Best Easy Crispy Chicken And Cheesy Spinach Tart Recipes

BUTTERNUT SQUASH-SPINACH TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: Combine the olive oil and water in a measuring cup. Pulse the flour and 1 teaspoon salt in a food processor. With the machine running, add the olive oil mixture and pulse until the dough clumps together, adding up to 1 more tablespoon water if needed. Turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap; press into a disk and wrap. Let sit at room temperature while you make the filling.
• Make the filling: Wrap the squash in a kitchen towel and wring out as much liquid as possible; transfer to a large bowl. Repeat with the spinach and add to the squash; stir to break up any clumps. Add the ricotta, fontina, parmesan, half-and-half, scallions, parsley, 2 eggs, the nutmeg, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and a few grinds of pepper; mix until combined.
• Position a rack in the bottom of the oven; preheat to 375 degrees F. Brush a quarter sheet pan or 9-by-13-inch straight-sided baking pan with olive oil. Cut off one-quarter of the dough; set aside. Roll out the remaining dough into an 11-by-15-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Trim the edges with a fluted cutter or a knife and ease into the pan. Spread the filling over the dough.
• Roll out the reserved dough into a 6-by-12-inch rectangle on a floured surface. Cut lengthwise into 10 strips with the fluted cutter; arrange in a lattice pattern over the filling, trimming as needed. Fold in the overhanging edges. Beat the remaining egg with a pinch of salt and brush on the crust. Bake until the crust is golden and the filling is set, about 50 minutes. Let cool on a rack 30 minutes before cutting.

CRISPY CHICKEN AND CHEESY SPINACH TART

Steps:

• Prepare Crispy Chicken Strips according to package directions. Set aside, but keep oven on. Slice Crispy Chicken Strips when cooled.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat and sauté garlic for 1 to 2 minutes. Add flour and stir for an additional 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and cream and bring to a boil. Let boil for 5 minutes whisking continuously. Remove from heat and add Gruyere cheese, salt and pepper and stir until cheese melts. Set aside.
• While cheese sauce is being prepared, heat remaining butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes stirring often until onions are tender. Add spinach, cover and heat for 5 minutes stirring often until spinach has wilted. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Set aside.
• To assemble, lay out pie crusts on parchment lined baking sheets. Spread half of cheese sauce in the middle of the crusts leaving 1½ inches around the edge without any cheese sauce. On top of sauced pie crusts, evenly divide the wilted spinach, caramelized onions, Crispy Chicken Strips, Asiago cheese and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Fold outside edges up and in over filling, center will remain without pie crust covering. Crimp with your fingers as you move around so that pie crust holds the filling. Brush egg wash over the edges of the crust and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

SPINACH MADELEINE TART WITH CHEESY PASTRY

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unravel the pastry on a lightly floured work surface, and sprinkle the 2 tbsp of hard cheese over one half of the pastry along with ½ tsp cayenne and a crack of black pepper. Fold the other half of the pastry over to close it like a book, and roll out, squashing the cheese in the middle, until it fits into a 22cm tart tin with an overhang. Prick the base with a fork, cover with a sheet of parchment and fill with baking beans. Cook for 15 mins, then remove the parchment and beans. Bake for 10-15 mins until lightly golden, then leave to cool in the tin.
• Line a baking sheet with baking parchment. Spoon small piles of the remaining hard cheese (about 16) in a thin layer onto the sheet, then bake for 5-7 mins until bubbling and melted. As soon as they look lacy, remove from the oven or they will burn quite quickly. Transfer to a wire rack to cool and crisp up. Will keep in an airtight container for two days.
• Put the spinach in a sieve over a clean bowl, and squeeze well with the back of a spoon. Keep the liquid.
• Heat the butter in a heavy-based pan and fry the shallots with a pinch of salt for 10 mins. Stir in the garlic, thyme and 2 tbsp flour, then pour in 250ml of the spinach water, boiling for 1-2 mins. Stir in the mascarpone, nutmeg and a pinch of cayenne, and cook for 5 mins.
• Fold through the cheddar and spinach, tip into a bowl and leave to cool for 5-10 mins. Stir in the eggs. Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the tart case, then pour in the filling. Bake for 35-40 mins until golden. Leave to cool a little before topping with thyme and the cheesy crisps.