Easy Puff Pastry Tart With Leeks And Gorgonzola Recipes

Steps:

• Roll out the cold puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to form a 12-inch square. Transfer the puff pastry to a 9-inch-diameter glass or ceramic pie dish, lined with parchment paper. Fold the overhanging dough inward and lightly press, so that it is more or less the same thickness around the pie dish and forms a uniform edge. Prick the base of the pastry with a fork and chill in the refrigerator while you make the filling (keeping the dough very cold will help it puff up nicely and prevent it from shrinking when it bakes).
• Make the filling. Clean the leeks well under cold running water. Trim and discard about 2 inches of the green tops, thinly slice the rest, and let drain. In a large, heavy skillet, heat the butter and olive oil. Add the leeks and the onion, season well with salt and pepper, and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the leeks and the onions are very soft and caramelized. Set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 400°F.
• Make the custard. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the eggs, the cream, the flour, and the salt and pepper. Add the cooled leek and onion mixture to the egg mixture and stir to combine.
• Remove the puff pastry from the refrigerator, then pour the custard and filling mixture over it. Sprinkle the top with the cheese of your choice, the grated parmesan and add the ham (if using). Bake for about 30 minutes, or, until the crust is deep golden and the filling feels firm around the edges. It should look well puffed and lightly browned. Place on a wire rack to cool for about 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease with nonstick cooking spray.;
• Sprinkle the cutting board with flour. Roll-out the creases.;
• Unfold the pastry onto parchment paper. Using a fork, pierce a 1/2-inch border around the edge of the puff pastry. Prick the center of the pastry as well, about 10 times all over.
• Arrange the fruit, nuts, and cheese on top of the pastry in a uniform manner, avoiding the border. Brush the fruit with the melted butter and top with the cinnamon and sugar. Bake 15 minutes, until the pastry is golden brown and beginning to puff.
• If desired, brush the honey over the fruit and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Serve warm with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
• Puff Pastry Variations:
• Apricot Plum Tart: Cut 2 plums and apricots into 1/4-inch thick slices. Arrange on top of puff pastry and brush with melted apricot preserves rather than honey.
• Rhubarb Tart: Thinly slice 8-ounces rhubarb stalks on the diagonal and marinate in 1 cup orange juice and 1/2 cup sugar for 10 minutes. Strain the rhubarb, reserving the juices. Arrange the rhubarb slices on top of the puff pastry. Sprinkle with white sugar. While the pastry bakes, reduce the rhubarb juices until it becomes a syrupy glaze. When the pastry finishes, brush the pastry with the glaze.
• Pear, Pecan and Blue Cheese Tart: Slice 3 cups Bartlett pears and place on the puff pastry. Top with 1/2 cup chopped pecans. After brushing on the honey, top with 1/3 cup blue cheese crumbles.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees.
• Put olive oil in a wide skillet or heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. When oil is wavy, add onions and cook, stirring, until softened and lightly browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Season well with salt and pepper.
• Add leeks, garlic and thyme, and cook for another 5 minutes, until leeks are softened but still bright green. Taste and adjust seasoning, then spread mixture on a baking sheet to cool to room temperature.
• Lay pastry round on a rimmed parchment-lined baking sheet. Spread cooled onion mixture over pastry, leaving a 1-inch border. Fold over the border and crimp.
• Sprinkle capers evenly over onion mixture. Arrange anchovy fillets on top.
• Bake for 45 minutes, until the pastry is nicely browned. Cool tart for 5 minutes, then sprinkle the chives on top and cut into wedges to serve.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll pastry to a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Halve lengthwise into two 5-by-14-inch rectangles. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• With a paring knife, lightly score each rectangle 1/2 inch from edges, creating a border; prick pastry inside border all over with a fork. Refrigerate for 15 minutes, then bake until golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. (To store, keep crusts at room temperature, up to 1 day.)
• In a large skillet, heat butter over medium. Add leeks; season with salt and pepper, and stir. Cover; cook until wilted, about 5 minutes. Uncover; cook until tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Spoon leeks onto crusts, cut tarts into wedges, and serve.