Berkswell Cheese – Ram Hall Farm, Warwickshire

Tarte Fine of Berkswell Cheese – Aubergine Relish, Rocket & Walnut Pesto

A crisp filo tarte fine layered with melting Berkswell cheese, sweet onion lyonnaise, and smoky aubergine relish, finished with peppery rocket and walnut pesto.

INGREDIENTS

     +    
Caramelised Red Onion Lyonnaise

2 red onions, thinly sliced

20g raisins

4g mustard seeds

1g crushed black pepper

1g mustard powder

4g picked thyme

6g Maldon sea salt

Large pinch ground ginger

6g fresh ginger, finely diced

30ml red wine vinegar

50ml balsamic vinegar

15g dark brown demerara sugar

50ml olive oil

     +    
Rocket & Walnut Pesto

50g rocket leaves, roughly chopped

50g walnuts, roughly chopped

25g Berkswell cheese, finely grated

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

20ml white wine vinegar

4g Maldon sea salt

2g crushed black pepper

100ml olive oil

     +    
Filo Tart Base

3 sheets filo pastry

Olive oil

Herbes de Provence

Chopped rosemary

Maldon salt and black pepper

     +    
Aubergine Relish

2 aubergines

4 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped (skin and seeds retained)

1.5g chilli flakes

2g mixed spice

3g toasted cumin

20g tomato purée

50ml olive oil

25ml balsamic vinegar

8g Maldon sea salt

150g shiitake mushrooms, sliced and fried

80g onion, finely diced

8 garlic cloves, grated

12g coriander, chopped

Zest of 1 lemon, finely chopped

     +    
Assembly – Per Tart

1 baked filo square

8g black olive tapenade

15g caramelised onion lyonnaise

Aubergine relish

Berkswell cheese, thinly sliced (3–4 slices, rind on)

Rocket & walnut pesto

Light sprinkling Herbes de Provence

Method

     +    
Caramelised Red Onion Lyonnaise

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat.

Add the onions, raisins, spices, thyme, ginger, salt, and sugar (excluding the vinegars).

Cover and sweat gently for 12–15 minutes until soft.

Remove the lid and cook for a further 3–4 minutes until lightly caramelised.

Add the vinegars and reduce slowly until sticky, glossy, and golden. Cool and reserve.

     +    
Rocket & Walnut Pesto

Blend all ingredients to a coarse pesto. Adjust seasoning and chill until required.

     +    
Filo Tart Base

Brush one sheet of filo with olive oil, sprinkle lightly with rosemary, Herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper.

Lay another sheet on top, press down firmly, removing any air, and repeat the process. Add the third sheet, brush with oil, and season lightly (no herbs on top).

Cut into large squares (6 per sheet).


Bake sandwiched between parchment and two heavy trays at 180°C for 8–10 minutes, until dark golden and crisp. Cool.

     +    
Aubergine Relish

Rub the aubergines with oil, season, and grill until deeply charred all over. Cool, chop into 2cm pieces, and drain in a colander for 60 minutes.


Heat the olive oil in a pan and sauté the onions, spices, and garlic until lightly golden. Add mushrooms, tomatoes, tomato purée, and seasonings. Cook over medium-high heat until caramelised.

Add the aubergine and simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Deglaze with balsamic vinegar and cook for a further 5 minutes. Finish with lemon zest, coriander, remaining salt, spread onto a tray, cover, and chill.

     +    
Assembly – Per Tart

Spread the filo with olive tapenade, followed by the onion lyonnaise and aubergine relish. Layer over the Berkswell cheese to fully cover. Drizzle lightly with pesto and bake at 180°C for 5 minutes until just melted.

     +    
Final Assembly

Top the warm tart with a lightly dressed rocket salad and serve immediately.

Berkswell Cheese – Ram Hall Farm, Warwickshire

Tarte Fine of Berkswell Cheese – Aubergine Relish, Rocket & Walnut Pesto

A crisp filo tarte fine layered with melting Berkswell cheese, sweet onion lyonnaise, and smoky aubergine relish, finished with peppery rocket and walnut pesto.

INGREDIENTS

   +  &nbsp
Caramelised Red Onion Lyonnaise

2 red onions, thinly sliced

20g raisins

4g mustard seeds

1g crushed black pepper

1g mustard powder

4g picked thyme

6g Maldon sea salt

Large pinch ground ginger

6g fresh ginger, finely diced

30ml red wine vinegar

50ml balsamic vinegar

15g dark brown demerara sugar

50ml olive oil

   +   
Rocket & Walnut Pesto

50g rocket leaves, roughly chopped

50g walnuts, roughly chopped

25g Berkswell cheese, finely grated

2 garlic cloves, finely chopped

20ml white wine vinegar

4g Maldon sea salt

2g crushed black pepper

100ml olive oil

   +   
Filo Tart Base

3 sheets filo pastry

Olive oil

Herbes de Provence

Chopped rosemary

Maldon salt and black pepper

   +  &nbsp
Aubergine Relish

2 aubergines

4 plum tomatoes, roughly chopped (skin and seeds retained)

1.5g chilli flakes

2g mixed spice

3g toasted cumin

20g tomato purée

50ml olive oil

25ml balsamic vinegar

8g Maldon sea salt

150g shiitake mushrooms, sliced and fried

80g onion, finely diced

8 garlic cloves, grated

12g coriander, chopped

Zest of 1 lemon, finely chopped

   +   
Assembly – Per Tart

1 baked filo square

8g black olive tapenade

15g caramelised onion lyonnaise

Aubergine relish

Berkswell cheese, thinly sliced (3–4 slices, rind on)

Rocket & walnut pesto

Light sprinkling Herbes de Provence

Method

   +   
Caramelised Red Onion Lyonnaise

Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over a medium heat.

Add the onions, raisins, spices, thyme, ginger, salt, and sugar (excluding the vinegars).

Cover and sweat gently for 12–15 minutes until soft.

Remove the lid and cook for a further 3–4 minutes until lightly caramelised.

Add the vinegars and reduce slowly until sticky, glossy, and golden. Cool and reserve.

   +   
Rocket & Walnut Pesto

Blend all ingredients to a coarse pesto. Adjust seasoning and chill until required.

   +   
Filo Tart Base

Brush one sheet of filo with olive oil, sprinkle lightly with rosemary, Herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper.

Lay another sheet on top, press down firmly, removing any air, and repeat the process. Add the third sheet, brush with oil, and season lightly (no herbs on top).

Cut into large squares (6 per sheet).


Bake sandwiched between parchment and two heavy trays at 180°C for 8–10 minutes, until dark golden and crisp. Cool.

   +   
Aubergine Relish

Rub the aubergines with oil, season, and grill until deeply charred all over. Cool, chop into 2cm pieces, and drain in a colander for 60 minutes.


Heat the olive oil in a pan and sauté the onions, spices, and garlic until lightly golden. Add mushrooms, tomatoes, tomato purée, and seasonings. Cook over medium-high heat until caramelised.

Add the aubergine and simmer gently for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Deglaze with balsamic vinegar and cook for a further 5 minutes. Finish with lemon zest, coriander, remaining salt, spread onto a tray, cover, and chill.

   +   
Assembly – Per Tart

Spread the filo with olive tapenade, followed by the onion lyonnaise and aubergine relish. Layer over the Berkswell cheese to fully cover. Drizzle lightly with pesto and bake at 180°C for 5 minutes until just melted.

   +   
Final Assembly

Top the warm tart with a lightly dressed rocket salad and serve immediately.

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