Red Salmon and Spinach Tart

bluemoon downunder's Note:

A Kraft tart which I’ve so substantially adapted that I’ve pretty much de-Krafted it, but I have left in the Philadelphia cheese as an echo of its culinary ancestry. If you haven’t used leek, onion and garlic together, they offer a subtle blend of flavours when combined. If time isn’t a factor and you want to make a healthier crust, you could try a rice crust either from my Butternut Pumpkin Pie With a Brown Rice Crust or my Leek and Spinach Tart With Rice Crust. Some conversions: 220g = 7oz; 100g = 31/2 oz; 210g = approximately 61/2 oz.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 15 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 (220 g) frozen shortcrust pastry , case thawed
• 20 g unsalted butter
• 1 leek , thinly sliced
• 1 small onion , minced
• 1 -3 garlic clove , minced (depending on your relationship with garlic)
• ½ teaspoon cumin (optional) or ½ teaspoon cumin , to taste (optional)
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional) or ¼ teaspoon nutmeg , to taste (optional)
• 100 g baby spinach leaves
• 1 (210 g) can red salmon , drained, bones removed, broken into chunks (it is not essential to remove the bones -- you can simply crush them, they are, after all, an excell)
• ½ lemon , zest of, finely grated (OMIT if you're not fond of lemony flavours)
• 100 g philadelphia light spreadable smoked salmon or 100 g cream cheese
• 2 eggs
• salt , to taste
• fresh ground black pepper , to taste
• ½-1 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)
• dill sprigs (to garnish) or parsley sprig , for garish
• mixed salad green , to serve

Directions:

1. Pierce the pastry well with a fork and bake in a hot oven 200°C/400°F/gas mark 6 for 8 minutes; remove it from the oven and allow it to cool slightly.
2. Heat the butter in a medium-sized (preferably non-stick) pan and sauté the leek for 3-4 minutes until softened, then add the onion and garlic, and cumin and nutmeg (if using), making sure that all the ingredients are well-combined and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes; stir in the baby spinach leaves, allow them to wilt, add the salmon and lemon zest (if using) and stir all the ingredients thoroughly to ensure that they are well-combined.
3. Spoon the salmon mixture evenly into the pastry case.
4. Whisk together the Philadelphia cheese, eggs and salt and pepper, to taste; then pour this mixture over the salmon and vegetables; sprinkle with the parmesan (if using).
5. Bake the tart in a moderate oven at 180°C/350°-375°F/4-5 gas mark for 20-25 minutes or until the filling is set; garnish with sprigs of dill or parsley and serve with a green salad.