Beetroot & Goat’s Cheese Tartlets
Recipes

Beetroot & Goat’s Cheese Tartlets

There’s a happy marriage of two fantastic flavours – earthy beetroot and tangy goat’s cheese – in these yummy tartlets,...

Ingredients

For the pastry

  • 300g plain flour 
  • 1/4 tsp salt 
  • 75g chilled butter,, cut into pieces 
  • 75g white vegetable fat, cut into pieces 
  • 1 tbsp poppy seeds 

For the filling

  • 200g beetroot (vacuum packed, not in vinegar), sliced 
  • 125g goat’s cheese, sliced 
  • 2 eggs, beaten 
  • 150ml milk 
  • A small amount salt and pepper 
  • 1 tsp thyme or parsley, chopped 

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Gas 7.
  2. Sift the flour and salt into a large bowl. Rub in the butter and white vegetable fat with your fingertips until the mixture looks like fine crumbs. Add the poppy seeds. Stir in just enough chilled water to make a soft, but not sticky dough. Knead for a few moments, then wrap and chill for 10-20 minutes.
  3. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use it to line 4 Loose-Based Tartlet Tins. Line with greaseproof paper and baking beans or crumpled foil and bake ‘blind’ for 10-12 minutes.
  4. Take the flans from the oven and remove the paper and baking beans or foil. Reduce the oven temperature to 180°C/Gas 4.
  5. Arrange the beetroot and goat’s cheese in the pastry cases. Beat together the eggs and milk. Season and add the chopped thyme or parsley. Pour into the flan cases, then bake for 20 minutes, until set. Serve warm or cold, garnished with thyme or parsley sprigs.
  6. Tip: Make sure that you choose plain beetroot – not pickled or packed in vinegar.