Leek & Leftover Cheese Tart

This tart makes a delicious, easy midweek meal and is just as good for a relaxed weekend light lunch.

The cheese and eggs bring a big savoury hit, so a spoon of sweet chutney or a green salad with pear balances it beautifully. Likewise a sweeter white wine or pear cider is a great match.

Best of all, it comes together quickly (it can be on the table in 45mins) and it’s perfect for using up those little cheese offcuts hiding in the fridge.

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Serves: 4–6 · Tin: 22–24 cm tart tin (removable base) or a 23 cm pie dish

Ingredients

• 1 sheet shortcrust pastry (puff is fine, but it will be best blind-baked)
• 1–2 large leeks (white & light-green only), sliced on the diagonal ~1 cm
• 1 cob of corn, kernels removed (optional)
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 3 eggs, lightly whisked
• 300 ml cream or crème fraîche
• 1 cup (about 100–120 g) grated hard cheese (e.g., cheddar, gruyère, parmesan mix)
• 1–2 handfuls (100–150 g) cheese offcuts (soft, hard—even a little blue)
• 1–2 tbsp butter, for brushing
• Salt (¾ tsp) & black pepper (¼ tsp)
  
  

Method

1. Heat the oven. 200 °C (180 °C fan).
2. Line the tin with shortcrust pastry. If using puff pastry line the tin and trim. Poke with a fork, line with baking paper and fill with weights. Bake 12 min. Remove paper/weights; bake 5 min more until dry. Reduce oven to 180 °C (160 °C fan).
   
3. Soften the corn (if using). Microwave the corn, in its husk if it has one, for 2 mins on high. Cool and cut kernels from the cob.
4. Make the custard. Whisk eggs, cream, mustard, nutmeg, ¾ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper. Stir in the grated hard cheese.
   
5. Assemble. Pour the custard into the pastry shell. Tuck the cheese offcuts into the mixture —walnut-sized pieces, some peeking out is fine. Arrange the leek slices on top and brush liberally with melted butter.
   
6. Bake. 30–35 min at 180 °C (160 °C fan) until the top is golden and the centre just wobbles. 
7. Rest & serve. Rest 10 min before slicing. Great with a sweet chutney or a green salad with pear.