Sunny Asparagus Tart Recipes

SUNNY'S HEIRLOOM TOMATO AND PESTO TART

Steps:

• Set the crusts. Unroll and press the pie crusts into two 9-inch tart pans. If using rectangular pans, just trim one-third of each crust and press the pieces together to fit. Then, use your pointer finger to press the dough into the sides of the tart pan. Use a knife to remove the excess crust along the top edges and discard the scraps. Using a fork, prick the bottom of the crust a few times to allow for venting (maybe 3 pricks per quadrant). Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Prebake the crusts. Spray the shiny side of 2 pieces of aluminum foil with a bit
• of nonstick spray and press into the tart shells, sprayed side down. Fill with dried beans or pie weights and bake until the edges are golden and the sides are set, about 15 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and bake another 10 to 12 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
• Make the pesto. Blend the parsley, basil, thyme, garlic, Parmesan, almonds,
• lemon zest, and lemon juice in a food processor until the ingredients resemble a rough paste. Taste the pesto and season with salt and pepper, if needed. To finish, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the feed tube while blending.
• Assemble and bake the tarts. Divide the pesto equally and, using a rubber spatula, evenly spread it over the bottom of each prepared crust. Starting around the outer edges, place the tomatoes over the pesto, overlapping each slice slightly as you move around the tart pan. Then make a smaller circle of overlapping slices within the starter ring. Continue until the entire pan is covered in circles of tomato slices. Repeat for the second tart. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top of each tart and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the tomatoes appear roasted in texture and the edges of the crust are golden brown. If the dough browns too quickly, tent the edges with foil.
• Garnish the tarts and serve. Remove the tarts from their rings and sprinkle Parmesan on top. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.

CRISPY FILO TART WITH SEASONAL VEG

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and pop in a baking sheet to heat up. Use a little of the oil to lightly grease an 18 x 25cm tart tin (ours was 3cm deep). Line the tin with a few strips of baking parchment - this will help you to lift out the tart later.
• Unfold the pastry, but keep it covered with a damp tea towel as you work to prevent it from drying out. Taking 1 sheet at a time, brush each piece well with oil, then use to line your tart tin, leaving a little pastry hanging over the edges. Sprinkle a thin layer of breadcrumbs between each layer of pastry as you go - this will help to keep the pastry crisp. When you get to the final layer, brush with a little extra oil and scrunch the edges together to create a pretty border.
• Toss the asparagus and courgettes with seasoning and the remaining oil and tip onto a baking tray. Place the pastry case on the top shelf of the oven, with the veg on the shelf below and cook for 10 mins.
• Remove the veg from the oven. Brush the tart with a little beaten egg and bake for a further 5 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crunchy.
• Whisk the remaining egg with the lemon zest, herbs, crème fraîche and seasoning. Lay half the veg in the bottom of the pastry case and add half the feta. Pour over the egg mixture, then top with the remaining veg and feta. Bake for 40 mins until the filling has set. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Serve with a grinding of black pepper and scattered with small salad leaves or herbs, if you like.

ASPARAGUS AND TOMATO TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Place the frozen pie crust onto a baking sheet. Prick the bottom of the crust with a fork and bake for 10 minutes.
• Saute the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon and drain on a paper towel. Add onion and asparagus tips to the skillet with the bacon fat and saute until tender, approximately 5 minutes.
• In a large bowl whisk together ricotta, milk and eggs. Add parsley, half the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Add asparagus and onion mixture and combine well. Pour egg mixture into the prepared crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until filling has set and the tart is lightly browned on top. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
• In a small bowl, toss the remaining tomatoes with the basil, balsamic vinegar and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Serve as garnish for tart.

MUSHROOM TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180°C/350°F (160°C/320°F fan).
• On medium heat, heat olive oil in a pan. Add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, and cook stirring occasionally until the mushrooms release their liquids and it cooks off (about 8 minutes).
• Melt butter (optional)*, and saute garlic until its fragrant. Add thyme, cook for a minute, and remove from heat.
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, this will prevent the puff pastry from sticking to the sheet pan. Unroll the puff pastry sheet, then score the edges using a sharp knife leaving a 1-inch border. Then using a fork, prick the puff pastry sheet.
• Top the puff pastry with grated cheese, followed by sauteed mushrooms.
• Using a pastry brush, brush the border with an egg wash.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until the puff pastry is puffed and lightly browned.
• Sprinkle some chili flakes if desired, then cut into 6 squares, and serve warm.

ASPARAGUS AND CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring about 1 inch of water to a boil in a large skillet. Add the asparagus; cook until bright green and crisp-tender, 2 to 5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the asparagus. Drain and transfer to the ice water to stop the cooking; drain and pat dry. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Roll out the puff pastry into a 10-by-16-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and prick all over with a fork. Bake until light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool slightly on the baking sheet.
• Meanwhile, mix the fontina, comte, shallot, egg yolks, milk, nutmeg and a pinch each of salt and pepper in a bowl until combined. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the puff pastry, leaving a 1-inch border on all sides. Toss the asparagus with the olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. Arrange the asparagus on the tart and bake until the cheese mixture is slightly puffy, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with the lemon zest. Serve warm or at room temperature.

TENDER ASPARAGUS

Steps:

• This works great as a stand-alone recipe, but also as a component in Jamie's Sunny Gathering from Together - see the full collection of menus here.
• GET AHEAD Roughly chop the green part of the spring onions and place in a blender with the mustard, vinegar and 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil. Tear in three-quarters of the parsley leaves, add a swig of water and blitz until smooth. Season to perfection, tasting and tweaking, then cover. Pick the remaining parsley leaves into a bowl, then trim, finely slice and add the whites of the spring onions, and cover with water. Refrigerate both overnight.
• ON THE DAY Put a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat. Finely slice the bacon, chop the bread into 1cm chunks, and place it all in the pan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and a good pinch of black pepper. Cook for 15 minutes, or until golden and crisp, tossing regularly. Keep in the pan, ready to reheat. Divide the dressing between a large serving bowl and a smaller bowl, ready for drizzling. Snap the woody ends off the asparagus, then cook in a large pan of boiling water for 3 minutes, or until just tender. Use tongs to transfer the asparagus straight into the larger bowl of dressing, tossing to coat. Gently lower the eggs into the boiling water with a pinch of sea salt to cook for 6 minutes, then drain, cool under cold running water, and peel.
• TO SERVE Heat up the croutons. Halve the eggs and dot among the asparagus. Drain the parsley and spring onion garnish, pat dry, then scatter over the top, and take everything to the table - the asparagus will be delicious hot, warm or cold. I enjoy this starter with a glass of quality cold sparkling cider.

CHEESY ASPARAGUS TART RECIPE BY TASTY

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Make the Asiago and Parmesan cream sauce: Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until light golden. Pour in the milk and cook, whisking constantly, until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the Shaved Parmesan Cheese, Aged Asiago Cheese, Himalayan Pink Salt, mustard powder, and Black Pepper. Whisk until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.
• Make the asparagus tart: Roll out the puff pastry to an 8-inch square. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, until it puffs up. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes, or until deflated. Use the back of a spoon if needed to flatten the pastry evenly.
• Spread the cream sauce over the puff pastry, leaving a ½-inch border all the way around.
• Arrange the Frozen Asparagus Spears in a row over the sauce, placing close together. Drizzle the olive oil over the Frozen Asparagus Spears, then sprinkle with the Himalayan Pink Salt and Black Pepper.
• Bake the tart for 15 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
• Remove the tart from the oven and sprinkle with Aged Asiago Cheese.
• Slice and serve.
• Enjoy!