First make the quinoa tart pastry, then spread cheese chilling, top with carrots and garnish with seeds and parmesan. Each constructive layer comes into flavourful play for this carrot, feta and quinoa tart, which is magnificent especially when served with a side of salsa verde.
Ingredients
- 2 bunch (400 g) baby (Dutch) carrots, unpeeled
- 150 g fresh ricotta
- 100 g feta, crumbled
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 egg
QUINOA PASTRY
- 1 cup (160 g) wholemeal plain flour
- ⅔ cup (10 0g) plain flour
- ¼ cup (50 g) quinoa
- ½ tsps dried yeast
- 1 tsp flaked sea salt
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- ⅔ cup (160 ml) hot water
SALSA VERDE
- 100 g baby rocket leaves
- 30 g cornichons
- ¼ cup (50 g) baby capers, rinsed, drained
- 1 shallot, chopped finely
- ½ cup (125 ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsps red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsps water
TO FINISH
- ¼ tsp fennel seeds
- ¼ tsp caraway seeds
- ¼ cup (20 g) grated parmesan, finely
- 2 tbsps extra virgin olive oil
Steps
Make olive oil and quinoa pastry. Combine flours, quinoa, yeast and salt in a medium bowl. Add combined oil and hot water, mix to a soft dough. Turn dough onto a well-floured surface, knead for 3 mins or until smooth and elastic. Cover with a bowl, stand for 20 mins.
Make salsa verde. Blend or process rocket, cornichons, capers and shallot until finely chopped. With motor running, gradually add combined oil, vinegar and water. Season to taste.
Trim carrot tops, leaving 2 cm of stem attached, reserve a small handful of tops. Wash carrots and tops. Cut each unpeeled carrot in half lengthways. Finely chop carrot tops, you’ll need 2 tbsps. Combine chopped carrot tops with ricotta, fetta, garlic and egg in a medium bowl. Season with freshly ground black pepper.
Divide the pastry in half. Roll out one half on a piece of lightly floured baking paper into a 12 cm x 40 cm rectangle. Lift paper and pastry onto a large oven tray. Repeat with remaining pastry on a second tray. (If you don’t have a rolling pin, use the palms of your hands to press each pastry portion into a rectangle.)
Spread each rectangle with half the cheese filling, top with carrots, placing them crossways down the pastry, alternating tops and tails. Scatter with seeds and parmesan, drizzle with oil, Season. Bake for 25 mins or until pastry is golden and cooked through.
Serve warm or at room temperature with salsa verde, drizzle with oil to serve, if you like.