a fork to prevent puffing in the center. Bake on top rack until puff pastry is lightly golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, toss carrots with 1 tablespoon oil, season generously with salt and pepper and spread into a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast carrots on the bottom rack (underneath the puff pastry) until the edges are golden brown and carrots are still crisp-tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• While puff pastry and carrots are in the oven, blend ricotta, feta and garlic in a food processor until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spread the cheese mixture onto the puff pastry up to the border and arrange the carrots in a single layer on top. Bake until the carrots are tender and the edges of the cheese mixture are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with herbs before serving.

ROASTED CARROT TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• On a gently floured piece of parchment paper, roll out the chilled Pie Dough to a circle about 15 to 16 inches in diameter. Trim it to form an even 14-inch circle. Invert a sheet pan so the flat, bottom side is facing up. Lifting the parchment paper to lift the tart dough, transfer it to the sheet pan. Wrap the pan tightly with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 3 days.
• In a small bowl, combine the softened chevre, egg yolk, heavy cream, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and stir until smooth. Set aside.
• Cut the carrots, diagonally, into chunks about 2 to 3 inches in length and no wider than 1 inch, and transfer to a large bowl. Slice each onion half into 1/2-inch wide fans and add to the bowl. Toss the vegetables with the olive oil, 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper, and set aside.
• Remove the tart dough from the refrigerator, and using the back of a spoon or a spatula, spread the cheese mixture onto the dough, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges. Use your fingers to gently crimp the edges of the dough, creating a pleated freeform crust. Arrange the vegetables in the middle of the tart, making sure they are in one even layer that covers the cheese mixture beneath.
• In a small bowl, lightly beat the egg white with a fork. Brush the tart edges with the beaten egg white and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until the vegetables are deeply caramelized and the crust is a rich golden color, rotating the pan halfway through.
• Remove the tart from the oven and let it cool slightly. Place the chicory leaves in a medium bowl, drizzle with the lemon juice, and toss gently. Sprinkle the herbs over the tart and arrange the chicory leaves on top, leaving a bit of the tart edges peeking through. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and serve.
• Place the flour, sugar and salt in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse once or twice to combine. Add the butter and pulse twice more, until the butter is in medium-sized pieces. Steadily pour the ice water into the machine while pulsing it as quickly as you can, until the butter is still visible in large smears and the dough is pushing up the sides of the bowl. It should look like damp bread crumbs. (You may not need to add all the water.)
• Scrape the dough into a large bowl, cover, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. (The dough will continue to hydrate, but if it still feels powdery and dry, wet your fingertips and flick a little cold water onto the crumbs.) After 1 hour, gently press the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill for at least 1 hour more before rolling out.

RUSSIAN CARROT TART

Steps:

• Saute the onions with a little salt in the butter in a large skillet over medium heat until tender.
• Add the carrots and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cover the skillet.
• Cook, stirring occasionally, until carrots are tender.
• Uncover and stir in flour.
• Preheat oven to 375.
• Beat the cheese and egg in a bowl.
• Stir in the carrot mixture, black pepper, and dill.
• Spread the mixture in an 8-inch pie crust (the book recommends a nut crust -- I've posted the recipe as Crunchy Nut Pie Pastry).
• Bake for 15 minutes, lower heat to 350 and bake for 30 minutes longer.
• Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.

UNUSUAL CARROT TART

Steps:

• Put cooled carrots in food processor and puree.
• Slightly whip eggs with a pinch of salt, add carrot puree, honey, grated rind of half orange and cream, mix until well blended.
• Sprinkle amaretti crumbs on the bottom of the pie shell, pour over carrot mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven 180°C for 35 minutes.
• Let cool to room temperature before serving.

CARROT TART WITH RICOTTA AND ALMOND FILLING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread almonds on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until lightly toasted, about 5 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, cook carrots, orange juice, 4 Tbsp. butter, 1 Tbsp. sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. vinegar, 1/4 tsp. allspice, and 1 1/2 cups water in a large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp-tender, 10-12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer carrots to a plate, reserving liquid in skillet, and let cool.
• Transfer 1/4 cup almonds to a small bowl; set aside. Process 1 tsp. salt, 1/4 tsp. pepper, and remaining almonds, 1 Tbsp. sugar and 1/4 tsp. allspice in a food processor until finely chopped. Add eggs, ricotta, thyme, orange zest, and remaining 4 Tbsp. butter and process until smooth.
• Gently roll pastry to an 18x13" rectangle on a lightly floured sheet of parchment. Transfer with parchment to a rimmed baking sheet. Using a sharp knife, lightly score a 1/2" border around pastry (for a decorative border, make small shallow diagonal cuts within that border).
• Spread egg mixture evenly within border of pastry, then arrange carrots over in a geometric pattern. To create a chevron (zigzag) pattern, form 6 carrots into 3 even "V" shapes so points are touching the long border of the crust. Fill with additional rows of "V" shapes, cutting carrots to fit as needed.
• Bake tart until filling is puffed and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, heat reserved carrot-cooking liquid in skillet over high; cook, stirring, until reduced to a thick syrup, about 10 minutes. Brush top of tart with syrup while still warm. Cut into 12-16 pieces.
• Whisk oil and remaining 1 tsp. vinegar, 1/4 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. pepper in a medium bowl. Add shallot, carrot tops, and reserved almonds and toss to combine. Arrange over tart to serve.

GOLDEN-GLAZED CARROT, MUSHROOM & HAZELNUT TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pop the carrots in a pan of boiling water and cook for 4-5 mins until tender. Spread the carrots out in one layer on a baking tray. Carefully toss with olive oil, seasoning and half the maple syrup. Bake for 20 mins, turning once.
• Next, place the pastry rectangle on a baking parchment-lined baking sheet. Score a 1cm border. Prick the centre area with a fork and put in the oven for 12 mins with the carrots.
• Fry the shallot in butter until totally soft, then stir through the mushrooms. Fry for several mins until mushrooms are tender and the mixture is dry. Spread out on a plate to cool. Whizz a third of the mushroom mixture with the nuts, cream cheese, tarragon and seasoning, so you have a coarse texture. Tip into a bowl and stir through the remaining mushroom mix.
• Remove the pastry base from the oven and gently press down the centre area with the back of a spoon. Spread the mushroom mix inside and lay the glazed carrots on top. You may need to tuck the ends round to fit the carrots in. Drizzle over the remaining maple syrup and bake for a further 12-15 mins until the pastry is golden. Sprinkle with a few tarragon leaves and some more chopped nuts to serve.

CARROT TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Peel the carrots and slice on the diagonal to the thickness of a £1 coin.
• Heat the oil in a 23cm ovenproof frying pan and cook the onion gently until softened and lightly golden. Transfer to a bowl, toss with the semi-dried tomatoes and set aside.
• Heat the butter and sugar in the frying pan, add the carrots and 100ml water and cook very gently for 15 mins until the water has reduced and the carrots are golden and tender.
• Arrange the carrots in a single layer on the bottom of the frying pan. Spoon the onion and tomatoes on top and cover with a layer of cheese.
• Roll out the pastry about 1.5cm bigger than the pan, and trim. Lay the pastry over the top of the pan, tucking in around the carrots as you go. Bake in the oven for 30 mins until the pastry is golden and cooked through.
• Remove from the oven and leave to stand for a few mins. Invert the tart onto a serving plate and lift off the pan using a spatula. Serve warm with a crunchy seasonal salad.