BACON AND EGG TARTLETS – PHASE 1

INGREDIENTS

1 quantity short crust pastry
1/2 cup (50g) finely grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
200g bacon, cut into 3mm strips width ways
100g English spinach leaves, washed
2 tablespoons thin cream
6 eggs
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

DIRECTIONS

Step 1
Make 1 quantity short crust pastry adding parmesan to the flour and butter in step 1.

Step 2
Heat oil in a medium non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add bacon and cook, stirring, for 5-6 minutes or until golden. Drain on paper towel.

Step 3
Cook spinach in salted boiling water for 20 seconds or until it wilts. Refresh in iced water. Drain, then wrap in a clean tea towel and squeeze to remove as much liquid as possible. Combine spinach and cream in a food processor. Season with salt and pepper and process for 1-2 minutes or until smooth. Set aside.

Step 4
Preheat oven to 200°C. Grease and flour nine 6cm-diameter (base measurement) tartlet tins. Use a round 6.5cm-diameter pastry cutter to cut pastry into 18 discs. Place on an oven tray lined with baking paper. Place in the fridge for 15 minutes.

Step 5
Working with 9 pastry discs at a time, place 1 disc into each tartlet tin and use your thumbs to press the pastry so that it sits 5mm above the edge of the tin. Prick bases with a fork, then place another nine tartlet tins on top, pressing down to sit neatly inside the pastry cases. Bake tartlets in oven for 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden. Remove tartlet cases from tins and set aside. Grease and flour tartlet tins and repeat with remaining pastry discs.

Step 6
Spoon 1 teaspoon of spinach mixture into each pastry case and make a well in the centre. Crack 1 egg into each tartlet, top with a tablespoon of bacon and sprinkle with smoked paprika. Place tartlets on a heavy-based oven tray, then bake for 8 minutes or until egg is just set. Remove tartlets from cases and serve warm

Serves 3 – By Jess Arroyo