Helford blue, spring onion, leek, Crème Fraiche & thyme tart

Ingredients

FOR THE SHORTCRUST PASTRY

• 250 g (9 oz/2 cups) plain (all-purpose) flour, plus extra for dusting

• 100 g (3½ oz) unsalted butter

• a pinch of Cornish sea salt

• 2 medium free-range egg yolks

• 2–3 tablespoons milk

FOR THE FILLING

• 50 g (2 oz) unsalted butter

• 225 g (8 oz) leeks, trimmed, washed and sliced (discard any tough outer layers)

• 4 spring onions (scallions), trimmed and sliced

• 2 tablespoons thyme leaves, plus extra to garnish

• 100 g (3½ oz/generous ⅓ cup) crème fraîche

• 100 ml (3½ fl oz/scant ½ cup) double (heavy) cream

• 2 medium free-range eggs, plus 1 egg yolk

• 150 g (5 oz) Helford blue cheese (or similar)

• Cornish sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Shortcrust pastry, blue cheese, sweet leeks, free-range eggs, mascarpone and herbs. Soft, pale and delicious Helford blue cheese is one of my favourites

— Emily Scott

Method

To make the pastry, combine the flour, butter, sea salt and egg yolks in a food processor and pulse.

Once combined, let it down with a little milk until it all comes together as a dough. Cover with cling film (plastic wrap) and leave it to rest in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the pastry to 1 cm (½ in) thick and use it to line a 22 cm (9 in) fluted loose-bottomed tart tin (pan). Chill for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan/400°F/Gas 6). Blind bake the pastry case for 20–25 minutes, then trim off any excess pastry.

For the filling, melt the butter in a frying pan (skillet) over a medium heat, add the leeks, spring onions and thyme, and gently cook for 8–10 minutes until softened.

Whisk the crème fraîche, cream, eggs and egg yolk together in a bowl and season with salt and pepper. 

Arrange the leek and spring onion mixture over the base of the tart, crumble the Helford blue on top, then pour over the cream mixture.

Bake the tart for 25–30 minutes until golden and firm in the centre. Leave to rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serve with extra thyme leaves on top.

COOK’S NOTES The pastry freezes well raw or even when blind baked. Swap out the leeks for slowly caramelised red onions and the blue cheese for goats’ cheese. Always cook alliums slowly, as this brings out their natural sweetness.