Best Leek Tart Recipes

BELGIAN LEEK TART WITH AGED GOAT CHEESE (FLAMICHE AUX POIREAUX)

Steps:

• Crust:
• Combine 4 tablespoons ice water and cider vinegar in small bowl. Blend flour and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. With machine running, slowly add water-vinegar mixture, processing until moist clumps form. If dough seems dry, add ice water by teaspoonfuls.
• Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 2 hours. DO AHEAD: Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated. Allow dough to soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Roll dough out on lightly floured work surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Press dough onto bottom and up sides. Fold in overhang and press to extend dough 1/2 inch above sides of pan. Line pan with foil and dried beans or pie weights. Bake until dough looks dry and set, about 30 minutes. Remove foil and beans and continue to bake until crust is pale golden, 20 to 25 minutes longer. Remove from oven and cool while preparing filling.
• Filling:
• Whisk milk, cream, egg, egg yolk, and salt in medium bowl to blend. Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over bottom of warm crust; spread leek confit over and sprinkle with remaining cheese. Pour milk mixture over. Bake until filling has puffed, is golden in spots, and center looks set, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to rack; cool slightly. Remove pan sides. Serve warm or at room temperature.

LEEK, MUSHROOM AND GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees. Trim fennel of green top and root end, reserving fronds, and quarter bulb from top to bottom. Using a mandoline or very sharp knife, cut fennel and leeks into paper-thin slices. Clean and slice mushrooms.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a skillet over medium heat; add fennel and leeks and sauté until just tender but not brown, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Heat remaining teaspoon of oil in skillet over medium-high heat; add mushrooms and sauté until they release all their liquid and most of it boils away, about 5 minutes. Combine fennel mixture with mushrooms and sauté together briefly; season with salt and pepper. Remove pan from heat.
• Unfold puff pastry onto lightly floured surface; cut in half lengthwise to form two long rectangles. Gently roll out each rectangle to approximately 5 by 14 inches and place on cookie sheet (or cut into two circles, if desired). Trim edges by 1/4 inch strips all around; set strips aside. Break one egg into a small bowl; beat slightly. Brush edges of pastry with some egg. Use trimmed strips to make a raised border on each. (Or, fold pastry edges over to form a rim.) Brush entire surface with remaining beaten egg. Prick interior of pastry all over with a fork. Bake until pale gold, about 10 minutes. If pastry has puffed up inside edge, press it down gently. Set aside.
• Meanwhile, combine remaining eggs with 6 ounces goat cheese and blend until smooth. Spread onto pastry. Return to oven and bake just until set, about 4 minutes. Remove from oven and spread with mushroom-leek mixture. Crumble remaining cheese on top. Just before serving, broil tarts on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until tarts are warm and cheese softens. Garnish with fennel fronds.

FLAMICHE AUX POIREAUX (LEEK TART)

Steps:

• In a food processor, process the flour, butter and salt until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 seconds. Add three tablespoons of water and process for three seconds. Pinch the dough, and if it does not hold together, add additional water and process for several more seconds. Be careful not to overmix. The dough should not form a ball. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead, just until it forms a ball. Wrap the pastry in plastic wrap and flatten into a disk. Refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
• Roll out the dough to line a 10 1/2-inch tart pan. Carefully transfer the dough to the pan. Chill for another 30 minutes, or until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Trim the leeks at the root. Cut off and discard the fibrous, dark green portion. Split the leeks lengthwise for easier cleaning and rinse in cold water until no grit appears. Coarsely chop the leeks.
• Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over low heat, add the leeks, salt and pepper and cook, covered, until the leeks are very soft, about 20 minutes. They should not brown.
• If the leeks have given up an excessive amount of liquid, drain them in a colander. Combine the eggs and creme fraiche in a medium-size bowl, mixing until thoroughly blended. Add the leeks and mix again. Reserve a quarter cup each of the cheese and the ham to sprinkle on top of the tart. Mix the rest into the leek mixture.
• Pour the leek mixture into the prepared tart tin. Sprinkle with the ham, then the cheese. Season generously with freshly ground black pepper.
• Bake until nicely browned, 40 to 45 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

BELGIAN LEEK TART & AGED GOAT CHEESE (FLAMICHE AUX POIREAUX)

Steps:

• PREPARING CRUST:.
• Combine 4 tablespoons ice water and cider vinegar in small bowl.
• Blend flour and salt in processor.
• Add butter and cut using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal.
• With machine running, slowly add water-vinegar mixture, processing until moist clumps form.
• If dough seems dry add ice water by teaspoonfuls.
• Gather dough into ball, flatten into disk; wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• *Can be made 3 days ahead.
• Keep refrigerated.
• Allow dough to soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375ºF.
• Roll dough out on a floured work surface to 12" round; transfer to 9" diameter tart pan with removable bottom.
• Press dough onto bottom and up sides.
• Fold in overhang and press to extend dough 1/2" above sides of pan.
• Line pan with foil and dried beans or pie weights.
• Bake until dough looks dry and set, about 30 minutes.
• Remove foil and beans and continue to bake until crust is pale golden, 20 to 25 minutes longer.
• Remove from oven and cool while preparing filling.
• PREPARING FILLING:.
• Whisk milk, cream, egg, egg yolk, and salt in medium bolw to blend.
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup cheese over bottom of warm crust; spread leek confit over and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
• Pour milk mixture over.
• Bake until filling has puffed, is golden in spots, and center looks set, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Transfer to rack; cool slightly.
• Remove pan sides; serve warm or at room temperature.
• MAKE LEEK CONFIT:.
• Melt butter in large pot over medium-low heat.
• Add leeks; stir to coat.
• Stir in water and salt.
• Cover pot; reduce heat to low.
• Cook until leeks are tender, stirring often, about 25 minutes.
• Uncover and cook to evaporate excess water. 2 to 3 minutes.
• Serve warm - yield 2 cups.
• **Can be made 1 week ahead - keep chilled. Rewarm before using.

LEEK TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Line a 9-inch pie pan with dough. Clean and trim leeks, and julienne. Melt the butter, add leeks and season and cook covered over medium to low heat for 20 minutes until softened. Mix the eggs and cream and all but 1/4 cup of the cheese and add the cooled leeks. Pour into pie shell, top with cheese and bake for 40 minutes.
• BRAISED LEEKS
• In an 8-inch skilled saute leeks in butter. Add chicken broth to almost cover. Cover pan, and to cook for about 20 minutes, until tender. Remove leeks to a platter. Reduce cooking liquid, pour over platter of leeks and garnish with fresh thyme.
• FRIZZLED LEEKS
• Heat oil to hot, but not smoking. Toss julienned leeks with some flour in a bowl. Add to hot oil and fry. Can be used as a garnish.

LEEK, SPINACH, AND MUSHROOM TART

Steps:

• Heat oil over medium heat in a large saute pan. Add leeks, mushrooms, and onion; cook, stirring occasionally, until wilted, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook and stir for 1 minute. Add spinach and cook until wilted and tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, taste, and season with salt and pepper as needed. Let cool, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk ricotta cheese, eggs, and basil together in a large bowl. Fold into the cooled vegetable mixture.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll pastry dough out into a 12-inch square on a lightly floured surface. Transfer dough to the prepared baking sheet. Spoon filling into the center of the square, leaving a 2-inch border of pastry. Lift pastry edges and fold over the filling, creasing dough as needed and leaving filling exposed in the middle.
• Bake tart in the preheated oven until pastry is golden brown, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.

GOAT-CHEESE LEEK TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees, with rack on lowest shelf. In a medium bowl, toss leeks with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together goat cheese, cream cheese, milk, 2 egg yolks, and thyme. Lightly season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, beat remaining egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash.
• Place pie crust on a rimmed baking sheet. Spread goat-cheese mixture on crust, leaving a 2-inch border. Top with leeks. Fold edge of dough over filling, pinching folds together to seal. Brush dough with egg wash.
• Bake until crust is golden brown, about 1 hour. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into wedges; serve.

LEEK-AND-GOAT-CHEESE TART WITH RYE CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into an 11-by-14-inch rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick. Fit into an 8-by-11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom; trim edges. Dock bottom with a fork and refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Line chilled dough with parchment and fill with dried beans or pie weights; bake until dry to the touch, 35 to 40 minutes. Carefully remove beans and parchment and bake until golden brown all over, 10 to 15 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool at least 30 minutes. (Baked crust can wrapped in plastic and stored at room temperature up to 1 day.)
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leeks, season with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring gently, until just turning light golden, about 2 minutes. Add 1/4 cup water; cover and cook until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Add scallions and cilantro; remove from heat. Season with salt and pepper and let cool 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine cheese, eggs, milk, cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper; pulse to combine. Pour into crust. Top with leek mixture, spreading evenly. Bake until set in center, 22 to 25 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and let cool in pan at least 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. (This tart is best eaten the day it is made, but can also be refrigerated, wrapped in plastic, up to 2 days.)

LEEK, CHEESE & BACON TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then gently fry the leeks until soft, about 5 mins. Cool. Unroll the pastry onto a baking sheet. Spread the soft cheese over the pastry to within 3cm of the edges. Scatter over the leeks, bacon and grated emmental.
• Flip the edges of the pastry over the filling. Bake for 20 mins until golden.

LEEK TART

Steps:

• In a bowl, combine the flour, salt and sugar; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add water, tossing with a fork until a ball forms. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes., In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium heat until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, remove to paper towels. Drain, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings. Saute leeks in drippings until tender; stir in the bacon. Stir in flour until blended; set aside., On a floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Transfer to an ungreased 10-in. springform pan. Spoon leek mixture into crust. Trim pastry to 1/4 in. above filling; press pastry against sides of pan. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes., Meanwhile, in a bowl, beat the eggs, cream, salt, pepper and nutmeg. Pour over leek mixture. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes longer. Serve warm.

FETA, SPINACH AND LEEK TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200°C.
• Cut the leek in half and thinly slice the pale part after washing, to achieve 1 cup.
• Melt the butter in a saucepan and lightly saute the leek over medium heat for 4 minutes.
• Add the spinach to saucepan, cover and cook until wilted, remove from heat and remove excess water by pressing the leaves into a strainer.
• Combine in a bowl sour cream, cream and lightly beaten eggs.
• Mix together.
• Add the crumbled Feta, spinach and coarsely shredded basil leaves.
• Season with cracked black pepper. stir well.
• Line a non stick, rectangular quiche pan (35 x 13cms) with the pastry, over lapping, gently pushing down in the centre.
• Gently push the pastry into the sides of the pan then trim excess pastry.
• Place the pastry lined pan onto a baking tray and lightly prick the base with a fork.
• Pour the prepared cream cheese mixture into the pan.
• Bake in the middle of the oven for 30-35 minutes until firm and golden.
• Remove from baking tray before serving or cutting.

CREAMED LEEK TART

Steps:

• Pulse the flour and butter in a food processor until you have fine crumbs. Add the egg yolk and water, and bring together into a ball. Do not knead. Roll the pastry in cling film and chill for at least 1 hr.
• Meanwhile, heat the butter in a pan, then add the leeks. Cook over a low heat for 20-25 mins until soft, stirring often. Season to taste. Stir in the flour, cook for 3-4 mins, stirring, then stir in the milk and cream. Once smooth, simmer for 15 mins to cook out the flour. Season well, then cool. If making ahead, cover the surface with cling film and chill for up to 2 days. Stir the eggs and egg yolks into the mix, along with the grated cheese and the mustard.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to about 5mm/¼in thick, and gently lay it over a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Using a small ball of pastry to help, gently press the pastry into the sides of the tin. Trim, leaving a slight overhang. Line the pastry with baking paper, fill with baking beans, then bake for 15 mins. Remove the beans and paper, and bake for 10 mins more or until golden and biscuity. Cool on a wire rack. Turn oven down to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Spoon the leek mix into the case and smooth the top. Bake for 30 mins until set and golden. Rest the tart for 15-20 mins before you slice it, and serve warm. If making ahead, chill the tart. Once cooled, for up to 2 days, or freeze for a week. Defrost in fridge, then warm in the oven for 20 mins before serving.

ASPARAGUS AND WILD LEEK TART WITH GOAT CHEESE AND RED PEPPER VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Wash the asparagus and cut off the bottom of the stems that are greenish-white and tough. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add 1 tablespoon salt, submerge the asparagus for 30 seconds to blanch, remove the asparagus from the pot and quickly submerge in iced water to shock. Set the asparagus aside.
• From the wild leeks, trim off the dirty roots and snip an inch off the tops, before washing them carefully in cold water. Heat a saute pan over medium heat with 1 tablespoon of butter. When the butter begins to foam add the wild leeks, season with salt and pepper, and cook gently for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the broth to the wild leeks and simmer until all of the broth has evaporated but be careful not to burn the leeks. Remove from the saute pan and allow to cool.
• Prepare a space to work with the phyllo dough: unwrap the dough and cover with a cloth, have a brush and the olive oil ready and have a cookie sheet ready on which the tart will be baked. Begin by lightly brushing the center of the cookie sheet with a film of olive oil. Next, lay the first sheet of dough on the cookie pan, brush the dough lightly with oil and overlap width wise the next sheet over only half of the first so that now the two sheets make a pastry sheet 50 percent wider (not longer) than the original dimension of the pastry. Don't be concerned if the lengthwise ends of the dough are overflowing from the edges of the pan: all of the edges of the dough will be rolled up to form the edges of the tart.
• Brush the second sheet of dough with oil and lay another sheet squarely over the first so that in alternating this pattern you build your wide pastry base. Continue to alternate the dough sheets, brushing each layer with oil, until you have used half the package of dough.
• Gather the edges of the phyllo between the tips of your fingers and begin to roll them toward the
• center to form the sides of the tart. Roll uniformly inward until the rolled edge is even all around and the round tart resembles a pizza. Leave a pastry base of 10 to 12 inches into which the vegetables and cheese will go after the tart shell is blind baked.
• Place the empty tart shell into the oven and bake for 6 minutes. Remove the pastry from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before filling. This pastry preparation can be done over the course of several hours and can even be done a day or two ahead if the blind baking is reserved until the last moment and the raw pastry is covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated.
• To fill the tart crumble the goat cheese and spread it evenly over the base of the tart. Next add an even layer of wild leeks, followed by the asparagus which should be fanned, tips out, from the center of the tart. Season the tart lightly with salt and pepper, place into the 375 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese has softened and the crust becomes a rich golden brown. Serve immediately.
• While the tart is baking (or ahead of time if possible) prepare the vinaigrette. Place the red pepper, mustard, vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper in a food processor. Pulse to chop the red pepper to a fine dice. When the pepper has been pulsed enough, begin to drizzle in the walnut oil to create an emulsified dressing.
• Serve the tart with a small green salad and a drizzle of red pepper vinaigrette.

LEEK, GOAT'S CHEESE, WALNUT & LEMON TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, then add the butter. Once sizzling, add the leeks and cook over a medium heat until softened but not coloured. Stir in the thyme and half the lemon zest, then increase the heat. Add the lemon juice and cook for about 30 secs until the lemon juice reduces, then season well. Remove from the heat and cool slightly.
• Unroll the pastry and lay on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Lightly mark a 1cm border around the edges with the tip of a sharp knife, then prick the base all over with a fork.
• Spread the lemony leeks on top of the pastry, within the border. Crumble over the cheese, scatter with the walnuts, then season with pepper. Drizzle with some olive oil, brushing the edges with a little oil as well. Put tart in the oven for 15-20 mins until the pastry puffs up around the edges and is golden brown. Scatter with parsley and the remaining lemon zest. Serve hot, warm or cool.

ROQUEFORT, LEEK AND WALNUT TART

Steps:

• Blend together flour, baking powder and half the salt in a bowl or a food processor. Beat egg yolk with 5 tablespoons cold water. Stir in olive oil. Pour this mixture over the flour mixture and beat with a fork if using a bowl, or pulse about a dozen times in the processor, until dough starts to come together. Add another teaspoon or two of water if mixture is too dry.
• Gather dough together and knead briefly on a lightly floured surface to form into a ball. Roll and trim to make an oblong 9 by 13 inches or a 12-inch round. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Fold up a half-inch border all around either shape. Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Spread bacon in a heavy skillet and cook until very lightly browned. Stir in leeks and remaining salt and cook until softened and translucent. Stir in walnuts, sauté about 30 seconds, and remove from heat. Mash Roquefort and work in crème fraîche. Spread on pastry. Scatter leek, bacon and walnut mixture evenly on top. Bake 20 minutes, allow to cool briefly, cut in squares or wedges and serve.

LEEK AND SWISS CHARD TART

Steps:

• Roll out pastry on floured work surface to 12-inch square. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Trim overhang to 1 inch. Fold under; crimp edges. Cover; chill.
• Melt butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Add leeks and thyme. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Cover; cook until leeks are very tender but not brown, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Add chard; saut until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; cool.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven; preheat to 425°F. Whisk cream and next 5 ingredients in large bowl. Mix in cooled leek mixture. Pour filling into crust.
• Bake tart 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°F and bake until filling is puffed and just set in center, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer to rack; cool 10 minutes.

CRAB, LEEK & CHEDDAR TART

Steps:

• Put the flour, butter and a good pinch of salt into a food processor, and blitz until the mix resembles breadcrumbs. Combine the yolk with 1½ tbsp very cold water, then add this to the mixture and blitz again until the pastry comes together into a ball (you may need to add a little more water).
• Lightly dust a rolling pin and a large sheet of baking parchment with flour. Roll the pastry out on the parchment, and use it to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Chill for 1 hr until firm. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 with a baking sheet inside.
• For the filling, heat the butter in a heavy-bottomed pan over a medium heat, add the leeks, stir, season and add 2 tbsp water. Cover, reduce the heat to low and cook for 15 mins until the leeks are soft. Uncover, turn up the heat and cook until any liquid has evaporated. Remove from the heat and leave to cool.
• Prick the base of the pastry case all over with a fork, then line with baking parchment and baking beans. Bake on the hot baking sheet for 12 mins, remove the parchment and beans, then bake for 13 mins more. Leave to cool slightly, then spoon the leeks into the pastry case.
• Mix together the double cream, crème fraîche, whole egg and egg yolks. Season well, then gently fold in the crabmeat. Carefully pour the filling over the layer of leeks, then scatter over the cheese.
• Return the tart to the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 35-40 mins, or until the pastry is golden and the filling is just set in the middle (it will continue to cook as it cools). Leave to cool for 15 mins, then remove from the tin and serve.

FLAMICHE AUX POIREAUX (FRENCH LEEK TART)

Steps:

• Combine the flour and salt in a large bowl. Add the cubed butter and, using a pastry cutter (or the tip of your fingers), cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Add the water, one tablespoon at a time, and mix - adding more water as needed - until the dough comes together. Do not overmix!
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead just until it forms a ball. Transfer the dough onto a piece of parchment paper, flatten into a disk, cover with a second piece of parchment paper, and roll into a 10-inch circle.
• Carefully transfer the dough to a 10-inch tart pan and chill for 30 minutes, or until firm.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Using a fork, pierce the bottom of the crust. Cut a square of parchment paper about 4 inches larger than the pie plate. Line the crust with the paper and fill with ceramic pie weights (or dried beans).
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes or until set. Remove from oven and gently remove the paper and weights. Reserve the crust.
• In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the diced bacon and cook until crisp and golden brown, about 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, remove the bacon to a plate. Reserve.
• Discard all but 1 teaspoon of the bacon fat. Add the butter and, once melted, add the chopped shallot. Cook until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add the sliced leeks and stir to coat them with the fat. Add the white wine, partially cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are soft, about 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg.
• Add back the bacon. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, for a couple of minutes. Then, add the milk and stir until thickened. Add the creme fraiche and stir until incorporated.
• Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool slightly. Then, add the eggs and 1 cup of the Gruyere cheese, stirring until combined.
• To assemble the tart, pour the filling mixture into the reserved crust. Scatter the remaining cheese evenly over the top.
• Bake until set and nicely browned, about 35 to 40 minutes. Let it cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

LEEK TART

Steps:

• 1. Line the pie dish of your choice with the pastry and chill in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• 2. Preheat the oven to 400° F. Prick the pastry all over with the tines of a fork or a sharp knife, then line it with aluminum foil and fill it with dry beans or pastry weights to keep it from bubbling up. Bake it in the lower third of the oven until the edges of the pastry are golden, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and reserve.
• 3. Melt the goose fat with the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat and cook until the bacon is slightly golden but not crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the leeks, stir so they are coated with fat and cook, covered, until they are tender, about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally so they don't stick to the bottom of the pan. Season with salt and pepper and remove from the heat.
• 4. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the eggs until they are broken up, then whisk in the milk and the cream. Season with salt and pepper.
• 5. Arrange the leeks and the bacon evenly over the pastry. Pour the custard mixture over it. Place the tart tin on a baking sheet and bake it in the bottom third of the oven until the top is golden and puffed and the custard is cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven, remove the edge of the tart tin if you've used a removable bottom tart tin, and serve immediately.

GOAT'S CHEESE, SHALLOT AND LEEK TART - A BIT OF A FRENCH TART!

Steps:

• You will need a 7½ inch (19 cm) diameter fluted quiche tin with a removable base, 1¼ inches (3 cm) deep, very lightly buttered, and a small, solid baking sheet.
• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 5, 375°F (190°C) and pop the baking sheet in to pre-heat on the centre shelf.
• Now prepare the leeks. First, take the tough green ends off & discard them; leave some of the lighter green & then make a vertical split about halfway down the centre of each one and clean them by running them under the cold-water tap while you fan out the layers - this will rid them of any hidden dust and grit. Then slice them in half lengthways and chop into ½-inch (1 cm) slices.
• Next, in a medium-sized frying pan, melt the butter over a gentle heat and add the leeks, shallots and some salt. Give it all a good stir and let them cook gently, without a lid, for 10-15 minutes or until the juice runs out of them. Then you need to transfer them to a sieve set over a bowl to drain off the excess juice. Place a saucer with a weight on top of them to press out every drop.
• Roll it out into a circle on a lightly floured surface. As you roll, give it quarter turns to keep the round shape and roll it as thinly as possible. Now transfer it, rolling it over the pin, to the tin. Press it lightly and firmly over the base and sides of the tin, easing any overlapping pastry back down to the sides, as it is important not to stretch it. Now trim the edges and press the pastry up about ¼ inch (5 mm) above the rim of the tin all round, and then prick the base all over with a fork.
• After that, paint some of the beaten egg for the filling over the base and sides. Now place the tin on the baking sheet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the pastry is crisp and golden. Check halfway through the cooking time to make sure that the pastry is not rising up in the centre. If it is, just prick it a couple of times and press it back down with your hands.
• While the pastry case is pre-baking, crumble the goats' cheese with your hands, and then gently combine it with the leeks & shallots in the sieve. Now, in a jug, mix the beaten eggs with the crème fraîche or double cream, seasoning with just a little salt (there is some already in the leeks) and a good grinding of freshly milled black pepper.
• As soon as the pastry case is ready, remove it from the oven; arrange the leeks, shallots and cheese all over the base. Pour the cream and egg mixture over the top of the cheese, shallots & leeks, then put the tart back on the baking sheet with the oven shelf half pulled out, then gently slide the shelf back in and bake the tart for 30-35 minutes, until it's firm in the centre and the surface has turned a lovely golden brown.
• Next, remove it from the oven and allow it to settle for 10 minutes before serving. These 10 minutes is important, as it will be much easier to cut into portions. The best way to remove the tart from the tin is to ease the edges from the sides of the tin with a small knife, then place it on an upturned jar or tin, which will allow you to carefully ease the sides away.
• Next slide a palette knife or wide fish slice underneath and ease the tart on to a plate or board ready to serve, or simply cut it into portions straight from the tin base.
• Serve for picnics, light lunch with mixed salad and baked potatoes or as finger food for a buffet.