of 12

Spring vegetable and feta cheese tart

Spring vegetable and feta cheese tart pinterest

Step 5

Step 4

Step 3

Step 2

Step 1

Spring vegetable and feta cheese tart filling ingredients

Pastry ingredients

Asparagus feta cheese tart

Spring vegetable and feta cheese tart

Spring vegetable feta tart

Spring Vegetable And Feta Cheese Tart

Buy Now

Spring vegetable and feta cheese tart – an attractive asparagus, pea, scallion and cheese tart that makes the best use of Spring produce!

Winter always feels so much longer than the other seasons, for that reason I am incredibly glad that it is finally over and Spring is here. The Spring brings with it an abundance of fresh vegetables, my favourite of which is asparagus. This attractive spring vegetable and feta cheese tart makes great use of asparagus as well as some other tasty seasonal vegetables – peas and scallions.

The vegetables are paired with a creamy egg filling, salty feta cheese, fresh herbs and crisp parmesan pastry which makes for an incredibly delicious and beautiful tart which is good eaten both warm or cold. It makes a wonderful lunch served alongside a fresh salad and some crusty bread, preferably eaten outside in the sunshine!

It is very nearly Easter (already?!) and this tart would make a brilliant addition to an Easter brunch spread; or it is perfect for an impressive vegetarian option that is sure to make the meat eaters jealous (don’t worry – it’s big enough for everyone to have a try!).

Here’s what you’ll need:

Parmesan Pastry:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 5oz (1 + 1/4) sticks cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 1.4 oz (2/3 cup) freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg, separated
• about 2-3 Tbsp ice cold water

Filling:

• 14oz asparagus (about 23 spears)
• 1 cup peas, fresh or frozen
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1.4 oz (2/3 cup) freshly grated parmesan
• small handful fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 7oz feta cheese, crumbled
• salt and pepper

1. To make the pastry, place the flour and salt in a large bowl; add the butter and rub in using your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
2. Stir in the parmesan then the egg yolk (reserve the white to use later). Gradually add enough cold water to bring the mixture together into a stiff dough. Form it into a disc then wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate until firm, about an hour.

3. Roll the chilled dough out thinly on a lightly floured surface and use it to line a 12x8in rectangular tart tin. Press it right into the corners and up the sides; leave any excess pastry overhanging. Prick the base all over with a fork and place in the freezer for 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 375°F and place a baking tray in the oven to heat up.
4. Line the chilled tart case with a sheet of baking parchment and fill with ceramic baking beans or dry rice. Make sure they go all the way into the corners and prop up the edges. Place the tart on the hot baking tray in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
5. Remove the baking beans and baking parchment and brush the base all over with the reserved egg white (this helps ‘seal’ the pastry and prevent the filling from making it go soggy).
6. Return the tart case to the oven for 10 minutes until the base is golden then remove from the oven, allow to cool for a couple of minutes then use a sharp serrated knife to carefully trim off the excess pastry from around the edge.

7. While the pastry is baking prepare the filling. Trim the ends off the asparagus so that they are the same length as the width of the tart tin. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add the asparagus and peas, simmer for a couple of minutes until the asparagus is just tender then drain and rinse with cold water.

8. In a large jug, whisk together the eggs, cream and yogurt. Mix in the crushed garlic, grated parmesan, chopped mint, thyme, sliced scallions and some salt and pepper then add the feta and peas.

9. Turn the oven temperature down to 350°F. Pour the filling into the tart case and make sure it is level. Arrange the asparagus spears down the middle of the tart, alternating which direction the tip faces. Bake the tart for about 40 minutes, until it is set in the middle. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes before serving.

Continue to Content

Yield: 1

Spring Vegetable And Feta Cheese Tart

Print

Spring vegetable and feta cheese tart – an attractive asparagus, pea, scallion and cheese tart that makes the best use of Spring produce!

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Total Time 2 hours 55 minutes

Ingredients

Parmesan Pastry:

• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 5oz (1 + 1/4) sticks cold unsalted butter, cubed
• 1.4 oz (2/3 cup) freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1 large egg, separated
• about 2-3 Tbsp ice cold water

Filling:

• 14oz asparagus (about 23 spears)
• 1 cup peas, fresh or frozen
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1.4 oz (2/3 cup) freshly grated parmesan
• small handful fresh mint leaves, finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 4 scallions, thinly sliced
• 7oz feta cheese, crumbled
• salt and pepper

Instructions

1. To make the pastry, place the flour and salt in a large bowl; add the butter and rub in using your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
2. Stir in the parmesan then the egg yolk (reserve the white to use later). Gradually add enough cold water to bring the mixture together into a stiff dough. Form it into a disc then wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate until firm, about an hour.
3. Roll the chilled dough out thinly on a lightly floured surface and use it to line a 12x8in rectangular tart tin. Press it right into the corners and up the sides; leave any excess pastry overhanging. Prick the base all over with a fork and place in the freezer for 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 375°F and place a baking tray in the oven to heat up.
4. Line the chilled tart case with a sheet of baking parchment and fill with ceramic baking beans or dry rice. Make sure they go all the way into the corners and prop up the edges. Place the tart on the hot baking tray in the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
5. Remove the baking beans and baking parchment and brush the base all over with the reserved egg white (this helps ‘seal’ the pastry and prevent the filling from making it go soggy).
6. Return the tart case to the oven for 10 minutes until the base is golden then remove from the oven, allow to cool for a couple of minutes then use a sharp serrated knife to carefully trim off the excess pastry from around the edge.
7. While the pastry is baking prepare the filling. Trim the ends off the asparagus so that they are the same length as the width of the tart tin. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add the asparagus and peas, simmer for a couple of minutes until the asparagus is just tender then drain and rinse with cold water.
8. In a large jug, whisk together the eggs, cream and yogurt. Mix in the crushed garlic, grated parmesan, chopped mint, thyme, sliced scallions and some salt and pepper then add the feta and peas.
9. Turn the oven temperature down to 350°F. Pour the filling into the tart case and make sure it is level. Arrange the asparagus spears down the middle of the tart, alternating which direction the tip faces. Bake the tart for about 40 minutes, until it is set in the middle. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

8

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 362Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 170mgSodium: 508mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 16g