Simply Potatoes Tart With Goat Cheese Quiche Recipes

POTATO TART WITH GOAT CHEESE AND THYME

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry into a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Place puff pastry on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a paring knife, lightly score a border around the perimeter of the puff pastry, about a 1/2 inch away from the edges. Using a fork, prick the pastry every few inches inside the border to prevent puffing, then bake on top rack until puffy and lightly golden, about 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, fit a large pot with a steamer basket. Add enough water to come just below the steamer basket and bring to a boil. Add the potatoes, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and steam until potatoes can be pierced with the tip of a knife, but are still firm, about 20 minutes. Transfer steamer basket to a large bowl and allow to cool until you can handle the potatoes. Slice potatoes crosswise 1/4-inch thick and season with salt and pepper.
• While potatoes cook, blend ricotta, goat cheese, paprika and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor until smooth. Working within the border, spread the cheese mixture evenly on the puff pastry. Arrange the potato slices in a single layer on top of cheese mixture and brush the potatoes with the melted butter.
• Transfer to the oven and bake until the edges of the cheese are slightly golden, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme leaves and serve.

GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the crust, put the flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Cut 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) of the butter into large dice, add to the bowl, and pulse until the butter is the size of peas. With the machine running, add the ice water all at once and process until the dough becomes crumbly. Don't overprocess. Dump the dough out on a floured board, gather it loosely into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Roll the dough on a well-floured board and fit it into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable sides, rolling the pin over the top to cut off the excess dough. Butter 1 side of a square of aluminum foil and fit it, butter side down, into the tart pan. Fill the foil with rice or beans. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the beans and foil from the tart shell, prick the bottom all over with a fork, and bake for another 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining tablespoon of butter in a small pan and saute the shallots over low heat for 5 minutes, or until tender. Place the goat cheese in the bowl of the food processor and process until crumbly. Add the cream, eggs, basil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the pepper and process until blended.
• Scatter the cooked shallots over the bottom of the tart shell. Pour the goat cheese mixture over the shallots to fill the shell (if the shell has shrunk, there may be leftover filling). Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the tart is firm when shaken and the top is lightly browned. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and serve hot or at room temperature.

GOAT CHEESE AND SPINACH QUICHE

Steps:

• MAKE THE PASTRY: In a large bowl, whisk the flour with the salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Lightly beat the egg with the water and sprinkle over the flour mixture. Stir with a fork to lightly blend, then squeeze gently until a dough forms. Pat into a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to a 14-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Fit the round into a 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and trim the overhang. Refrigerate the shell for at least 20 minutes.
• Line the tart shell with foil and fill with pie weights or rice. Bake until the pastry is firm, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and bake for about 10 minutes longer, or until golden brown. Transfer the shell to a rack to cool.
• MAKE THE FILLING: Heat a large skillet. Add a large handful of the spinach and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until wilted. Transfer to a colander set over a bowl. Repeat until all of the spinach has been cooked; let cool. Squeeze the spinach dry and coarsely chop it. Toss the spinach with the garlic and spread it in the cooled pastry shell.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the milk with the cream, eggs, egg yolks, salt and pepper. Arrange the goat cheese rounds on the spinach. Pour the custard into the shell and bake for about 40 minutes, or until just set. Transfer the quiche to a rack to cool slightly. Cut into wedges and serve.