Herb Leek Tart Recipes

MUSHROOM, LEEK, AND GRUYèRE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F (218°C).
• On a sheet of parchment paper cut to fit a rimmed baking sheet, roll the puff pastry sheet into a 10-by-10-inch square, gently smoothing out any creases in the pastry. Using a sharp knife, lightly score the pastry, leaving a 1-inch border all along the outer edge and being careful not to cut all the way through the pastry. Carefully slide the parchment with the scored pastry onto a rimmed baking sheet and refrigerate while you prepare the topping.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. When it bubbles, toss in the garlic and thyme and cook for 1 minute. Add the leeks and cook until they begin to soften. Add the mushrooms and cook until they're soft but not yet releasing any liquid. Dump the mushroom filling in a strainer situated over a bowl and let drain for a few minutes.
• Spoon the mushroom filling onto the pastry, being careful to stay inside the scored lines. Either reserve the strained mushroom liquid for making vegetable stock or discard it. Grind fresh black pepper, if using, over the topping.
• Bake the tart for 15 minutes, checking the puff pastry after 10 minutes. If the pasty is already golden brown, cover the exposed pastry edges with foil strips to prevent it from turning too brown. After the first 15 minutes, remove the tart from the oven and sprinkle it with the cheese. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes more, or until the cheese has melted and the pastry is golden brown. Again, it may be necessary to cover the outer edges with foil.
• Let cool for 5 minutes and then slice into squares or rectangles. This tart is best eaten as soon as it is cool enough to handle. (Any leftover mushroom leek tart can be wrapped and refrigerated, but the pastry will suffer. To reheat, pop under the broiler for a few minutes. Whatever you do, don't reheat the tart in the microwave.)

LEEK, MUSHROOM AND GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Trim fennel of green top and root end, reserving fronds, and quarter bulb from top to bottom. Using a mandoline or very sharp knife, cut fennel and leeks into paper-thin slices. Clean and slice mushrooms.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat; add fennel and leeks and sauté until just tender but not brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Heat remaining teaspoon of oil in skillet over medium-high heat; add mushrooms and sauté until they release all their liquid and most of it boils away, about 5 minutes. Combine fennel mixture with mushrooms and sauté together briefly; season with salt and pepper. Remove pan from heat.
• Unfold puff pastry onto lightly floured surface; cut in half lengthwise to form two long rectangles. Gently roll out each rectangle to approximately 5 by 14 inches and place on cookie sheet (or cut into two circles, if desired). Trim edges by 1/4 inch strips all around; set strips aside. Break one egg into a small bowl; beat slightly. Brush edges of pastry with some egg. Use trimmed strips to make a raised border on each. (Or, fold pastry edges over to form a rim.) Brush entire surface with remaining beaten egg. Prick interior of pastry all over with a fork. Bake until pale gold, about 10 minutes. If pastry has puffed up inside edge, press it down gently. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine remaining eggs with 6 ounces goat cheese and blend until smooth. Spread onto pastry. Return to oven and bake just until set, about 4 minutes. Remove from oven and spread with mushroom-leek mixture. Crumble remaining cheese on top. Just before serving, broil tarts on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until tarts are warm and cheese softens. Garnish with fennel fronds.

LEEK TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Line a 9-inch pie pan with dough. Clean and trim leeks, and julienne. Melt the butter, add leeks and season and cook covered over medium to low heat for 20 minutes until softened. Mix the eggs and cream and all but 1/4 cup of the cheese and add the cooled leeks. Pour into pie shell, top with cheese and bake for 40 minutes.
• BRAISED LEEKS
• In an 8-inch skilled saute leeks in butter. Add chicken broth to almost cover. Cover pan, and to cook for about 20 minutes, until tender. Remove leeks to a platter. Reduce cooking liquid, pour over platter of leeks and garnish with fresh thyme.
• FRIZZLED LEEKS
• Heat oil to hot, but not smoking. Toss julienned leeks with some flour in a bowl. Add to hot oil and fry. Can be used as a garnish.