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Maroilles tart
Tarte au maroilles or flamiche au maroilles, from the Avesnois
FrenchThe Avesnois, the green, hedged corner of northern France near the Belgian border, makes Maroilles, a square, orange-rinded cheese with a powerful smell and a surprisingly gentle, creamy taste. Its most famous use is this tart, sold hot in slices at markets and fairs in Maubeuge and Avesnes-sur-Helpe and eaten with a salad and a cold drink. A yeasted bread-dough base is topped with slices of Maroilles and a little crème fraîche and baked until bubbling. Maroilles is made with animal rennet; a vegetarian washed-rind cheese gives the same melting richness. Chef's tip: leave the rind on; it carries much of the flavour and turns golden in the oven.
- Total time
- 50 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 6
Ingredients
For the dough
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup lukewarm milk
- 1 egg
- 1 ⅜ oz unsalted buttersoft
For the topping
- 9 oz Maroilles cheeseor a vegetarian washed-rind cheese, sliced 5 mm thick
- ½ cup crème fraîche
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 3 ½ oz green salad leaves (optional)to serve
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Mix 9 oz strong white bread flour, ⅛ oz fast-action dried yeast and ½ tsp salt, add ½ cup lukewarm milk and 1 egg and knead for 5 minutes. Knead in 1 ⅜ oz unsalted butter until the dough is smooth and soft. Cover and leave to rise for 1 hour, until doubled.
65 minStep 2: Heat the oven to 425°F (400°F fan). Roll the dough into a 28 cm round and lay it in a buttered tart tin or on a lined tray, pressing up a small rim. Leave for 15 minutes to puff slightly.
15 minStep 3: Spread ½ cup crème fraîche over the dough, leaving a 2 cm border, then lay the 9 oz Maroilles cheese slices on top in a single layer and grind over ½ tsp black pepper. Common mistake: adding salt; Maroilles is already salty enough.
Step 4: Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the dough edge is golden and the cheese has melted into a bubbling, browned layer.
25 minStep 5: Rest for 5 minutes, cut into wedges and serve hot with 3 ½ oz green salad leaves.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 17 g
- Carbs
- 33 g
- Fat
- 25 g
- Fibre
- 1 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
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Good to know
- How long does maroilles tart take?
- About 50 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 25 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 6 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- What can I use instead of strong white bread flour?
- Plain flour, same amount (the dough will be softer and rise a little less).
- What can I use instead of fast-action dried yeast?
- Fresh yeast, three times the weight.
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