Chevre Tartlets With Provencal Peppers Recipes

CAULIFLOWER-CHEVRE TARTLETS WITH CANDIED BEETS

Steps:

• Wearing thin medical examination gloves, peel and slice the beet on a mandolin very thinly as if for potato chips. Cut out the desired shape with aspic cutters. Line a cookie sheet with parchment. Spray the parchment with cooking spray. Dust lightly with sugar and lay the beet on it. Dust again with sugar. Leave in a pilot-lit oven overnight to dry out. When crisp and dry, lift off the shapes carefully with a metal spatula and store in an airtight container lined with parchment.
• Roll the dough 1/8-inch thin to line miniature tartlet shells. Blind bake the tartlet shells for about 8 minutes, in a preheated 325 degrees oven, with another mold inside it to help the tartlet keep its shape and prevent puffing up. Cool on rack.
• For the filling: Parboil the florets in salted water until just past crunchy. Drain well. Place back in pan over low heat to evaporate excess moisture for 1 to 2 minutes. Lightly mash the cauliflower with a fork.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Over gentle heat, melt the butter and sweat the shallots until translucent--about 4 minutes. The shallots should not brown in order to keep the final mixture white. Off the heat, add the remaining ingredients. Taste and season. Chill. Fill each tartlet with a spoonful of the cauliflower mixture. Place in oven for 3 minutes, until heated through. Garnish with candied beet chips and grin with pleasure.

PROVENçAL TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to fan 200C/ conventional 220C/gas 7. Roll out the pastry thinly and cut out a 24cm square. Cut into three, then in half to make six rectangles, and transfer to a baking sheet. Prick all over with a fork, brush with a little beaten egg and sprinkle with half the thyme. Bake for 12-15 minutes until pale golden, then press the pastries down lightly to flatten slightly and leave to cool on a wire rack.
• Heat 3 tbsp of the olive oil in a small pan, add the onions and the remaining thyme and season with salt and pepper. Cook very gently, stirring often, for about 30 minutes until the onions are completely softened but not coloured. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
• Spread out the peppers over the grill pan, skin side up. Grill until the skins are evenly blackened. When cool enough, peel off the skins. Transfer to a dish and set aside.
• Cut the aubergine into 12 slices and spread out over the grill pan. Brush lightly with olive oil and heat under the grill until lightly coloured, then turn over, brush again with olive oil and grill until just tender. Transfer to a dish, drizzle with a little more olive oil and add the garlic. Stir gently and leave to cool. (Up to this point, everything can be prepared up to a day ahead. Wrap the pastry in foil, cover the vegetables and store in the fridge.)
• Up to an hour before serving, set the pastry rectangles on a baking sheet and spread each with a thin layer of onion. Arrange the yellow peppers, aubergine and tomatoes on top. Season with salt and pepper, drizzle with a little basil oil and bake for 5-8 minutes until warmed through. To serve, transfer to serving plates and pile a small handful of rocket on the side. Drizzle each portion with lemon juice and a little more basil oil.

PROVENçAL TOMATO SOUP WITH CHèVRE

Steps:

• Fill the bottom of a heavy soup pot (5 to 6 quarts) with olive oil. Over medium-high heat, cook the onions with a pinch of salt until golden, 5 to 8 minutes, stirring often. In the meantime, lightly crush the spices in a small bowl or with a mortar and pestle, to release the flavors. Add the spices and garlic to the onions and cook until the aromas open, about 30 seconds.
• Stir in the tomato paste and continue stirring until no lumps remain. Add the vermouth and cook for 1 minute, then add the tomatoes. Bring to a boil, cook for two minutes, then add the broth. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.
• Stir in the cinnamon and season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle the soup into bowls and top with crumbled goat cheese.