Asparagus Tarts with a Pesto Surprise

5 from 9 votes

Nutty wholemeal pastry baked with a secret layer of pesto, filled with goose egg and topped with English asparagus. Ideal spring picnic fare.

Prep Time40

Cook Time20

Resting Time30

Total Time1

Course: Afternoon Tea, Lunch, Starter

Cuisine: British

Keyword: asparagus, pesto, picnics, spring, tarts

Servings: individual tarts

Calories: 197kcal

In a large bowl rub the butter into the flour and salt with your fingers until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
225 g wholemeal flour (whole wheat), 115 g unsalted butter, 1 pinch sea or rock salt
Stir in the yoghurt with a flat bladed knife until the mixture starts to form into clumps. Start with 3 tbsp, then use more if needed.
3-4 tbsp natural yoghurt
Cover and leave to rest in a cool place for ½ an hour or so.
Roll the pastry out on a floured surface as thinly as possible and cut out circles big enough to fit the tart cases. Reroll the trimmings until all of the pastry is used.
Press the pastry into the sides and trim the tops with a knife.

Blanch the asparagus in a little simmering water for a couple of minutes. Drain the spears and cut them into three pieces.
10 asparagus spears
Spread a ½ tsp of pesto on the bottom of each tart case.
5 tsp green pesto
Place the asparagus pieces over the top.
Whisk the egg (or eggs) in a jug with the milk and a little salt and pepper and divide the mixture between the tarts. Be careful not to overfill them as the mixture will rise during cooking.
1 goose egg, 50 ml milk, salt and pepper
Bake at 200℃ (400℉, Gas 6) for about 20 minutes or until the pastry looks golden and the filling has set.
Leave to cool in the cases then remove the tarts from the tins.

You can use a food processor to make the pastry.

There will be some pastry left over, enough for eight small jam tarts.

The asparagus water makes lovely stock.

The tarts can be kept in the fridge for up to three days.

Please note: calories and other nutritional information are per serving. They're approximate and will depend on exact ingredients used.