Angela's Italian Recipe for Cod and Mushroom Tart


Ingredients:

For the Bechamel Sauce:
2 oz (50 grams) oz butter
2 oz (50 grams) plain flour
18 fl oz (500 ml) milk
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
Salt and pepper

For the Pate Brisee (thawed if frozen):
9 oz (250 grams) plain flour, plus extra for dusting
6 oz (175 grams) butter, softened and diced
1 egg, lightly beaten
Salt

For the Tart:
18 fl oz (500 ml) dry white wine
1 large onion, halved
2 cloves
6 cod fillets, skinned
1 tablespoon chopped fresh marjoram
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 fresh flat-leaf parsley sprig, leaves only
1 oz (25 grams) butter, plus extra for greasing
2 and 1/4 lb (1 kg) mushrooms, thinly sliced
3 and 1/2 oz (100 grams) Gruyere cheese, grated
2 tablespoons double cream
2 eggs, lightly beaten
Salt and pepper

Directions:

Prepare the Bechamel Sauce:
Melt the butter in a saucepan over a medium heat.

Whisk in the flour.

Pour in all the milk, whisking constantly until it starts to boil.

Season with salt, lower the heat, cover and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, for at least 20 minutes. Bechamel sauce should not taste floury.

Remove the saucepan from the heat.

Taste and add more salt if necessary and season with pepper and/or nutmeg.

If the sauce is too thick, add a little more milk.

If too runny, return to the heat and add a knob of butter mixed with an equal quantity of plain flour.

Note: For a richer bechamel sauce, replace half the milk with the same amount of double cream; for a lighter bechamel sauce, add half milk and half water.

Prepare the Pate Brisee:
Sift the flour and a pinch of salt into a mound on the work surface and add the diced butter.

Rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.

Shape into a mound, make a well in the center and pour in the beaten egg and 2 tablespoons water.

Knead lightly by hand (your hands should be cold - if necessary hold them under cold running water) or using a metal palette knife.

Wrap the pastry in cling film, flatten gently with a rolling pin and chill in the refrigerator for 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) Gas Mark 4.

Divide the pastry into several pieces, roll out on a lightly floured surface and use to line boat-shaped, oval or round tartlet tins.

Line with baking parchment or greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans.

Bake for 15-20 minutes.

Remove the tins from the oven, remove the beans and parchment or paper and leave to cool before filling.

Note: The quantity of pastry given here is also enough for two 23-cm/9-inch round pies. Halve or double the quantity according to your requirements.

Prepare the Tart:
Pour 18 fl oz (500 ml) water and the wine into a saucepan.

Stud the onion with the cloves, add to the pan and bring to the boil.

Add the fish and cook over a low heat for about 20 minutes.

Remove the cod with a fish slice and boil the stock to reduce slightly, then set aside.

Sprinkle the cod with the marjoram, thyme and parsley, and season with pepper.

Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the mushrooms and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes.

Remove from the heat and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 160°C (325°F) Gas Mark 3.

Grease a tart or quiche tin with butter.

Make the bechamel sauce using half milk and half fish stock, then stir in the mushrooms, Gruyere, cream and eggs and season with salt and pepper.

Roll out the pate brisee on a lightly floured surface and line the prepared tin.

Prick the base all over with a fork, line with baking parchment and fill with baking beans.

Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven and increase the temperature to 180°C (350°F) Gas Mark 4.

Remove the parchment and beans.

Chop the fish and sprinkle evenly over the pastry case.

Cover with the bechamel sauce mixture and return to the oven for 40 minutes. Serve warm. Serves 6.