Bill Granger's Tasty Spinach and Mascarpone Tart Recipe

Bill Granger recipes have featured on The Carousel ever since we launched the site in 2014 – yes ten years ago. He always supported us and his recipes have always been hugely popular on our site. So it was with huge sadness when we heard the news of his passing on December 25, 2023.

Here is one of his many fabulous recipes: Spinach And Mascarpone Tart

Bill said “Baby spinach leaves are quick and easy to use here (especially if they come ready-washed and bagged), but you can get great flavour from large leaf spinach when it’s in season.

“You can also use silverbeet, but do cut away the tough stalks from the leaves when you wash them.

“Bought puff pastry makes this a very easy dinner.“

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

375g puff pastry
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, sliced
400g baby spinach leaves
freshly grated nutmeg
2 medium eggs, beaten
250g (1 cup) mascarpone cheese
4 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese
pinch dried chilli flakes (optional)

METHOD

1 Preheat the oven to 200°C. Line a 20cm x 30cm shallow baking tin with baking paper. Roll out the pastry so that it fits into the tin, pushing it into the corners and up the sides. Cover with a scrunched up piece of baking paper, line with baking beans and bake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, tip out the baking beans and paper and bake for a further 10 minutes, until the pastry is golden and crisp. Leave the oven on.

2Heat the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over high heat. Add the garlic and, after a few seconds, the spinach. Cook, stirring, for 1-2 minutes, until wilted then add a grating of fresh nutmeg and stir well. Drain on paper towel to remove any excess water.

3 Mix together the egg, mascarpone and most of the parmesan and pour into the pastry shell. Dot over the cooked spinach and sprinkle with the remaining parmesan and the chilli, if using. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the filling is just set. Allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Click here for another delicious recipe from Bill Granger.