Recipe

Feta Cheese Tart with Walnut Crust and Honeyed Blood Orange & Mint Salad

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Photo by student epicure

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Dish with Blood Oranges, Feta and Mint

This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Late Winter Tart (Sweet or Savory)
Chef
student epicure's Notes: I wanted to find a way to incorporate these ingredients into a light dessert. I thought of the classic combination of fruit, cheese, and nuts as a balanced finish to a meal. In the depths...
I wanted to find a way to incorporate these ingredients into a light dessert. I thought of the classic combination of fruit, cheese, and nuts as a balanced finish to a meal. In the depths of New England winter, this dessert had me dreaming of blue skies and warm Mediterranean beaches. I used French feta, which has a milder and less salty flavor. I also adopted the nut crust from the Joy of Cooking.

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Serves 8

1 1/4 cup walnuts, pulverized into course crumbs in a food processor Ask a question about this ingredient

5 tablespoons melted butter, plus more for buttering the pan Ask a question about this ingredient

1/3 cup sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature Ask a question about this ingredient

1/3 cup sugar Ask a question about this ingredient

7.5 ounces French feta, crumbled Ask a question about this ingredient

1 egg, lightly beaten Ask a question about this ingredient

4 blood oranges, cut into elegant sections Ask a question about this ingredient

1 tablespoon honey, warmed until liquid Ask a question about this ingredient

2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped Ask a question about this ingredient

Preheat oven to 375. In a small bowl, combine walnuts, butter, and sugar with a fork. Press mixture into a 9-inch buttered tart pan (use a pastry brush to grease pan). Bake for about 12 minutes or until just beginning to brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool completely. If crust begins into puff, press it down with the back of a spoon. Do not turn off oven.
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In an upright mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar with whisk attachment until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add feta and beat until incorporated. Add in egg and beat just until combined. Pour into cooled crust and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the tart has begun to puff just a bit and turn slightly golden. Remove from oven and cool. Once the tart has reached room temperature, place in fridge.
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Just before serving, in a small bowl, combine orange sections, honey, and chopped mint. Gently fold together. Spoon over wedges of the chilled tart and serve!
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4 Comments on Feta Cheese Tart with Walnut Crust and Honeyed Blood Orange & Mint Salad

AntoniaJames added about 1 year ago

This is so beautiful . . . .the photo, the tart and the plate. Sounds really tasty, too. Not sure I'm capable of executing "elegant" sections, but it would certainly be worth working to improve that skill, if this is the reward. ;o)