Spinach Crab And Feta Tarts Recipes

VERY RUSTIC SPINACH AND FETA TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 deg F/180 deg Celsius If you have a convection/fan oven, lower heat slightly.
• Grease a normal-sized pie tin or tart plate with butter.
• In a large bowl, tear up the spinach leaves. To make this less "rustic", LOL, you can chop the leaves finely!
• Crumble the feta cheese over the leaves and add the chopped green/spring onions.
• In another bowl, beat the cream with the eggs until well beaten and very smooth. DO use thick cream: the creme fraiche we get is slightly softer than the consistency of cream cheese, which is great! Or use sour cream, which is thicker than plain cream.
• Add to the bowl of vegetables, Tabasco, and if you like, the nutmeg.
• Stir this whole funny mess together.
• Scrape into the greased tart plate, and bake in the pre-heated oven for 30 - 35 minutes, When done, it will be puffed up slightly in the centre, and will not wobble when you shake it.
• Can wait in a warming oven.
• NOTE: this recipe can be "refined" by slicing the dried leaves finely, and the final mixture baked in individual tartlet tins. In that case, serve it with a topping of thick yoghurt (Greek style) seasoned with a little salt, pepper, and a sprinkling of paprika. This way, it can be little tartlets for a buffet or other occasion -- and it will still be quick and easy to do.

SPINACH, CRAB AND FETA TARTS

Steps:

• Make the spinach and crab tarts: Melt 1 tblsp of the butter in a small saucepan.
• Add the onion and cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 6 minutes.
• In a large skillet, melt the remaining 1 tblsp butter in the olive oil.
• Add the spinach and cook over high heat, stirring often, until wilted, about 2 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic and ¼ tsp salt.
• Spoon the spinach into a colander set over a bowl and press down to remove the excess liquid.
• Transfer the spinach to a large bowl, reserve ¼ cup of the liquid.
• Add the reserved spinach liquid to the sautéed onions.
• Bring to a boil over high heat and boil for 2 minutes.
• Add the mixture to the spinach along with the crabmeat and feta.
• In a small bowl, beat the whole egg, egg white, heavy cream, paprika, cayenne and ¼ tsp of salt.
• Stir the mixture into the spinach.
• Preheat the oven to 350F.
• Lightly butter six 3-ounce muffin cups in a 12-cup muffin tin.
• Spread 1 sheet of filo on a work surface; keep the remaining sheets covered with a damp kitchen towel.
• Brush the filo with some of the melted butter.
• Lay another sheet of filo on top, brush with butter and repeat the process with 1 more sheet of filo and butter (3 sheets in all).
• Cut the filo into three 6-inch squares and gently press a square into each of the buttered muffin cups; discard the trimmings.
• Repeat the process with the remaining sheets of filo and melted butter.
• Using kitchen scissors, trim the corners of the filo, then neatly fold in any overhanging edges.
• Make the sauces: In a blender, combine the tomatoes, red wine vinegar and tomato paste.
• Season with salt and pepper and puree until smooth.
• Strain into a medium bowl.
• Rinse and dry the blender.
• Add the basil and olive oil and puree until smooth.
• Scrape the basil oil into a small bowl and season with salt.
• In another small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, flying fish roe (if using) lemon juice and mustard.
• Spoon the crab filling into the filo-lined cups.
• Bake the tarts in the center of the oven for about 30 minutes, or until the filo is golden-brown and the filling is set.
• Let cool slightly in muffin tin.
• Transfer the crab tarts to individual plates.
• Top each tart with a heaping tsp of the mayonnaise.
• Drizzle the tomato sauce, basil oil and balsamic vinegar around each tart.

SPINACH AND FETA TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the phyllo shells on a rimmed baking sheet and set aside.
• In large bowl, combine the cream cheese and mayonnaise and stir until smooth. Fold in the spinach, feta and garlic powder. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide the filling among the phyllo shells, about 1 1/2 heaping tablespoons per shell. Bake until warmed through and the shells are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve immediately.