Asparagus, red onion and blue cheese tarts
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This asparagus tart recipe from Shaun Rankin may seem a simple combination but the flavours at play truly harmonise; woody asparagus contrasting nicely with the sharpness of the red onion and the strong, creamy flavour of blue cheese.
Ingredients
Tart pastry
- 400g of plain flour
- 1 pinch of salt
- 200g of unsalted butter , cold and diced
- 2 eggs
- iced water
- 1 tsp milk
Tart filling
- 115g of blue cheese , cut into 4 slices
- 100ml of double cream
- 1 tsp chives , chopped
- 1 egg
- 1/2 red onion
- 4 asparagus spears
- olive oil
- salt
- black pepper , freshly ground
To plate
- 40g of rocket
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
Equipment
- Baking beads
- 2 10cm diameter tart tins with removable bases
Method
1
To make the pastry, sift the flour and salt in a mixing bowl and add the diced butter. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingers until it resembles breadcrumbs
- 400g of plain flour
- 1 pinch of salt
- 200g of unsalted butter
2
Add 1 egg, mix well, then add some ice water, a spoonful at a time, just until the pastry comes together. Wrap the pastry in cling film and rest in the fridge for 30 minutes before rolling out
- 1 egg
- iced water
3
Preheat the oven to 170ºC/gas mark 4. Roll out the pastry to 4mm thickness. Line the individual tart tins with the pastry, making sure the pastry goes right to the edge of the tins
4
Cover the pastry with parchment paper, then fill with dry rice or baking beads. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes, then remove the cling film and rice/beads
5
Whisk 1 egg with the milk and brush the egg wash over the tarts. Place back in the oven for 2 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and turn up the oven to 190ºC/gas mark 5
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp milk
6
For the tart filling, slice and sauté the onion in a pan with a little olive oil for about 5 minutes
- 1/2 red onion
- olive oil
7
Crack the egg into a bowl and whisk together with the double cream and chopped chives. Season with salt and pepper
- 100ml of double cream
- 1 tsp chives
- black pepper
- salt
8
Lay the asparagus tips in the tarts and add the red onions. Carefully pour the egg mixture on top and place in the oven. Cook for 10 minutes, or until set
9
Remove from the oven and place the blue cheese slices on top of the tarts. Place back in the oven until the cheese just melts
- 115g of blue cheese
10
Serve the tarts warm with some rocket drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar
- 40g of rocket
- balsamic vinegar
- olive oil
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Asparagus, red onion and blue cheese tarts
