A Good Friday Pie: Wild Garlic and Blue Wensleydale Tart
A Good Friday Pie:
Wild Garlic and Blue Wensleydale Tart
A Good Friday Pie: Wild Garlic and Blue Wensleydale Tart
Tomorrow, the 18th April, is Good Friday; or, Hot Cross Bun day as I used to call it when I was little! Although many Christians observe a “no meat Friday” every week of the year, it’s probably true to say that most people regardless of their religion also adopt a meat-free meal on Good Friday, with fish being the most popular ingredient on the menu. Normally I would cook fish, and not just any fish, but a big family-sized fish pie, such as one of these recipes: Easy Cheesy Family Fish Pie Recipe for the 5:2 Diet (300 calories), Old-Fashioned Fish Pie with Cheesy Mash or Yorkshire Fish Pie with a Rosti Potato Topping. However, this Good Friday I have decided to make and share a new recipe for Wild Garlic and Blue Wensleydale Tart – a vegetarian tart made with seasonal wild garlic, fresh free-range eggs and a wedge of some gloriously creamy and mild Blue Wensleydale cheese, or Wensleydale Blue as it is also called.
Wensleydale Blue Cheese Image: British Cheese Board
Wild garlic is right on trend now, although I have eaten it in the wild since I was about six years old; on my long walk to school, there used to be wild garlic growing in profusion on the edge of the hedgerows and a small wooded area, and it was my early morning breakfast as well as tea on my return walk home in the afternoon. (Not that my mum didn’t feed me any breakfast and tea!) But, I notice that it has become uber “trendy” now and everyone is jumping on the “wild garlic bandwagon” and why not I say, after all it’s free and extremely tasty. Browse through any restaurant menus in spring, and I bet there will be at least one dish that has wild garlic in it.
Wild garlic or Ramsons Image: The Guardian
Today’s recipe was made with some wild garlic that I picked from the bottom of my garden – it’s a slightly different version to the photo shown above as it has narrower leaves, and more of a “bulb” like a spring onion. It’s just as tasty as the stuff I used to graze on when I was little however, and it makes a wonderful bed fellow for cheese and eggs. Today’s recipe would be wonderful for any meat free day menu, and it’s also fabulous picnic fodder and lunch box grub too. Out of wild garlic season, you can bake this tart with spring onions and a couple of cloves of garlic, for a similar flavour, and if you are bereft of Blue Wensleydale cheese, then any mild and creamy blue cheese will be fine as a substitute.
Wild Garlic and Blue Wensleydale Tart
Serve a slice of this tart with fresh seasonal greens and salad, or as I served it, with new potatoes and wild garlic butter – recipe for that to follow very soon! That’s all for today, I will see you over the Easter weekend with another new recipe and a giveaway, have a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend, and try not to over indulge TOO much on chocolate eggs! Karen
Wild Garlic & Blue Wensleydale Tart
Print recipe
| Serves | 8 slices |
| Prep time | 15 minutes |
| Cook time | 35 minutes |
| Total time | 50 minutes |
| Allergy | Egg, Wheat |
| Dietary | Vegetarian |
| Meal type | Lunch, Main Dish, Snack |
| Misc | Freezable, Gourmet, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold |
| Occasion | Birthday Party, Casual Party, Easter, Valentines day |
| Region | British |
| By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- a little butter for frying
- 1 small onion, peeled and finely diced
- large bunch of wild garlic, about 75g to 100g (finely chopped)
- 125g Blue Wensleydale cheese, crumbled (or blue cheese of your choice)
- 4 large free-range eggs
- 300mls creme fraiche
- salt and pepper
- 1 x 230g ready rolled puff pastry (or home-made puff pastry)
Note
A delightful seasonal tart that makes good use of wild garlic in the spring, and also uses Blue Wensleydale cheese, which is fabulously creamy, crumbly and light in flavour, compared to other blue cheeses. When wild garlic is not in season, just substitute spring onions and a couple of garlic cloves for a similar taste and flavour. Similarly, Blue Wensleydale cheese can be substituted with another mild blue cheese too.
Directions
| Step 1 | Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6 and grease and line a loose-bottomed flan/tart/pie dish, 8" (20cms) in diameter. |
| Step 2 | Melt the butter over a low heat and gently sauté the diced onions for 2 to 3 minutes, so they are just starting to go soft. Add the wild garlic and allow them to wilt for 1 to 2 minutes. |
| Step 3 | In a large jug or bowl with a pouring lip, whisk the eggs ans crème fraiche together; season to taste and then add the crumbled Blue Wensleydale cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper and mix well. |
| Step 4 | Place the prepared flan dish on to a large oven sheet or tray and line it with the ready-rolled puff pastry and then prick the bottom with a fork. Spoon the onions and wild garlic over the pastry and then pour the cheese and egg mixture over the top. |
| Step 5 | Carefully put the tart into the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the pastry has puffed up, the filling has set but with a "wobble" still and the underside of the pastry is golden brown. |
| Step 6 | Take the tart out of the oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes, then carefully slide it up and out of the flan dish by pushing the loose bottom up and allow it too cool for a further 5 minutes on a wire rack. |
| Step 7 | Carefully ease the tart off the loose bottom, and peel away the baking paper and sit it on a serving platter or plate. |
| Step 8 | Serve at room temperature cut into wedges with salad, new potatoes and seasonal greens. |
| Step 9 | Perfect for picnics and lunch boxes and this tart also freezes well. |
New Recipe coming soon: New Potatoes with Wild Garlic Butter
Blue Wensleydale and Wild Garlic Tart
Blue Wensleydale and Wild Garlic Tart
More WILD GARLIC recipes on Lavender and Lovage:
5:2 Diet Fast Day Recipe: Wild Garlic and Chilli Sweetcorn Fritters (185 Calories)
Herbs on Saturday and a Bowl of Wild Garlic, Lemon & Lovage Soup
Marinated English Goat’s Cheese with Wild Garlic, Stem Ginger and Herbs
Tina @ The Spicy Pear says
Oh wow! I love all these recipes using wild garlic. It is not something I have used in my cooking but I would love to get hold of some and have a go. That tart looks delicious, as does the marinated goats cheese. If only I could dig into the laptop and help myself to some.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks SO much Tina! I do love wild garlic in baking and cooking, and this was a hit with all the family!
Choclette says
Wonderful recipe Karen. That Wensleydale Blue looks fabulous. I still haven’t picked any damsons this year which is really shocking. Must get onto it before it’s too late – I want some of that tart!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Time to get picking those ramsons Choclette! Thanks for your lovely comments too! Karen
cheri says
This recipe is a real keeper for sure, your pictures are so lovely and instructions very detailed. Thanks for sharing!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Cheri! I like to add as many helpful instructions as possible in my recipes, to cater to novice and experienced bakers!
Ren Behan says
Pretty styling, love the daisies and the woven cloth. Looks like a stunner of a recipe for Easter.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Ren! I have just taken delivery, well I bought, lots of new “props” from a local Brocante in France for my styling. Karen
Jacqueline says
A good pie indeed Karen. I wish I had spotted this when I was looking for the best veggie recipes to put in my post today. I would certainly have have added it.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Never mind Jac! I am glad it was worthy of you interest though, as a veggie recipe!
London Unattached Lifestyle and Travel says
That looks lovely! I do like this kind of flan/tart and the flavour combination sounds great!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Fiona! It was a simple tart but with big flavours! Malcolm loved it too, which was nice.
Franglais kitchen, Nazima says
A gorgeous recipe Karen. I was thinking of a wild garlic quiche with my current stash of it but this is also very tempting! lovely pics as always
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Nazima! Yes, I always think that wild garlic is a winning combination with eggs, and especially tarts and quiches.
Heidi Roberts says
The tart looks perfect for Easter and Spring – early summer eating!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Heidi! This recipe is also perfect for summer picnics as you say, early summer eating!
Deena Kakaya says
You know I have been craving cheese and wild garlic in a melty and aroma wafting sort of form and have been tweeting along those lines. Your pie looks like it would hit all the spots…gorgeous pics and styling too! x
Karen Burns-Booth says
I KNOW that craving Deena and I also love the way you have described it – I am a bug fan of “melty and wafty aromas”! Thanks SO much for your lovely comments! :-)Karen
Dom says
A brilliant idea for a meat free pie and a superb use of wild garlic too. I’m very tempted to bake a quiche tomorrow too. This really does look so summery. I hope you have a wonderful relaxing long weekend x
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Dom! I imagine that the Viking would love this, and I know you have wild garlic growing near Belleau Cottage too! 😉 Karen
lizzy (Good Things) says
Love the thought of having wild garlic at the bottom of the garden, Karen. Beautiful pie! Happy Easter.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks so much Lizzy! You have a LOVELY Easter too!
Joanne T Ferguson says
G’day! Great post, photos and recipe Karen!
I just picked some of this cheese up the other day!
Sharing the love today!
Cheers! Joanne
Karen Burns-Booth says
G’day Joanne! How are you? THANKS so much for your LOVELY comments and I hope that you enjoy the cheese, it is VERY special! Karen
denise@magnoliaverandah says
Just what I fancy right now. Loving the look of your new website.
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Denise and also a BIG thanks for noticing my new look! I will be writing about it, but I just need time! LOL! Karen
karin@yumandmore says
Sounds perfect – have all these ingredients in my fridge!!
Happy Easter Karen xoxo
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Karin! I hope you make this recipe, as it is truly delicious! Happy Easter to you too!
Chloe King says
I could do with a slice or two of this RIGHT NOW! Wonderful recipe and perfectly in season as usual. I haven’t picked any wild garlic yet this year but I should get on with it. I know a spot in the woods near me, but I’m concerned it will have all been pilfered already by the many trendy gastros that live in my area!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Chloe! I was so pleased with this recipe, the blue cheese and wild garlic was just SO right together! Better beat a track to that wild garlic patch before the green wellie brigade beat you to it! 😉
Helen @ the crispy crouton says
Wild garlic literally grows wild up here in Northumerland! It’s everywhere at the minute. Your recipe has inspired me to go and pick some and try your delicious recipe!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Helen. I remember it growing there, as my grandparents lived in Northumberland and Durham and I remember picking it. I DO hope you try my recipe, it’s a winning combination, I think! Karen
Nayna Kanabar (@SIMPLYF00D) says
This tart looks scrumptious, do you need to blind bake the pastry to stop it going soggy??
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Nayna! No need to bake it blind and no soggy bottoms either!!
Louisa Foti says
Oh lucky you having wild garlic in your garden! We used to have loads in France, and likes yours it had more of an appearance of a spring onion. I’ve been searching around the woods around our new house in Herefordshire and have yet to find any, so annoying! Bet it was delish paired with Blue Wensleydale in a tart, I’m so going to look out for this cheese, a newbie to me. Co-incidentally I made a similar tart for myself on Good Friday, creamy leeks with plenty of sage from the garden and a little feta on a puff pastry base. Really wish I’d snapped it for the blog. Gorgeous recipe Karen!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Yes, we are lucky enough to have lots here too Lou – it’s called “Pif” here, pronounced “Peef” and grows like crazy in the garden! Your sage and leek tart sounds delicious too! Karen
Glamorous Glutton says
Fabulous recipe for a wild garlic tart. I haven’t managed to find any wild garlic growing around here. I might plant some to have it for next year, all your recipes look so delicious. GG
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks! 🙂 I bet you have some of that fine wild garlic nearby GG – with the delicate little white flowers – almost like chives but very garlicky!
Antonia says
What a beautiful-looking tart and a winning combination of eggs, cheese and wild garlic. I have to confess that I have never cooked with wild garlic before – I shall have to look out for some!
Karen Burns-Booth says
Thanks Antonia, I hope you manage to cook with wild garlic this season! It’s so delicate and adds a wonderful taste to all sorts of recipes.