Serves 4-6

Prep time: 20 min

cooking time: 60 - 77 minutes

plus chilling and resting

Gill Meller’s asparagus, broad bean and goat’s cheese tart is a true celebration of Spring produce. If you want to save time, you could use ready-made pastry instead - this one’s all about the gorgeous green filling!


INGREDIENTS

Pastry

  • 300g Plain flour

  • 150g Unsalted butter, cubed & chilled

  • 150ml Chilled water

Filling

  • Large handful broad beans

  • 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

  • 12 Asparagus spears, trimmed

  • 6 Spring onions, cut into 1cm pieces

  • 1 Little gem lettuce, halved and sliced into ribbons

  • Small handful fresh tarragon, chopped

  • Small handful flat leaf parsley, chopped

  • Handful fresh lovage, leaves only, roughly chopped

  • 150g Soft goat’s cheese

  • 2 Medium free-range eggs, plus 2 yolks

  • 100ml Whole milk

  • 300ml Double cream

Method

  1. First, make the pastry. Pulse the flour and butter in a food processor with a pinch of salt to the consistency of breadcrumbs.. With the motor running, steadily add the chilled water, stopping as soon as the dough comes together. Tip out the dough, knead it a couple of times, then wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes. Remove from the pastry from the fridge and let it come up to room temperature before rolling.

  2. Heat the oven to 180°C/160℃ fan.

  3. Roll out the dough to a circle about 3mm thick and a few cm wider than your tart tin. Line a 15cm x 25cm x 5cm deep tart tin with the pastry, leaving an overhang. Prick the base, then line it with baking paper and baking beans/uncooked rice. Bake for 20 minutes, then remove the the beans/uncooked rice and paper and return the case to the oven for 10-12 minutes until just golden. Remove from the oven and trim the overhanging pastry. Set aside.

  4. For the filling, pod the beans (you can leave any very small pods whole). Set a large frying pan over a medium heat. Add the oil, then the asparagus. Season and cook for 2 minutes, then add the spring onions, lettuce, peas and broad beans.

  5. Cook for a few minutes more until the lettuce has wilted - you’ll need to toss the veg around the pan. Add the tarragon, parsley and lovage to the pan. Season again with plenty of salt and pepper, then spoon into the tart case. Dot the cheese over the top.

  6. Combine the whole eggs, egg yolks milk and cream in a jug. Season an mix well, then pour the mixture over the tart filling.

  7. Carefully transfer the tart to the oven and bake for 30 - 35 minutes until it has a mottled golden top and the filling has puffed up slightly. Rest for at least 20-30 minutes before serving.