Goats Cheese Fennel Roasted Red Pepper Tart Recipes

GOAT'S CHEESE & RED PEPPER TART

Steps:

• Cook the onions in the oil for 6-7 mins, until they are softened and lightly coloured, then add the balsamic vinegar and 1 tbsp water. Cook for a further 2-3 mins. Roughly chop the olives and stir in. Leave to cool.
• Halve the peppers, remove the seeds and core. Put under a hot grill, skin side up, until the skins are charred. Remove and put into a food bag until cool enough to handle, then peel off the skins.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Roll out the pastry and line a 23-24cm deep flan tin. Line with baking paper and beans, then bake for 10 mins. Remove the paper and beans, then bake for 5 mins more, until the pastry is golden and crisp.
• Spread the onion mix over the base of the pastry case. Put the halved peppers on top, cut side up with tapered ends towards the centre. Slice the goat's cheese and put a few slices in each pepper half. Tuck the tomatoes in the gaps between the peppers.
• Bake for 20-25 mins until the cheese is lightly tinged brown and the tomatoes have burst. Scatter over the herb leaves and serve warm or at room temperature.

GOAT'S CHEESE, FENNEL & ROASTED RED PEPPER TART

Steps:

• Roll out the pastry onto a floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Use to line a 20 x 3.5cm deep loose-based tart tin. Prick the base with a fork, cover and chill for 30 mins, or put in the freezer for 15 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line the pastry with baking parchment and fill with baking beans (or dried rice or beans). Put the tin on a baking sheet and bake for 15 mins. Remove the parchment and beans and cook for another 8-10 mins until a pale biscuit colour. Turn the oven down to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling. In a large pan, heat the oil over a medium heat, add the onion, fennel and pepper, and cook for about 15 mins until soft and beginning to caramelise. Add the garlic and cook for a few mins more. Allow to cool.
• Lightly whisk the eggs, cream and milk together, then add the paprika and some seasoning. Tip the veg into the tart shell and dot over with cheese and olives. Pour over the eggs, then put the tin in the oven. Bake the tart for 20-25 mins until golden and set. Cool on a wire rack, then remove from the tin and cut into slices. Serve with caper berries scattered around, if you like. This can be eaten at room temperature or reheated later.

FRENCH STUFFED RED BELL PEPPERS WITH FENNEL AND GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 120C/240F/Gas 1.
• Cut the peppers in half, discard the core & seeds and also trim away the white membrane too.
• Grease a Le Creuset roasting or ovenproof dish.
• Cut the onion & fennel bulb into 6 wedges each. (Keep the the delicate green fronds from the fennel bulb & put to one side.).
• Put the onion wedges, fennel wedges & cushed garlic into a mixing bowl & add the olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt & black pepper - mix well.
• Divide the onion & fennel wedges between the 6 pepper halves, arranging them neatly within the peppers & season well.Pour the remaining oil & vinegar dressing over the top of them.
• Bake for 1 hour and 30 minutes or until the peppers are soft & just tinged brown.
• Remove the stuffed peppers from the oven & increase the oven temperature to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
• Sprinkle the chopped sun-dried tomatoes over the top of the peppers.
• Slice the goats cheese & arrange over the top of the stuffed peppers; return them the oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted & bubbling.
• Remove from the oven, leave to cool slightly and serve them warm or at room temperature with the cooked dressing drizzled over the top of them.
• Garnish with the green fronds kept from the fennel bulbs.
• Serve as a starter, 1 pepper half per person with a side salad or as a main course - 2 pepper halves per person with bread & salad.
• These can also be served as a very colourful & elegant vegetable accompaniment!