Spinach & Ricotta Tart
Preparation 15 Minutes
Cook 35 Minutes
Serves 4-6
Method
- Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line an oven tray with baking paper.
- Steam or microwave spinach leaves until just wilted. Squeeze any excess liquid when cool enough to handle and then finely chop.
- Heat oil in a large frying pan over low heat, add spring onions and garlic, cooking for several minutes until just tender. Add spinach and cook a further minute. Remove from heat and allow to cool. Meanwhile, lightly whisk the egg white with a splash of water, set aside.
- Combine spinach mixture in a large mixing bowl with the ricotta, egg yolk, parmesan, pinenuts, mint and lemon rind. Mix until well combined and season well.
- Lay one pastry sheet onto oven tray and spoon spinach mixture over the top, leaving a 2cm border around each edge. Lightly brush the edges with some of the egg white mixture.
- Using the tip of a knife, lightly score the other sheet of pastry without cutting all the way through. Place on top of spinach mixture and seal the edges with a fork. Brush top sheet with some more of the egg white mixture and sprinkle with the seeds. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden.
Ingredients
200g washed and trimmed spinach leaves
1 tbsp olive oil
3 spring onions, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
300g smooth ricotta
1 egg, separated
¼ cup grated parmesan
¼ cup SUNBEAM Pinenuts, toasted
¼ cup mint leaves, chopped
finely grated rind ½ a lemon
2 sheets puff pastry, partially defrosted
1 tbsp SUNBEAM Sunflower Seeds
1 tsp SUNBEAM Sesame Seeds
Recipe Collection
Mini Bombe Alaskas
Line 6 x 180ml dariole moulds (or 6 x 180ml capacity small dishes) with plastic wrap.*
Place icecream into a large bowl and allow to stand at room temperature for 10 mins, or until soft (do not allow to completely melt). Add fruit, nuts and sherry and use a spatula to mix well.
Spoon the mixture evenly between the prepared moulds and freeze overnight or until firm.
Slice the madeira cake horizontally into three big slices, about 2cm thick. Use a cookie cutter (just bigger than the bases of the icecream moulds) to cut 6 rounds from the cake slices.
To make the meringue, combine egg whites and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Whisk until stiff peaks form.
One at a time, carefully remove an icecream from the mould and place on top of a cake round. Working quickly, smooth meringue around the cake and icecream to completely cover then blowtorch until golden. Serve and repeat with remaining prepared icecreams.
Decadent Fruit Mince
Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl till combined.
Place into sterilised jars and store in a cool dark dry place to macerate for as long as you can before using.
This fruit mix made ahead can be used for so many great Sunbeam Recipes!
Chocolate & Prune Pudding
- Grease the base and sides of a 1.5L pudding basin. Combine prunes, raisins, sultanas and brandy in a microwave proof bowl and cook for 2 minutes. Stir well and set aside.
- Place butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat until smooth and pale. Add eggs one at a time until well incorporated. Fold in the flour, breadcrumbs, cocoa, chocolate and mixed spice, followed by the fruit mixture. Mix until well combined.
- Pour batter into prepared pudding basin and cover (if no lid, use a couple of layers of baking paper and secure with string or a large elastic band. Then cover with a layer of foil, securing with a large elastic band. Place into a large pot with a small saucepan in the base. Pour in enough boiling water to come halfway up the sides of the basin. Cover with a lid and simmer for 3 hours. Top up water as required.
- Remove from pot and either serve immediately, or leave in the basin and refrigerate until required.
- For butterscotch sauce, combine all ingredients in a small saucepan, and gently bring to the boil. Simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat and set aside.
- For mascarpone cream, fold mixed spice into mascarpone and set aside until required.
- For serving, place upturned pudding onto a serving plate and dollop with mascarpone and drizzle with butterscotch sauce. Decorate with seasonal fruits and toasted nuts.
Asparagus Pastries
Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Cut each pastry sheets into 4 squares. Mark 1cm in from the edge of pastry to resemble a photo frame. Place on paper lined baking trays.
- Panfry onions in oil for 5 minutes stirring occasionally. Pour in wine and brown sugar and cook for a further 5 minutes stirring continuously. Stir in pine nuts and cool.
- Place heaped spoonfuls of onion mixture into the centre of each pastry square. Arrange mushrooms and asparagus on top. Sprinkle with feta and brush edges with egg. Bake for 15 – 20 minutes. Serve.
Christmas Bark
Line a 25cm x 35cm with baking paper. Place chocolate into a medium heat proof bowl; stir over a medium saucepan of simmering water until smooth (don’t let water touch base of bowl). Stir in puffed rice and coconut.
Working quickly, spread chocolate mixture onto tray as thinly as possible; sprinkle with dried fruits, biscuit and nuts.
Refrigerate until set. Break bark into pieces to serve.
Cherry Dark Choc Biscotti
Preheat oven to 180ºC (160ºC fan). Line a large oven tray with baking paper.
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with whisk attachment, combine sugar and eggs. Whisk until pale and fluffy. Add both flours, nuts, sultanas and cherries and stir to combine.
Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour. Turn the dough out onto the surface, divide into two even portions then roll each into a 30cm long log. Transfer to prepared tray, flatten the tops slightly then bake for 30 mins. Remove tray from oven and allow logs to cool for 20 mins. Reduce oven temperature to 140ºC.
Use a serrated knife to diagonally cut slices, about 5mm thick. Arrange slices back onto the lined oven tray and bake for a further 15 mins, turning the biscuits half way, until they are crisp and dry. Transfer biscuits to a wire baking rack to cool completely.
Place chocolate in a microwave safe bowl and melt according to packet instructions. Pour melted chocolate into a small cup and dip the ends of the biscotti into the melted chocolate, tapping off any excess. Sprinkle extra almonds over the chocolate to decorate.
Place dipped biscotti onto baking paper and stand at room temperature until the chocolate sets.