Savory Spinach Tart (Tarte Aux Epinards)
- 1/2 Recipe No Excuses Pie Dough (Full Recipe Follows--save The Other Half For Another Use) Or Use Your Favorite Crust Recipe (you'll Need Enough To Line A 10-inch Tart Pan)
- 3/4 cups Unsalted Butter
- 1- 1/2 cup All-purpose Flour
- 1/2 teaspoons Salt
- 4 Tablespoons Iced Water
- 8 ounces, weight Frozen Chopped Spinach, Thawed And Well-drained
- 3 whole Large Eggs
- 1 cup Freshly Grated Asiago Cheese
- 1 teaspoon Freshly Grated Lemon Zest
- 1 pinch Kosher Salt, Or To Taste
- 1 pinch Freshly Cracked Pepper Or To Taste
- Special equipment: Youll need a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
- For the pie crust: 1.
- Cut butter into 1/2 inch cubes and freeze for at least one hour.
- 2.
- Place the flour and salt into the bowl of a food processor.
- Pulse 2-3 times (1 second pulses) to mix.
- 3.
- Add the frozen butter cubes to the food processor bowl, and toss with a fork to coat.
- Continue pulsing to work the butter into the flour mixture, until the butter is the size of small peas.
- (This wil take about 8-12 pulses, depending on the size of the motor on the food processor.)
- 4.
- While the food processor is running on high, slowly add the iced water through the feed tube, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together and a stiff dough forms.
- (This process usually takes 15-20 seconds total in my 80s era food processor.)
- 5.
- Dump the dough onto a clean, floured surface.
- Divide dough in half.
- Lightly shape each half into a ball, and then pat the ball into a 1/2 inch tall disk.
- Wrap the disks snugly in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate dough for 30 minutes before rolling out.
- Or you can keep the dough disks tightly wrapped in plastic wrap until frozen and then place them in a freezer bag for long-term storage.
- Dough can be frozen for up to a month.
- Just let dough thaw overnight on the refrigerator before rolling out.
- NOTE: This will make enough pie dough for TWO tarts.
- Use one disk for this recipe, and freeze the other disk for another use or make your favorite pie recipe.
- For the tart: 1.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F. 2.
- To prep the tart pan: Remove the bottom of the tart pan, and trace the shape onto a piece of parchment paper with a pencil.
- Cut out the parchment circle.
- Reassemble the tart pan.
- Spray the bottom of the pan with non-stick baking spray and line it with the parchment circle.
- Spray the parchment as well.
- 3.
- Roll out 1 disk of the above No Excuses Pie Dough on a floured surface (the size should be large enough to cover the bottom and sides of your prepared pan).
- Line the prepared 10-inch tart pan with the crust.
- Trim off any overhang of dough.
- 4.
- Dock the pastry by pricking the bottom of the crust repeatedly.
- Place the pastry lined tart pan in the refrigerator while preparing the filling.
- 5.
- Drain the thawed spinach in a colander, and then use clean hands to squeeze out any excess water.
- 6.
- In a medium sized bowl bowl, whisk eggs until light and fluffy.
- Whisk the cheese into the eggs.
- 7.
- Stir the spinach and the lemon zest into the egg mixture until combined.
- Season with kosher salt and pepper, to taste.
- (I usually start with 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.)
- 8.
- Spoon the filling into the tart pastry, leveling the top with the spoon.
- 9.
- Bake the tart in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until filling is firm.
- 10.
- Cool the tart in the pan set on a wire rack.
- 11.
- Serve at room temperature.
- 12.
- Store leftover tart tightly wrapped in the refrigerator.
- Notes: This recipe is for a French style spinach tart.
- The filling is thin and compact, not thick and fluffy like a quiche.
- The tart should be served at room temperature.
- It can be eaten alone, with a side of bacon for breakfast, as a snack, or as a side dish with roasted or grilled meats.
pie, butter, allpurpose, salt, water, eggs, cheese, freshly grated lemon, kosher salt, freshly cracked pepper
Taken from tastykitchen.com/recipes/appetizers-and-snacks/savory-spinach-tart-tarte-aux-epinards/ (may not work)