Best 4 Irish Leek And Cheddar Tart Recipes

CRAB, LEEK & CHEDDAR TART

Steps:

• Put the flour, butter and a good pinch of salt into a food processor, and blitz until the mix resembles breadcrumbs. Combine the yolk with 1½ tbsp very cold water, then add this to the mixture and blitz again until the pastry comes together into a ball (you may need to add a little more water).
• Lightly dust a rolling pin and a large sheet of baking parchment with flour. Roll the pastry out on the parchment, and use it to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Chill for 1 hr until firm. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 with a baking sheet inside.
• For the filling, heat the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan over a medium heat, add the leeks, stir, season and add 2 tbsp water. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for 15 mins until the leeks are soft. Uncover, turn up the heat and cook until any liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
• Prick the base of the pastry case all over with a fork, then line with baking parchment and baking beans. Bake on the hot baking sheet for 12 mins, remove the parchment and beans, then bake for 13 mins more. Leave to cool slightly, then spoon the leeks into the pastry case.
• Mix together the double cream, crème fraîche, whole egg and egg yolks. Season well, then gently fold in the crabmeat. Carefully pour the filling over the layer of leeks, then scatter over the cheese.
• Return the tart to the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 35-40 mins, or until the pastry is golden and the filling is just set in the middle (it will continue to cook as it cools). Leave to cool for 15 mins, then remove from the tin and serve.

CAULIFLOWER, LEEK & CHEDDAR PIE WITH MUSTARD & THYME PASTRY

Steps:

• For the pastry, put the flour in a food processor with the butter, mustard and thyme leaves, and pulse until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 4-6 tbsp cold water and pulse again until it forms a ball. Wrap and chill for 30 mins.
• For the filling, break the cauliflower into small bite-sized florets (keep the leaves for stock or roast until crisp and serve alongside the pie), and chop the stalk into 2cm pieces. Steam in a steamer or steamer basket set over a pan of simmering water for 8-10 mins until the stalk pieces are just tender, but not cooked through. Remove from the steamer and leave to cool and steam-dry on a plate.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan over a low heat and fry the leeks with a pinch of salt for 10 mins until softened. Add a splash of water if they start to turn lightly golden and cook until the water has evaporated. Remove from the heat.
• Cut off a third of the pastry and set aside. Roll out the rest on a floured work surface to a round large enough to line a 25cm wide and 7cm deep pie dish (enamel pie dishes work well for this). Line the dish and set aside.
• Whisk the eggs in a large bowl with some seasoning. Reserve a little of the beaten egg in a small bowl, then fold the cheese, cauliflower and leeks into the remaining egg. Tip the filling into the pie dish and spread out evenly. Roll out the remaining pastry and use to cover the pie, using some of the reserved egg to seal it to the edge. Crimp the edge and trim any excess, then chill for 20 mins.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Brush the top of the pie with the remaining beaten egg and bake for 45 mins until golden and crisp on top. Stand for 10 minutes before serving with roast potatoes.

LEEK AND CHEDDAR TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Bake pie shell until light brown, about 20 minutes.
• Let cool.
• Melt butter in medium skillet over low heat.
• Add leeks and saute until tender but not soft, about 15 minutes.
• Spread in pie crust.
• Sprinkle with 1 cup cheese.
• Whisk yolks, cream, salt, pepper and mace in medium bowl.
• Pour over leeks; sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Bake until filling is set and golden-brown, about 40 minutes.
• Cool atleast 40 minutes before serving.

LEEK AND OLIVE TART WITH TWO CHEESES

Steps:

• If using baby leeks, halve lengthwise and trim to about 3 inches long. If using regular leeks, cut crosswise into 3-inch pieces; halve each piece lengthwise, then cut into 3/8-inch-thick strips (about 5 cups). Rinse well, and drain; set aside.
• Melt butter with oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add leeks and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are tender but not browned, about 15 minutes. Stir in thyme. Leeks can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 day; bring to room temperature before assembling tart.
• Cut or roll out pastry to a 6-by-14-inch rectangle; place on a parchment-lined baking sheet (reserve remaining pastry for another use). Score a 3/4-inch border. Brush with egg wash; sprinkle with Parmesan. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake pastry until golden, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from oven, and press center area with a metal spatula. Arrange leeks end to end in rows within border of pastry. Scatter olives over leeks. Bake until crust is golden brown, about 10 minutes. If bottom is soft, bake 3 to 5 minutes more.
• Remove tart from oven, and arrange soft cheese over top. Using an offset spatula, slide tart onto a wire rack; let cool slightly. Cut into pieces; serve warm or at room temperature (tart can stand at room temperature up to 1 hour).