Picture taken by my talented daughter Kaia:)

One of my clients sent me a pack full of pastries; shortcrust ready rolled, puff cases, filo sheets, … asking me to give him my feedback about the quality of the product.

So I spent the week, eating tarts, quiches and samosas! Not that I’m complaining. I guess you should know by now that my love for baking is unconditional.

Ready rolled pie pastries are one of my much-loved ingredients, especially after a long day at work. I often line my pie dish, flute edges and then open the fridge and think about the filling. Recipes with shortcrust pastries are versatile and trouble-free. I don’t think it is said easy as pie for nothing;-)

I wanted to break away from routine ingredients so I started with a pesto rosso spread, topped it with some blue cheese, slices of brie, sprigs of thyme, and dried figs. The outcome was a hit through! I served it for some friends visiting in the evening and as soon as I saw their heads nodding I knew I had the green light to share the recipe with you all.

Ingredients

• 1 Pack of Shortcrust Pastry or “Pâte Brisée”

• 2 tbsp pesto rosso
• 2 tbsp blue cheese, crumbled
• 150g Brie cheese, sliced
• ¼ cup fresh thyme leaves
• 5 dried figs, sliced
• 5 eggs
• ½ cup low-fat milk
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• Maple syrup to drizzle

Preparation

1. Pre-heat oven to 180°C.
2. Roll out dough on floured surface. Transfer to pie dish. Trim and flute the sides. Pierce crust all over with fork.
3. Start by spreading the pesto on the crust.
4. Distribute the blue cheese and decorate crust with slices of brie in a fan shape.
5. Add thyme and figs.
6. Beat eggs well. Add milk, pepper and salt. Pour over the filling and place pie dish on the middle oven rack.
7. After 20mn, drizzle with maple syrup and place it back in the oven for another 10 to 15mn.
8. Transfer tart to rack; cool 5 minutes.