Asparagus, spinach and courgette tartlets

Asparagus, spinach and courgette tartlets. Photograph: Harry Weir
Asparagus, spinach and courgette tartlets. Photograph: Harry Weir
Serves: 4
Course: Lunch
Cooking Time: 20 mins
Prep Time: 10 mins

Ingredients

  • 200g cream cheese
  • 50g grated Parmesan
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Salt and pepper
  • 50g basil
  • 30g grated parmesan
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 30g toasted pinenuts
  • 2tbs olive oil
  • 1 sheet of shop-bought puff pastry
  • 100g spinach
  • 100g courgette, chopped
  • 150g asparagus
  1. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, salt and pepper. Mix well to make the cream cheese base. Set aside.
  2. In a food processor, combine the basil leaves, grated Parmesan cheese, pine nuts, garlic cloves, olive oil, salt and pepper. Process until smooth to make the basil pesto. Set aside.
  3. Roll out the puff pastry sheet and cut it into smaller squares or circles to make tartlet bases. Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese base on to each puff pastry tartlet base. Top each tartlet with a small amount of fresh spinach leaves, followed by a few slices of courgette and a couple of asparagus spears. Drizzle with a little olive oil.
  4. Place the assembled tartlets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake the tartlets in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the tartlets from the oven and let them cool slightly.
  5. Season with salt and pepper and dollop a teaspoon of basil pesto on top of each tartlet.
Gráinne O'Keefe

Gráinne O'Keefe

Gráinne O’Keefe is a chef, restaurateur and contributor to The Irish Times. She is chef-patron of the Dublin restaurant Mae