Archive for the ‘Pastry’ Category

Cherry tomato and goat’s cheese quiche

Monday, December 12th, 2011

raw tomato

2 punnets cherry tomatoes
1 ‘log’ goat’s cheese
6 eggs
1/2 pint milk
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp dried thyme or 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
1/2 tsp salt
couple of grinds black pepper

for the pastry:
8 oz flour
4oz fat (I use salted butter)
cold water to mix

Make the pastry by rubbing the fat into the flour (or using a food processor) and then, using a knife, slowly stir in a little cold water until it comes together.  Gently, with the tips of your fingers bring together into a dough, then leave to chill for an hour in the fridge (covered in clingfilm).

Halve the cherry tomatoes and thinly slice the cheese along the log (you should end up with around 20 slices).  Whisk the eggs with the milk, nutmeg, salt, pepper and thyme.

Heat the oven to 170 degrees.  Thinly roll out the pastry and use it to line a deep flat dish such as a lasange dish (mine is 18 x 25cm and around 5cm deep).  Place in the oven to blind bake for 5 mins.

Remove dish from oven and fill: cover the bottom with half the cherry tomatoes.  Cover them with half the cheese.  Repeat with the rest of the tomatoes, then the rest of the cheese.  Pour over the egg mix.

Cook in the oven for between 40 and 60 mins.  To check if done, stick in a knife and pull a bit to the side.  If you can see runny egg, it needs a bit longer.  Bare in mind you will see runny goat’s cheese, so make sure it is definitely the egg that is still not done.

This is lovely served with a peppery salad and reheats well for work lunches.

Welsh Pizza

Sunday, November 1st, 2009

Freshly Leek

Rich Shortcrust pastry:
8 oz flour
5 oz butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp sugar
3 tbsp iced water

Topping:
4 oz grated Cheddar
4 oz grated Mozzarella
2 tsps crushed dried green peppercorns
2 small leeks
3 oz pancetta or smoked streaky bacon
1 tsp thyme

I have adapted this recipe for Leek & Green Peppercorn tart from the lovely book ‘Cool green leaves & red hot peppers’ by Christine McFadden and Michael Michaud.  It is a favourite for us and known in the family as Welsh pizza.

Make the pastry by combining the dried ingredients and then working in half the butter until you have a breadcrumb texture.  Work in the rest of the butter quickly, leaving it uneven for a crisp texture.  Wrap in clingfilm and chill for an hour.  Grate the cheeses, crush the peppercorns and halve the leeks, then thinly slice.  Used diced pancetta or cut across the bacon rashers to create small ribbons.

Preheat oven to 240c or Gas 9.  Carefully roll out the pastry to 1/4 cm thick and place on a greased baking sheet.  Scatter on the cheeses, peppercorns, leeks, pancetta then thyme in that order.  Bake for 20 mins until the pastry is golden and the leeks look charred.  This is good hot or warmed up for lunch.  I serve it with a peppery salad (the hackney salad is ideal), or a green salad with a punchy dressing (add a tsp of grainy mustard).