Blue cheese and fig tarts

Quick recipe finder Blue cheese and fig tarts

Preparation time

less than 30 mins

Cooking time

10 to 30 mins

Serves

Makes 24 tarts

Recommended by

2 people

These are simple to make, yet look so sophisticated, and most of the preparation can be done in advance.

By Mary Berry From Mary Berry Cooks

Ingredients

2 sheets filo pastry (measuring 25x25cm/10x10in square)
a little melted butter
3 ripe figs
100g/3½oz creamy blue cheese such as dolcelatte or roquefort
1 tsp lemon juice
3 sage leaves, chopped
sprinkling of ground paprika

Recipe tips

Method

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
Brush two sheets of filo with butter and place on top of each other. Cut into 24 equal squares. Put the squares together in pairs on top of each other at a 45 degree angle to make a star shape. Press into the holes of a 12 mini-muffin tin. Repeat with the remaining pastry to make 24 mini tartlets.
Bake in the oven for about 5-10 minutes, or until golden-brown and crisp. Transfer to a baking tray.
Chop the figs into small pieces, and divide between the filo cases. Put the cheese, lemon juice and sage into a bowl. Mash down with a fork, season with pepper, then spoon blobs of cheese mixture on top of the fig. Sprinkle lightly with paprika.
Bake in the oven for five minutes, or until the cheese has just melted.

Recipe Tips

If the figs have tough skins, scoop the flesh away from the skin and chop. If figs are not in season use one pear, peeled and diced and then tossed in lemon juice.