Delicious Asparagus, Pea & Feta Tart: Your Ultimate Spring Quiche Recipe

There are some dishes that just scream ‘spring’ from the moment you see them, and this Asparagus, Pea, and Feta Cheese Tart is undoubtedly one of them. While you might call it a tart, given its rich egg-based filling, it could just as accurately be described as a quiche. The culinary lines between these two are often deliciously blurred: a quiche always features an egg custard, whereas a tart has more flexibility. Regardless of the label, what truly matters is the experience – and this particular creation is not only incredibly flavourful but also strikingly beautiful, making it a perfect centrepiece for any spring meal.

I’m thrilled to finally share this recipe, which I crafted some time ago, having been eager to bring it to your kitchens. This tart captures the essence of the season, making the most of fresh, vibrant produce. It’s an ideal recipe for anyone looking to embrace spring flavors in a sophisticated yet comforting way. Whether you’re planning a casual brunch, a light lunch, or a delightful picnic, this tart delivers on taste, texture, and visual appeal, promising to be a highlight for your taste buds.

Embracing Spring with Fresh & Flavorful Ingredients

This asparagus, pea, and feta cheese tart is a celebration of spring produce. At its heart lies the iconic spring vegetable: fresh asparagus. Its subtle earthy notes and tender-crisp texture are complemented by the sweetness of seasonal green peas and the mild bite of spring onions. These fresh vegetables are nestled within a luxurious, creamy egg filling, perfectly balanced by the salty tang of crumbled feta cheese, aromatic fresh herbs like mint and thyme, and encased in a crisp, savoury parmesan pastry shell. The result is a truly exquisite dish that’s equally delightful served warm from the oven or chilled straight from the fridge.

Imagine enjoying a slice of this tart al fresco, perhaps with a vibrant, leafy green salad and a hunk of crusty artisan bread, soaking in the sunshine. It’s more than just a meal; it’s an experience that encapsulates the freshness and joy of the season. The combination of textures – the flaky pastry, the yielding vegetables, and the custardy filling – creates a symphony in every bite. This recipe is a testament to how simple, high-quality ingredients can come together to create something truly extraordinary, elevating humble vegetables to star status.

The Star Ingredients: A Closer Look

Each component of this tart plays a crucial role in its overall perfection. Let’s delve into why these specific ingredients make such an incredible combination:

• Asparagus: As the quintessential spring vegetable, asparagus brings a fresh, slightly grassy, and distinctly elegant flavour. When lightly blanched, it retains a pleasant crunch that contrasts beautifully with the soft filling. Its vibrant green spears also add a stunning visual appeal, arranged artfully across the tart. Beyond its flavour, asparagus is packed with vitamins K, A, C, and folate, making this tart not just delicious but also nutritious.
• Green Peas: Sweet and tender, peas are another hallmark of spring. They burst with freshness and provide a lovely pop of sweetness that harmonises with the more savoury elements. Whether you use fresh or frozen peas (frozen are often picked at their peak and flash-frozen, retaining excellent quality), they contribute to both the flavour and the beautiful green palette of the tart.
• Feta Cheese: The salty, tangy, and slightly crumbly nature of feta cheese is indispensable here. It provides a sharp counterpoint to the richness of the egg custard and the sweetness of the vegetables, adding depth and complexity to every mouthful. Its Mediterranean character also infuses the tart with a sophisticated, savoury backbone.
• Parmesan Cheese: Incorporated into both the pastry and the filling, Parmesan cheese lends a deeply umami and nutty flavour. In the pastry, it creates an irresistibly crisp and savoury base. In the filling, it enhances the overall richness and adds another layer of savoury depth, complementing the feta without overpowering it. For our vegetarian friends, remember to use a vegetarian alternative, often labelled as ‘Italian-style hard cheese,’ to ensure the dish is suitable for all.
• Fresh Herbs (Mint & Thyme): The inclusion of fresh mint and thyme is a game-changer. Mint brings a surprising burst of cool freshness that brightens the entire dish, pairing wonderfully with peas and feta. Thyme adds an earthy, aromatic note that grounds the lighter flavours. Together, they lift the tart, making it feel gourmet and incredibly fragrant.

Crafting the Perfect Tart: Tips for Success

Creating this stunning tart involves two main components: the flaky parmesan pastry and the creamy, flavourful filling. Don’t be intimidated; with a few tips, you’ll master both.

The Golden Parmesan Pastry

The foundation of any great tart is its crust, and this parmesan pastry is truly exceptional. It’s savoury, crisp, and provides the perfect sturdy base for the rich filling. Using cold butter is paramount for a flaky crust; as it melts during baking, it releases steam, creating those desirable pockets of air. Don’t overwork the dough, as this can develop the gluten too much, resulting in a tough pastry. Chilling the dough twice – once after mixing and again after lining the tin – is crucial. This helps the butter firm up, preventing shrinkage during baking and ensuring a beautifully defined crust.

Blind baking the pastry case is another essential step. This ensures the base is fully cooked and crisp before the wet filling is added, preventing a soggy bottom – a common pitfall in quiche and tart making. Brushing the partially baked crust with egg white creates a seal, acting as an additional barrier against moisture from the filling. Taking these few extra steps guarantees a professional-quality crust that will impress everyone.

The Rich & Aromatic Filling

The filling for this tart is a harmonious blend of creamy, salty, and fresh flavours. The combination of large eggs, heavy cream, and low-fat Greek yogurt creates a luxuriously smooth and rich custard. The yogurt adds a slight tang and helps to keep the filling lighter than an all-cream version, without sacrificing any creaminess. Crushed garlic infuses a subtle warmth, while the mix of feta and parmesan delivers an unbeatable savoury depth.

The careful preparation of the vegetables is also key. Blanching the asparagus and peas just until tender ensures they retain their vibrant colour and a slight bite, rather than becoming mushy during the tart’s final bake. Sliced spring onions add another layer of fresh, mild onion flavour. When you combine all these elements – the creamy base, the salty cheeses, the sweet and earthy vegetables, and the fragrant herbs – you get a filling that is incredibly satisfying and complex.

Before pouring the filling into your blind-baked crust, make sure the oven temperature is adjusted. Arranging the asparagus spears thoughtfully on top not only makes for a beautiful presentation but also ensures even distribution of the vegetable. Bake until the filling is set but still has a slight wobble in the very centre, which indicates perfect doneness. Over-baking can lead to a rubbery texture, so keep a close eye on it!

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5 from 2 votes

Asparagus, Pea And Feta Cheese Tart

Author Domestic Gothess

Ingredients

Parmesan Pastry:

• 250 g (2 cups) plain flour
• ½ tsp salt
• 140 g (1 + ¼ sticks) cold unsalted butter cubed
• 40 g (⅔ cup) freshly grated parmesan cheese (or vegetarian alternative)
• 1 large egg separated
• about 2-3 Tbsp ice cold water

Filling:

• 4 large eggs
• 180 ml (¾ cup) heavy cream
• 125 g (½ cup) low-fat Greek yogurt
• 1 garlic clove crushed
• 200 g (7oz) feta cheese crumbled
• 40 g (⅔ cup) freshly grated parmesan (or vegetarian alternative)
• small handful fresh mint leaves finely chopped
• 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 4 spring onions (scallions) thinly sliced
• 400 g (14oz) asparagus (about 23 spears)
• 140 g (1 cup) peas fresh or frozen
• salt and pepper

Instructions

• To make the pastry, place the flour and salt in a large bowl; add the butter and rub in using your fingertips until it resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Stir in the parmesan then the egg yolk (reserve the white to use later). Gradually add enough cold water to bring the mixture together into a stiff dough. Form it into a disc then wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate until firm, about an hour.
• Roll the chilled dough out thinly on a lightly floured surface and use it to line a 20x30cm/12x8in rectangular tart tin. Press it right into the corners and up the sides; leave any excess pastry overhanging. Prick the base all over with a fork and place in the freezer for 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5 and place a baking tray in the oven to heat up.
• Line the chilled tart case with a sheet of baking parchment and fill with ceramic baking beans or dry rice. Make sure they go all the way into the corners and prop up the edges. Place the tart on the hot baking tray in the oven and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the baking beans and baking parchment and brush the base all over with the reserved egg white (this helps ‘seal’ the pastry and prevent the filling from making it go soggy).
• Return the tart case to the oven for 10 minutes until the base is golden then remove from the oven, allow to cool for a couple of minutes then use a sharp serrated knife to carefully trim off the excess pastry from around the edge.
• While the pastry is baking prepare the filling. Trim the ends off the asparagus so that they are the same length as the width of the tart tin. Bring a large pan of salted water to the boil and add the asparagus and peas, simmer for a couple of minutes until the asparagus is just tender then drain and rinse with cold water.
• In a large jug, whisk together the eggs, cream and yogurt. Mix in the crushed garlic, grated parmesan, chopped mint, thyme, sliced spring onions and some salt and pepper then add the feta and peas.
• Turn the oven temperature down to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4. Pour the filling into the tart case and make sure it is level. Arrange the asparagus spears down the middle of the tart, alternating which direction the tip faces. Bake the tart for about 40 minutes, until it is set in the middle. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 20 minutes before serving.

Serving Suggestions and Perfect Pairings

This Asparagus, Pea, and Feta Tart is wonderfully versatile, making it suitable for a variety of occasions and meals. For a delightful lunch, serve a generous slice alongside a crisp, green salad dressed with a light vinaigrette. The freshness of the salad will cut through the richness of the tart beautifully. A simple side of crusty bread or warm rolls would also be an excellent addition, perfect for soaking up any remaining deliciousness.

Consider this tart for your next brunch gathering. It’s elegant enough for guests but comforting enough for a leisurely weekend morning. Paired with fresh fruit salad and mimosas or a pot of freshly brewed coffee, it creates an unforgettable spread. It also makes a fantastic light dinner, especially when the weather is warm and you crave something substantial yet not too heavy.

Beyond main meals, this tart can be cut into smaller squares or fingers and served as an impressive appetizer at parties or potlucks. Its vibrant colours and appealing presentation are sure to garner compliments. For an outdoor picnic, it travels exceptionally well and tastes just as good, if not better, when enjoyed cold amidst nature.

Variations and Dietary Considerations

While this recipe is perfect as is, it’s also adaptable to your preferences or dietary needs. For those who cannot consume parmesan cheese, a vegetarian hard cheese substitute works perfectly and is widely available. If you’re looking to change up the vegetables, consider adding finely chopped bell peppers, spinach (sautéed and squeezed dry), or even some cherry tomatoes halved and scattered over the filling before baking. Different herbs like dill or chives could also be lovely alternatives to mint and thyme.

For a gluten-free version, simply substitute the plain flour in the pastry with a good quality gluten-free plain flour blend, often with a little xanthan gum to help with elasticity. Always ensure all your other ingredients are certified gluten-free. For a lighter touch, you could experiment with a lower-fat milk instead of heavy cream, though this may slightly alter the richness and texture of the filling.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Should you be lucky enough to have any leftovers, this tart stores beautifully. Simply cover it tightly with cling film or foil and refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. It’s delicious served cold directly from the fridge, making it a fantastic make-ahead option for busy weeknights or packed lunches. If you prefer it warm, individual slices can be gently reheated in a preheated oven at 160°C (325°F) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also use a microwave, but the pastry might lose some of its crispness.

This tart also freezes well! Once completely cooled, wrap individual slices or the whole tart tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the oven for best results.

This Asparagus, Pea, and Feta Cheese Tart was originally created for DIYs, a fantastic resource for inspiring craft and recipe ideas. I encourage you to check them out for more creative projects!

Conclusion: A Springtime Delight Not To Be Missed

In conclusion, this Asparagus, Pea, and Feta Cheese Tart is more than just a recipe; it’s an invitation to savour the freshest flavours of spring. With its golden, savoury pastry, creamy egg filling, and a delightful medley of seasonal vegetables and cheeses, it offers a perfect balance of textures and tastes. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a novice in the kitchen, the detailed instructions and helpful tips provided will guide you to create a culinary masterpiece that is as impressive to look at as it is delicious to eat.

From the first bite of the crisp pastry to the rich, herb-infused filling and the tender snap of asparagus, every element comes together in harmony. This tart is a true celebration of fresh, seasonal ingredients and the joy of home cooking. So, gather your ingredients, embrace the spirit of spring, and get ready to bake a tart that will undoubtedly become a cherished favourite in your recipe collection. Enjoy the process, and most importantly, enjoy the exquisite taste of your homemade Asparagus, Pea, and Feta Tart!