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    Home > Savory Recipes

    Published: May 15, 2014 · Modified: Mar 2, 2023 by Helen S Fletcher · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

    A French Pastry Crust with a Salmon Tart

    This Salmon Tart features a pate brisee crust filled iwth salmon and vegetables.

    Pate Brisee a l'Oeuf pastry crust is known as one of the, if not the, finest pastry crusts to be found.  Made with all butter and, if made correctly, it will be flaky and crisp yet tender.  The word pate means pie and a l'oeuf means with egg.

    The use of the food processor almost guarantees a perfect pastry crust.  The key is not to over mix or it won't be flaky - tasty, but not flaky.   The butter must be very, very cold.  Put it in the freezer after cutting if desired.  It is important to keep the pieces of butter in pea size chunks when processing with the flours.  While speaking of flours, I have used both all purpose and cake flour to make pastry flour which has a lower gluten or protein count.  This will make a more tender pastry crust.  A two to one ratio of all purpose to cake flour is what we used at the bakery for our pastry flour as we lacked the room to store another canister of flour and we didn't use it that often.

    Two tablespoons of egg is one half of a large egg.  Mix it well so the yolk and white are throughly combined so it divides well.  The egg will help keep the pastry crust crisp while the lemon juice will tenderize it and help keep it from becoming tough.  Make sure the water is ice water.  I usually put a few ice cubes in a half cup of water while I prepare the other ingredients.

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    You might have noticed everything is kept very cold and that is how it should be.  If, at any point, the pastry crust warms, scoop it up and put it in the refrigerator to chill.

    When it comes from the processor, the pastry crust should be in lots crumbs.  You are going to push these together to make a dough.  As you do you will see bits of butter throughout the dough.  This is very important.  As long as the butter stays really cold when it hits the heat of the oven, it will melt under the heat, causing steam that will lift the dough into layers.

    If the pastry crust is being baked blind (without a filling), prick the shell well with a fork.  Chill it very well.  Spray a piece of foil that will fill the shell completely and place it, sprayed side down, into the pastry crust.  Fill it to the top with beans to hold the crust in place and bake for abut 20 minutes.  Remove the foil and beans and bake until the bottom is set.  If the pastry crust is to be completely done, bake until medium golden brown.

    The salmon tart came about when we had some of the absolutely most delicious poached salmon left after a party.  I was asked to do something with it.  The salmon tart mated perfectly with the pate brisee a l'oeuf pastry crust.  I've made it several time since.  I'm beginning to think they have leftovers on purpose!  But it's well worth making.

    This pastry crust can be used in quiches and tarts, sweet or savory. However, it not sturdy enough for an American pie.

    Ingredients

    Pate Brisee a l'Oeuf Pastry Crust
    7 tablespoons butter, cut in small pieces and  frozen (105 grams or 3 ½ ounces)
    ½ cup + 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour (85 grams or 3 ounces)
    ⅓ cup cake flour (40 grams or 1 ¼ ounce)
    ½ teaspoon salt
    2 tablespoon beaten egg
    1 teasoon lemon juice
    2 tablespoons ice water

    Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

    Flours in processor
    Flours mixed
    Butter in
    Butter cut in

    In a processor bowl fitted with the steel blade, combine the flours and salt; process briefly to mix.  Add the butter and place in a circle over the flours.  Pulse until the butter is cut into large pieces.

    Liquids in
    Pate Crumbs in processor bowls
    Crumbs out
    Pushed together
    Shaped into a disc

    Mix the egg, lemon juice and ice water.  Pour over the flour/butter mixture and pulse until it lumps together in its about the size of peas.  Do not over-procress and especially don’t let it form a ball.   Pour it out onto a work surface lightly dusted with flour and push together into a ball.  Form into a thick disc.  Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before rolling.

    Rolled out
    Placing in pan
    Setting into edge of pan 1
    Setting into edge 2
    Removing excess dough

    Roll into a round about 11 inches.Place it in a 9x2 inch tart pan with a removable bottom.Seat it into the edges by lowering the pastry into the shell and pulling the edge toward the center of the pan.  Seat the pastry into the edges making sure it is at a 90 degree angle.Continue around the pan until the pastry is well seated into the pan.  Remove the excess dough with the palm of your hand pressed against the top of the pan.  Refigerate about 30 minutes or until it is firm. In the meantime while the crust if chilling prepare the salmon filling.

    Salmon Ingredients

    Salmon Filling

    1 to ¼ pounds poached or roasted salmon fillet
    ¾ cup red pepper
    ¾ cup yellow pepper
    1 tablespoon vegetable oil
    1 cup frozen spinach, squeezed dry (10 oz. chopped spinach, thawed)
    1 ½ teaspoons salt
    1 ½ teaspoons dried dill
    ½ teaspoon white pepper
    ½ cup parmesan or sharp asiago cheese
    4 eggs
    1 ½ cups half and half

    Poach or roast the salmon.  Chill.  Remove the skin and any brown under the skin.

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

    Salmon in bowl

    Place in a large bowl and break into large pieces.  Set aside.

    Pepper in pan
    Cooked peppers
    veggies and salmon

    Dice the peppers and sauté in the oil until just softened.  Add to the salmon along with the spinach, salt, dill and pepper.

    Eggs beaten
    Liquid mixed

    Whisk the eggs to mix, add the half and half and seasonings; whisk together.Add to the salmon mixture.  Pour into the prepared shell.

    Filling in shell
    Parm on

    Top with the grated parmesan or asiago.

    Place the tart on a rimmed baking sheet and place on the bottom rack of the oven.  Bake for 45 to 50 minutes minutes until deeply browned and set.  Let it rest for about 10 to 15 minutes before cutting.

    Side of tart pan down

    Place the tart on a fat can and let the sides fall down.  Remove it from the bottom of the tart pan and place it on a platter or cardboard round.   Serves 8.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hilary says

      October 14, 2024 at 1:13 pm

      Hi, Helen! Do you think a decent quality, not too dry smoked salmon (not cold smoked, even though that's my absolute favorite) would be too strong in flavor to use in place of poached or roasted salmon?

      Reply
      • Helen S Fletcher says

        October 14, 2024 at 1:57 pm

        Hi Hilary - if the salmon in heavily smoked, reduce the amount by maybe 1/4 to 1/3. If lightly smoked, use it all.

        Reply
    2. Lisa Neri says

      May 13, 2024 at 2:50 am

      This recipe looks delicious. I do have pastry flour, in my pantry to make the crust. How many grams of pastry flour would I use to equal your blend? Do I roll the dough to a 1/8 or 1/4 inch depth? Do I grease/butter the tart pan?
      Thank you for your time & efforts in answering my questions.
      Lisa

      Reply
      • Helen S Fletcher says

        May 13, 2024 at 8:21 am

        Hi Lisa, Just add the two flours together and you get 125 grams of flour. This is the same for pastry flour. I don't roll my crusts by the inches - the recipe states about 11" round. If the recipe doesn't say to butter a pan, it isn't. In general, pastry crusts do not require a buttered/greased/sprayed pan because they are so rich in fat anyway. Hope this helps. This is a really good tart. Glad you found it.

        Reply
    3. manisha says

      May 15, 2014 at 8:27 pm

      I can already say that it is gonna be my absolute favourite. I am a big quiche fan and this recipe is making me drool ;)

      Reply
    4. [email protected] says

      May 15, 2014 at 10:16 am

      Thanks for this recipe, love it!!!!!

      Reply
      • hfletcher says

        May 15, 2014 at 10:41 am

        I think savory pastry is often overlooked. We did quite a few savory tarts at the bakery and they sold well.
        Thanks for your help.

        Reply
    5. Harriette says

      May 15, 2014 at 9:21 am

      I love your work very informative and beautiful pictures. But I need a gluten free version. Thanks

      Reply
      • elodia says

        May 15, 2014 at 10:19 am

        Harriette, I use GF substitute flour check which one you can use for your condition, there are plenty good , try the Gluten Free Magazine, they have a page full of alternatives.

        Reply
        • hfletcher says

          May 15, 2014 at 10:39 am

          Thanks you so much for your suggestion. I am at a loss for gluten free because we did not do that at the bakery. I am sure Harriette will appreciate your help.

          Reply

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