Asparagus and Gruyere Tart
- Black Pepper and Sour Cream Pastry Dough
- 3 pounds thick white or green asparagus, trimmed to 6 inches and peeled
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt plus additional for sprinkling
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 cup finely grated Gruyere
- Special equipment: a round pizza pan (13 inches in diameter, not including rim) and pie weights or raw rice
- Roll out pastry dough on a floured surface into a 15 1/2-inch round.
- Transfer to pizza pan by rolling dough around rolling pin and unrolling it across pan.
- Trim edge just enough to make even, then fold over and pinch to form a 1/2-inch-high, double-thick side.
- Prick bottom of shell all over with a fork and chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights or raw rice.
- Bake in middle of oven until sides are firm, about 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and weights carefully and bake shell until golden, about 10 minutes more, then cool.
- Layer asparagus on a steamer rack, sprinkling each layer with kosher salt to taste.
- Steam, covered, over boiling water until completely tender but not mushy, about 8 minutes for green asparagus or 12 for white, then transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop cooking.
- Drain well and pat dry with paper towels.
- Whisk together cream, eggs, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and nutmeg, then season lightly with pepper.
- Pour custard evenly in tart shell.
- Sprinkle custard with two thirds of cheese, then arrange spears in custard, tips out (like the spokes of a wheel).
- Sprinkle remaining cheese over top.
- Bake tart in middle of oven until custard is set, about 20 minutes.
- Then broil tart 2 to 3 inches from heat until golden, 1 to 2 minutes.
black pepper, thick white, kosher salt, heavy cream, eggs, freshly grated nutmeg, gruyere, pizza pan
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/asparagus-and-gruyere-tart-104744 (may not work)