Savory Summer Tarts

Ingredients for Savory Summer Tarts

• 325g plain flour

• 2 sticks cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

• 1/2 teaspoons salt

• 5 to 120ml ice water

• 8 haricots verts, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces

• 8 grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

• 4 (1/4-inch-thick) rounds soft mild goat cheese (from a small log)

• 2 teaspoons finely chopped chives

• 2 tablespoons finely chopped shallot

• 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided

• 120ml (1/2-inch) bread cubes

• 120ml jumbo lump crabmeat (60g), picked over

• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped tarragon

• 1/4 teaspoons grated lemon zest

• 2 pinches cayenne

• 2 spring onions, thinly sliced

• 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• 60ml thawed frozen baby peas

• 4 thin slices pancetta

• 180ml whole milk

• 180ml double cream

• 3 whole large eggs

• 1 large egg yolk

• Equipment: 12 (4-inch) flan rings

• pie weights or dried beans

How to make Savory Summer Tarts

Blend together flour, butter, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size butter lumps. Drizzle 80ml ice water evenly over mixture and gently stir with a fork (or pulse) until incorporated. Squeeze a small handful of dough: If dough doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoons at a time, stirring until incorporated. Do not overwork dough, or pastry will be tough.

Turn out dough onto a work surface and divide into 4 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather all of dough together, with a pastry scraper if you have one, and form into 2 (5-inch) squares. Chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.

Arrange flan rings on 2 parchment-paper-lined baking sheets. Roll out 1 portion of dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 16- by 10-inch rectangle. Cut into 6 rough squares. Gently fit each square into a ring (do not stretch dough). Trim excess dough flush with rim. Lightly prick each shell several times with a fork and chill until firm, about 30 minutes. Repeat with remaining dough and rings.

Preheat oven to 191°C with racks in upper and lower thirds.

Line shells with foil (not heavy-duty) and fill with pie weights. Bake until sides are set, about 20 minutes. Carefully remove weights and foil and bake shells until golden-brown all over, 5 to 8 minutes. Cool completely on baking sheets on racks, then remove flan rings.

Reduce oven temperature to 177°C.

Cook haricots verts in salted boiling water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and divide among 4 tart shells along with tomatoes, then top with a round of cheese.

Cook shallot in 1/2 tablespoons oil in a small skillet over medium heat until softened, about 1 minute. Transfer to a small bowl. Heat remaining tablespoon oil in skillet over medium heat, then cook bread, stirring, until golden. Toss croutons with shallot and divide among 4 tart shells. Toss crab with tarragon, zest, and cayenne and add to same shells.

Cook spring onions in oil in cleaned small skillet over medium heat until softened, about 1 minute. Stir in peas and warm through, then divide mixture among remaining 4 tart shells. Add pancetta to skillet and cook, turning once, until just crisp. Reserve pancetta.

Whisk together custard ingredients with 3/4 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoons pepper. Divide among shells. Sprinkle chives over goat cheese tarts and top pea tarts with pancetta.

Bake tarts on baking sheets until custard is just set, about 20 minutes. Cool slightly.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.