Christmas Tree Tarts

Vibrant and fun, these tarts are a great addition to any Christmas spread or can be served as a starter.

This recipe was created by my chef student, Ingrida Jurkeviciute and featured on the Veganuary website.

Christmas Tree Tarts by chef student Ingrida Jurkeviciute3.jpg
Christmas Tree Tarts by chef student Ingrida Jurkeviciute2.jpg

Prep time - 45 minutes

Cook time - 35 minutes

Difficulty - Medium

Serves / makes - 4 individual tarts


Ingredients

125g Doves gluten free plain flour

1/2tsp salt

30g baby spinach

30g margarine

4tbsp water

1tbsp sunflower oil

2 shallots or 1 small onion, finely chopped

170g butternut squash, peeled and finely chopped

30g walnuts, finely chopped

1tbsp tamari

1tbsp balsamic vinegar

1/2tsp fresh sage, finely chopped

1/2tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped

¼-1/2tsp ground nutmeg

100g silken tofu

3tbsp plant milk + a little for a glaze

1tbsp cornflour

1tbsp stock powder

4 cherry tomatoes, halved


Equipment

Bowl

Hand blender

Rolling pin

Bowl to cut round

Tree cookie cutter

Fork

Large frying pan

Whisk

Pastry brush


Method

  1. Heat your oven to 180c/360f/GM4.

  2. Put the flour and salt in a bowl, mix well. Put the spinach, margarine and water in a jug, blend, with a hand blender, until smooth. Add the spinach mixture to the flour, mix into a dough. If it is too sticky add more flour. 

  3. Roll out the dough to 5mm thickness. Cut out 4 circles of dough and 4 trees. Place the circles into the tart tins ensuring the dough goes up the sides. Trim the edges with a sharp knife and prick the bottom with a fork. Bake the tart base for around 10 minutes until they have dried out. 

  4. In a large frying pan heat the oil on a medium heat. Once hot, add the shallots and squash, cook for 8-12 minutes until the shallots are translucent. Add the walnuts, tamari, vinegar, sage, rosemary and nutmeg. Take the pan off the heat. 

  5. Whisk the tofu, milk, cornflour and stock in a small bowl. Add this to the pan and mix in. Divide this mixture between the tart bases. Top each tart with a tree, brush a little milk onto each tree and the tart edges. Bake for a further 10-15 minutes until cooked through. 

  6. Top each tart with half a tomato before serving.


Christmas Tree Tarts

Christmas Tree Tarts
Makes: 4 individual tarts
Author: Ingrida Jurkeviciute
Prep time: 45 MinCook time: 35 MinTotal time: 1 H & 19 M
Vibrant and fun, these tarts are a great addition to any Christmas spread or can be served as a starter.

Ingredients

  • 125g Doves gluten free plain flour
  • 1/2tsp salt
  • 30g baby spinach
  • 30g margarine
  • 4tbsp water
  • 1tbsp sunflower oil
  • 2 shallots or 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 170g butternut squash, peeled and finely chopped
  • 30g walnuts, finely chopped
  • 1tbsp tamari
  • 1tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1/2tsp fresh sage, finely chopped
  • 1/2tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
  • ¼-1/2tsp ground nutmeg
  • 100g silken tofu
  • 3tbsp plant milk + a little for a glaze
  • 1tbsp cornflour
  • 1tbsp stock powder
  • 4 cherry tomatoes, halved

Method

  1. Heat your oven to 180c/360f/GM4.
  2. Put the flour and salt in a bowl, mix well. Put the spinach, margarine and water in a jug, blend, with a hand blender, until smooth. Add the spinach mixture to the flour, mix into a dough. If it is too sticky add more flour.
  3. Roll out the dough to 5mm thickness. Cut out 4 circles of dough and 4 trees. Place the circles into the tart tins ensuring the dough goes up the sides. Trim the edges with a sharp knife and prick the bottom with a fork. Bake the tart base for around 10 minutes until they have dried out.
  4. In a large frying pan heat the oil on a medium heat. Once hot, add the shallots and squash, cook for 8-12 minutes until the shallots are translucent. Add the walnuts, tamari, vinegar, sage, rosemary and nutmeg. Take the pan off the heat.
  5. Whisk the tofu, milk, cornflour and stock in a small bowl. Add this to the pan and mix in. Divide this mixture between the tart bases. Top each tart with a tree, brush a little milk onto each tree and the tart edges. Bake for a further 10-15 minutes until cooked through.
  6. Top each tart with half a tomato before serving.

Notes:

Equipment

Bowl

Hand blender

Rolling pin

Bowl to cut round

Tree cookie cutter

Fork

Large frying pan

Whisk

Pastry brush

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