Herb Pastry Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Add the goat cheese, ricotta and 2 eggs to the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Pulse until the mixture is evenly combined. Next, add the Parmesan, parsley, chives, dill, lemon zest, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pulse once again to combine all the ingredients. The mixture may look slightly liquidy, but once it bakes the egg will help stabilize the cheese mixture. Set aside.
• On a separate rimmed baking sheet, toss the asparagus with the olive oil, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
• Unroll the puff pastry on a lightly floured work space and dust a rolling pin lightly with flour. Roll the puff pastry out to a 13-by-11-inch rectangle. Add the goat cheese-herb mixture to the puff pastry and spread it out into an even layer, leaving a 1-inch border all the way around the puff pastry. Nestle in the asparagus into the cheese mixture, alternating directions.
• To make the egg wash, whisk the remaining egg with a splash of water. Use a pastry brush to brush the exposed crust all the way around the edges.
• Transfer the tart to the oven and bake until the crust is golden and the cheese mixture is set, 25 to 30 minutes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F with a rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Lightly flour a work surface and gently unfold the puff pastry dough. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle. Score a 1-inch border along all four sides with a sharp knife then prick the area inside the border all over with a fork. This allows steam to release and a rim to rise around the tart.
• Transfer the puff pastry to the prepared baking sheet and bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown and puffy, about 18 minutes total. Remove the pastry from the baking sheet and allow it to cool on a cutting board or wire rack for 10 minutes. (see Cook's Note)
• While the pastry is baking, whip the cream cheese, yogurt, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Fold in the capers, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons chopped dill and 2 tablespoons chopped chives and set aside.
• Just before serving, evenly spread the cream cheese filling over the baked pastry with an offset spatula, leaving the 1-inch border exposed. Arrange the smoked salmon and cucumber on top and sprinkle the tart with the dill fronds, remaining 1 tablespoon chives and some black pepper.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Place the tenderloins on a sheet pan and pat them dry with paper towels. Combine the rosemary, thyme, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub the tenderloins all over with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle all sides with the herb mixture. If there is a thinner "tail," fold it underneath so the tenderloin is an even thickness throughout. Wrap the tenderloins completely with a single layer of prosciutto. (I place the prosciutto sideways with the ends wrapping under the tenderloins.) Tie in several places with kitchen string to hold the prosciutto and the "tail" in place.
• Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the middle of the end of the tenderloin reads 140 degrees F for medium rare and 145 degrees F for medium. Cover the tenderloins tightly with aluminum foil and allow to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Slice diagonally in thick slices and serve warm with apple chutney.

Steps:

• Blend first 5 ingredients in processor until herbs are very finely chopped. Add butter and shortening. Blend until mixture resembles coarse meal. Transfer mixture to large bowl. Using fork, mix enough ice water into flour mixture to form moist clumps. Gather dough into ball; flatten into rectangle. Cover and chill 30 minutes. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Let dough soften slightly before rolling out.)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Prepare the filling first. Mash the feta in a bowl with the back of a fork. Add the chilli, spring onions, herbs and olive oil, then mix everything well using the fork.
• For the sauce, whisk the beaten egg with the olive oil and milk in a small bowl until fully combined.
• Lay the filo sheets on a clean work surface and cover with a clean, damp cloth to ensure they don't dry out as you work. Brush the base of a shallow 20cm round ovenproof dish with some olive oil.
• Layer six sheets of filo in the bottom of the dish, overlapping them by about 45 degrees and fanning them out, also ensuring that half of each sheet covers the base while the other half overhangs the dish. Between each addition, liberally brush the sheets with the sauce. The entire base should be covered with the filo, and the filo generously basted in the sauce.
• Tip in all the filling, then fold the overhanging filo over the filling to enclose it, brushing the sheets with more sauce as you do. Cover the top with a final sheet of filo, but don't brush this with the sauce.
• Whisk the egg yolks with the 1 tbsp olive oil and brush this on top of the borek. Sprinkle with the sesame and nigella seeds and bake for 30 mins until golden brown.