Tomato And Cheddar Tartlets Recipes

Steps:

• With the rack in lowest position, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• On floured work surface, roll out the puff pastry into 8inch by 10inch rectangle and cut into 2inch by 4inch rectangles.
• Place on baking sheet.
• Brush dough with the mustard.
• Scatter some basil leaves over the dough, then tomatoes.
• Season and sprinkle with cheese.
• Bake 20 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.
• Cut pie into squares and garnish with fresh basil.
• Serve immediately, as an appetizer or starter.
• *Good Canadian Aged Cheddar will enhance the flavour of this wonderful tart.
• **Cheese alternatives: Canadian Swiss, Gouda, Provolone, Raclette, Feta.

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together flours and salt. Pulse in butter and Cheddar until mixture resembles chickpeas. Drizzle in whisked egg and ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, up to 6 tablespoons, pulsing occasionally until mixture is just moist enough to hold together. Form dough into a ball, wrap with plastic and flatten into a disk. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• While dough chills, prepare the filling. Heat oven to 425 degrees. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss zucchini and tomatoes with rosemary, salt, red pepper and olive oil; spread mixture out into one layer. Roast, tossing occasionally, until vegetables are tender and golden, 40 to 50 minutes. Stir honey and vinegar into the hot vegetables, then let cool completely.
• Spray a muffin tin with nonstick spray or use a nonstick muffin pan. Roll out dough to a 12-by-16-inch rectangle, trimming any rough edges. Cut into a dozen 4-by-4-inch pieces and gently press each piece into the holes of the muffin tin, leaving the 4 corners hanging over the edges. Chill dough for at least another 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, whisk together ricotta, egg, chives and garlic. Season with a large pinch each of salt and black pepper.
• Divide ricotta mixture into the bottom of each tart, using about 1 tablespoon each. Top with the roasted vegetables. Fold edges of crust over filling. Brush tops of tarts with cream or milk and sprinkle with cheese. Place muffin tin on a baking sheet and bake at 425 degrees until bubbling and golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Drizzle tarts with a little honey (about 1/2 teaspoon per tartlet) if you like. Cool slightly before serving.

Steps:

• Make the crust: Add the cheese crackers to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse for 20-30 seconds, until the crackers are broken down into crumbs.
• Add the flour, salt, and pepper to the food processor and blend for 20-30 seconds to incorporate into the cracker crumbs.
• Add the butter and cheddar cheese and blend for 30-60 seconds, until the butter is broken down into pea-sized pieces.
• Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl. Add the apple cider vinegar and 3 tablespoons of cold water and mix with your hands to combine. Add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture holds together well, feels slightly damp, and does not crumble when pressed.
• Shape the dough into a disc and tightly wrap in plastic wrap. Chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 375˚F (190˚C).
• Lightly dust a clean surface and a rolling pin with flour. Set the chilled dough on the floured surface and begin to roll out the dough, starting from the center and working your way outwards, applying even pressure. The fewer passes of the rolling pin over the dough, the more tender the crust will be. Rotate the dough as you roll it out, using a bench scraper, as necessary to keep the dough from sticking to the surface. If the dough begins to feel sticky, lightly dust with more flour. Roll the dough out to ⅛- to ¼-inch (3 mm - 6 mm) thick. The dough should be wide enough to fit into a 11-inch (27 cm) tart pan with some excess dough overhanging.
• Wrap the dough around the rolling pin and transfer to the tart pan, gently draping it over. Press the dough down into the bottom of the pan and up the walls. Roll the rolling pin over the top of the pan to trim the edges. Transfer the tart crust to the refrigerator to chill while you cut out dough strips for the top.
• Gather the excess dough into a ball. Shape the dough in a rectangle and roll out to about 4 inches wide (10 cm) and 12 inches (30 cm) long, ⅛- to ¼-inch (3 mm - 6 mm) thick. Using a pastry cutter, trim off any excess dough so you are left with an even rectangle. Cut out ¼-inch and ½-inch-wide (6 mm - 12 mm) strips of dough. Transfer dough strips to plate and transfer to the refrigerator while you fill the tart crust.
• Remove the tart pan from the refrigerator and spread the mustard over the bottom of the crust. Cover the bottom of the crust with the cheddar cheese. Add a layer of tomato slices, overlapping slightly. Sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ tablespoon of thyme, and half of the shallots. Repeat with a second layer of tomatoes and the remaining ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper, ½ tablespoon thyme, and shallots.
• Remove the dough strips from the refrigerator, and create a decorative lattice design over the tart.
• Brush the beaten egg all over any exposed dough, including the edges around the tart pan.
• Bake the tart for 40-45 minutes, until the crust is a deep golden brown and crisp to the touch.
• Let the tart cool for 20 minutes to allow the tomato juices to absorb.
• Serve with a dollop of sour cream and fresh thyme leaves.
• Enjoy!

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 3. Blitz the flour, butter and cheddar in a food processor until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, then add the egg and whizz again until it forms a ball.
• Lightly dust a cool surface with flour and roll out the pastry. Line a 24cm loose-bottom tart tin with the pastry, then chill for 10 mins. Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper, fill with baking beans and bake for 15 mins. Remove the paper and baking beans and continue to cook for a further 10 mins, then remove from the oven.
• Mix together the Dijon mustard and crème fraîche and spread evenly over the pastry base. Halve the tomatoes, remove the stalk and arrange in the pastry case. Sprinkle with thyme and freshly ground black pepper. Return the tart to the middle of the oven and cook for 30 mins. Reduce the heat to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2 and cook for a further 30 mins. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry.
• Cut out 2 inch rounds, using biscuit cutter or glass.
• Place dough circles on ungreased baking sheet, pricking surface with fork.
• Sprinkle each circle with cheddar, and top with a tomato slice.
• Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper (tomatoes MUST have salt and pepper, of course!).
• Sprinkle each with a heaping teaspoon of parmesan cheese.
• Bake 24 minutes or until pastry is golden and cheese is bubbly.
• Garnish with thyme leaves.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 3. Blitz the flour, butter and cheddar in a food processor until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, then add one lightly beaten egg and whizz again until it forms a ball. Use the pastry to line 4 individual tart cases, then chill for 10 mins. Line the pastry cases with greaseproof paper, fill with baking beans and bake for 7 -10 mins until the pastry feels dry. Remove the paper and baking beans and continue to cook for a further 2 - 3 mins until lightly golden, then remove from the oven.
• Make the custard by mixing the remaining eggs into the Dijon mustard and crème fraiche. Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes on the base of the tarts, sprinkle over the thyme leaves and pour over the custard. Bake for 10 mins, turn the oven down to 150C/fan 130C/gas 3, then bake for a further 15 mins until the custard is just set. Cool slightly before serving.