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Tarte aux Poireaux

A classic French savory tart featuring a beautifully crisp pastry crust filled with a velvety, rich egg custard and sweet leeks melted in butter.

55 min Easy Francesa 6 servings
Tarte aux Poireaux

The story behind

Let me tell you, this savory tart is an absolute masterpiece of simple flavors! The very first time I experienced an authentic tarte aux poireaux was at a cozy neighborhood bakery in northern France. The aroma wafting into the street combining baking butter and sweet simmered leeks won me over instantly. The baker told me that the ultimate trick to its success is cooking the leeks on very low heat so they sweat completely and release their natural sugars without browning too fast. Personally, I absolutely love making this for a light dinner or a weekend brunch with close friends. It looks stunning when baked to a perfect deep golden-brown and served lukewarm. To drink, a chilled glass of dry white wine or an ice-cold white tea pairs magnificently to lift the rich creaminess of the custard layers. You are going to love it.

Instructions

  1. 1
    Preheat your oven to 180°C and line a round tart pan with the shortcrust pastry sheet, pricking the bottom several times with a fork.
  2. 2
    In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and toss in the thinly sliced leeks.
  3. 3
    Cook the leeks gently for about 12 to 15 minutes until they turn fully soft, translucent, and slightly caramelized.
  4. 4
    In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the fresh eggs together with the heavy cream, ground nutmeg, salt, and black pepper until completely smooth.
  5. 5
    Fold the cooked leeks and half of the shredded cheese directly into the egg mixture, blending smoothly.
  6. 6
    Pour the rich filling into the pastry-lined tart pan, spreading it evenly just like the presentation in Tarte aux Poireaux.jpg, and scatter the remaining cheese over the top.
  7. 7
    Bake at 180°C for about 30 to 35 minutes until the custard sets completely in the middle and the top forms a gorgeous, bubbly golden-brown crust.

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