Tarts and pies are big news this autumn, so we asked our favourite French pâtissiere, Eric Lanlard, to share some of his trade secrets with us… plus his delicious recipe for salmon, wholegrain mustard and dill tartlets, all taken from his gorgeous book Tart It Up!
PERFECTING PUFF PASTRY
HOW TO LINE A PIE DISH
WHAT IS BLIND BAKING?
ERIC LANLARD’S SALMON, WHOLEGRAIN MUSTARD AND DILL TARTLETS
Some of the classic combinations are still the best, and it would be silly to try to update them. Rich smoked salmon, an abundance of fresh dill and spicy French grain mustard … a perfect starter or light meal.
Serves 6
Preparation time 10 minutes
Cooking time 25 minutes
15g butter
4 spring onions, finely chopped
175g smoked salmon, cut into strips
6 x blind-baked shortcrust pastry cases, each in individual mini pie dishes
2 eggs, beaten
150ml créme fraîche
1 tbsp chopped fresh dill
2 tsp wholegrain mustard
salt and freshly ground black pepper
Recipe and pastry tips taken from Tart It Up!, published by Mitchell Beazley; photographs © Kate Whitaker.
WHEN LOOKS REALLY COUNT
While tarts and pies have hearty appeal, making them in individual mini dishes takes them up a notch for sophisticated table presentation. (And it’s a clever stress-busting move for dinner parties, when the way your culinary offerings are plated is a major part of the party experience.)
Once you’ve invested in a set of our mini fluted flan dishes and individual mini pie dishes, you won’t look back. They are perfect for savoury and sweet tarts and pies, and work brilliantly for individual starters and main dishes as well as irresistible desserts that will make your guests feel that you really are feeding them a labour of love.
LE CREUSET TIP Individual pies and tarts are an inspired way to accommodate fussy guests who have differing food requirements – vary the fillings to cater for vegetarian/vegan diners or those with seafood and other food allergies. |
Almond Tarts in Mini Fluted Flan Dishes – click here for recipe
Tomato Tarts in Mini Fluted Flan Dishes – click here for recipe
Passionfruit Tarts in Mini Pie Dishes – click here for recipe
Mini Fluted Flan Dish
11cm
The flan or tarte dish is made from our superior stoneware, which is well suited to baking and outperforms materials like aluminium to provide steadier and more even heat distribution. Its fluted sidewall adds charm to finished pastries while also serving the functional role of helping crusts bake perfectly. These dishes are perfect for savoury or sweet tarts as well as quiches. Shop now
Mini Pie Dish
13cm
This stoneware pie dish is cleverly designed with sloped sides and a gentle bowl shape that make it extra-easy to cut into the tasty contents straight from the oven. Our stoneware performs brilliantly when it comes to distributing heat evenly and steadily, so that the crust cooks perfectly every time. Shop now
TREAT YOUR MUM
Be a sweetie pie and spoil your mom. Buy her a set of three mini fluted flan or mini pie dishes and receive a fourth dish free in our Mother’s Day promotion until 11 May.
All prices are correct at time of publication, and are subject to change.
Mother’s Day promotions available between 7 April and 11 May 2014.
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