Cheddar and leek tarts

Cheddar cheese and soft, buttery leeks in these tarts are a marriage made in heaven. Comforting and homely all wrapped up, but with some added grownup sophistication.

📝 Ingredients

• 2 leeks, cleaned and sliced
• 1 knob of butter
• 2 eggs
• 150 ml of cream
• 1 handful of flat-leaf parsley
• 150 g of cheddar, grated
• 325 g of puff pastry, all butter
• salt
• pepper

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1To begin, cook the leeks in the butter until soft, but not coloured. Season and set aside to cool, preheat the oven to 165°C/gas mark 4
2. 2Whisk together the eggs, cream, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir in the cooled leeks and grated cheese, reserving enough to sprinkle over the top of each of the tarts before baking
3. 3Roll the pastry out until it is the thickness of a £1 coin. Line each tart tin with the pastry and prick the base of each pastry case with a fork
4. 4Divide the mixture between the tart cases and top each tart with a little cheese and grind over a little extra black pepper. Pop the tarts on a baking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is crisp and the tarts are golden
5. 5Leave to cool slightly before taking the tarts out of the tins and serving. These tarts are delicious warm, but are also wonderful cold