Chevre Leek And Shallot Tart Recipes

Steps:

• You will need a 7½ inch (19 cm) diameter fluted quiche tin with a removable base, 1¼ inches (3 cm) deep, very lightly buttered, and a small, solid baking sheet.
• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 5, 375°F (190°C) and pop the baking sheet in to pre-heat on the centre shelf.
• Now prepare the leeks. First, take the tough green ends off & discard them; leave some of the lighter green & then make a vertical split about halfway down the centre of each one and clean them by running them under the cold-water tap while you fan out the layers - this will rid them of any hidden dust and grit. Then slice them in half lengthways and chop into ½-inch (1 cm) slices.
• Next, in a medium-sized frying pan, melt the butter over a gentle heat and add the leeks, shallots and some salt. Give it all a good stir and let them cook gently, without a lid, for 10-15 minutes or until the juice runs out of them. Then you need to transfer them to a sieve set over a bowl to drain off the excess juice. Place a saucer with a weight on top of them to press out every drop.
• Roll it out into a circle on a lightly floured surface. As you roll, give it quarter turns to keep the round shape and roll it as thinly as possible. Now transfer it, rolling it over the pin, to the tin. Press it lightly and firmly over the base and sides of the tin, easing any overlapping pastry back down to the sides, as it is important not to stretch it. Now trim the edges and press the pastry up about ¼ inch (5 mm) above the rim of the tin all round, and then prick the base all over with a fork.
• After that, paint some of the beaten egg for the filling over the base and sides. Now place the tin on the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden. Check halfway through the cooking time to make sure that the pastry is not rising up in the centre. If it is, just prick it a couple of times and press it back down with your hands.
• While the pastry case is pre-baking, crumble the goats' cheese with your hands, and then gently combine it with the leeks & shallots in the sieve. Now, in a jug, mix the beaten eggs with the crème fraîche or double cream, seasoning with just a little salt (there is some already in the leeks) and a good grinding of freshly milled black pepper.
• As soon as the pastry case is ready, remove it from the oven; arrange the leeks, shallots and cheese all over the base. Pour the cream and egg mixture over the top of the cheese, shallots & leeks, then put the tart back on the baking sheet with the oven shelf half pulled out, then gently slide the shelf back in and bake the tart for 30-35 minutes, until it's firm in the centre and the surface has turned a lovely golden brown.
• Next, remove it from the oven and allow it to settle for 10 minutes before serving. These 10 minutes is important, as it will be much easier to cut into portions. The best way to remove the tart from the tin is to ease the edges from the sides of the tin with a small knife, then place it on an upturned jar or tin, which will allow you to carefully ease the sides away.
• Next slide a palette knife or wide fish slice underneath and ease the tart on to a plate or board ready to serve, or simply cut it into portions straight from the tin base.
• Serve for picnics, light lunch with mixed salad and baked potatoes or as finger food for a buffet.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Lay the prepared shallots on a baking sheet, drizzle over 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and the balsamic vinegar, then sprinkle over 1 tablespoon of the whole thyme leaves and the sea salt. Gently mix until the shallots are well coated. Cover with foil and roast for 20 minutes, then uncover, toss gently, and cook for a further 10 minutes, until the edges of the shallots start to turn golden brown. (Maybe a little more or less, depending on the size of shallots as they can vary in size).
• Place a clean baking sheet in the oven to heat up. This will allow the base of the pastry to cook and become crisp underneath.
• To make the sauce, add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and the 1 tablespoon chopped thyme leaves to a medium pan over medium heat and let it heat up.
• Meanwhile, to a measuring cup, add the plant-based milk, cornstarch, vegetable bouillon powder and whole-grain mustard and whisk with a fork. Then gradually pour into the saucepan, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. Add the white wine and allow the sauce to gently bubble and simmer to cook off the wine and allow the sauce to thicken so it coats the back of the wooden spoon, 4 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat.
• Take the shallots out of the oven and turn the temperature up to 400 degrees F.
• Gently fold the roasted shallots into the sauce, taking care they hold their shape.
• Unroll the puff pastry and roll out so it fits into a rectangular 11-by-8-inch fluted tart tin with a removable bottom (if your pastry came as 2 sheets, press them together to create 1 large sheet). Place the pastry in the tin and gently push into the corners. Prick the base of the pastry several times with a fork.
• Sprinkle over the cooked lentils then gently arrange the shallots on top in a vertical pattern for presentation. Drizzle over any remaining sauce.
• Place the tart tin on the heated baking sheet in the oven and bake until the pastry is cooked through and golden brown, about 40 minutes.
• Remove the tart from the oven, gently push up the base to remove the tart from the tin and slide onto a serving platter or wooden board. Garnish with the final tablespoon of whole thyme leaves. Slice into 4 or 6 pieces, depending on preferred serving size.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the shallots into a heatproof bowl and pour over boiling water to cover. Leave for 10 mins, then drain and peel.
• Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan. Add the shallots and fry gently for 10-15 mins until softened and lightly browned. Stir in the vinegar and sugar with leaves from 2 thyme sprigs for a few mins until caramelised. Turn off heat and season.
• Tear remaining thyme sprigs into a few pieces and scatter over the base of a 22cm ovenproof shallow pan, cake or tart tin without a loose base. Tip in the shallots with all their sticky juices. Roll out the pastry until it's big enough to cut out a roughly 26cm circle. Lift the pastry circle onto the shallots, then tuck the edges down the inside of the pan. Bake for 25-30 mins until pastry is golden.
• Leave tart for 5 mins to settle, then turn out of the tin. Dot with rounds of goat's cheese and slice into wedges.