Spinach, Asparagus & Tomato Tart

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Another home comfort food dish, delicious for lunch or dinner, hot or cold.

 

Serves 4

Butter for greasing tin

1 Roll ready made shortcrust pastry

1 bunch of asparagus spears

250g Spinach leaves

3 large eggs

150ml double cream

1 garlic clove, crushed

10 small cherry tomatoes

handful fresh basil, chopped

40g grated cheddar cheese (or you could use parmesan)

Salt & pepper

 

  1. Pre heat oven to 190 deg on convection bake setting.
  2. Grease a 10-12 inch tart tin with the butter, roll out the pastry and line the tin, trimming of excess.
  3. Cover the pastry with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans. Blind bake for about 20 minutes until lightly browned. Remove and allow to cool slightly. Reduce oven to 180 deg.                                                                                                    20190709_133912
  4. Meanwhile, bend the asparagus spears until they snap and discard woody bases.
  5. Bring a large pan of slightly salted water to the boil and blanch the asparagus for 1 minute, remove. Using the same water put the spinach in then remove immediately. Drain well and squeeze excess moisture out.                                                              20190709_135328
  6. Mix the eggs, cream & garlic together in a bowl and season with salt & pepper.
  7. Lay the spinach into the pastry case, then the asparagus and tomatoes cut side up, sprinkle with the basil. Pour the egg mixture into the case and sprinkle the grated cheese over evenly.
  8. Transfer to the oven and bake for about 35 minutes, remove and leave to cool to room temperature, serve.

 

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Chicken and Leek Pie

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I do love a good pie, well we are known for our pies up here in Scotland, especially our Scotch Pies.

 

SHORTCRUST CHICKEN AND LEEK PIE

2 chicken breasts – cut into chunks

1 Leek, finely chopped

300ml Milk

1 Chicken Stock Cube (Mix with milk)

Salt and pepper to season

2 tablespoons of plain flour

1 teaspoon of nutmeg

15g butter

1 roll of ready rolled pastry

 

1.Roll out and place pastry into tart tin.

2. Prick the base with a fork and lay greaseproof paper on top of pastry

3. Tip in the baking beans

4. Place in oven at 190 deg for 15 mins

5. While pastry in oven, gently fry off chicken until lightly browned then remove from pan

6. Saute the leeks for about 5 mins and remove from pan

7. Melt  butter in a pan gently, stir in the flour until a smooth paste

8. Add stock cube to milk and add to pan little at a time until it thickens slightly

9. Add back the chicken and leeks

10. Add seasoning and nutmeg, stir and gently simmer covered for about 15 mins

11. Remove greaseproof paper and baking beans from pastry and add in the chicken, leek mix

12.Cover with pastry or lattice, brush with little milk

13. Select Shortcrust Pastry setting and cook or convection bake for about 40 mins.