Brussels Sprouts and Walnut Tarts With Whole Wheat Crust

Serves 6.

Note: Serve these hearty tarts as a main course, with a tossed salad or a cup of soup on the side. These are perfect to share with omnivorous friends. Serve them as a first course or side dishes. Vegans can substitute a nondairy cheese for the Gouda and use vegan buttery sticks or shortening for the butter. From Robin Asbell.

• 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

• 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced

• 1 large shallot, chopped

• 1 large carrot, diced

• 1 tbsp. fresh thyme, or 1 tsp. dried

• 1 tsp. maple syrup, Grade B

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 1/2 tsp. ground black pepper

• 1/4 c. chopped walnuts

• 2 oz. shredded aged Gouda or Gruyère (about 3/4 c.)

Whole Wheat Crust:

• 1 1/2 c. whole wheat pastry flour

• 1/2 c. unbleached flour, plus extra for rolling dough

• 1 tsp. salt

• 1 stick (8 tbsp.) unsalted butter, chilled

• 1/2 c. ice water

• 1/2 tsp. cider vinegar

Directions

In a large sauté pan, warm the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the Brussels sprouts, shallots and carrots, and stir. Cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, until the vegetables are wilted and browned. Add the thyme, maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper, and stir for another minute. Scrape the vegetables into a medium bowl and let cool. When cooled, stir in the walnuts and shredded cheese.

Line a large sheet ban with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine the whole wheat pastry flour, unbleached flour and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir to mix well.

Use the coarse holes of a grater or a pastry cutter to shred or cut the butter into the flour mixture. Toss the mixture and mix with your hands for a few seconds, leaving the butter in small pieces.

In a cup, combine the ice water and vinegar. Using a fork to toss the flour mixture, drizzle in the water mixture until the flour is all moistened. Stir and gently turn and knead with your hands, just until a dough is formed. If the dough is dry, drizzle in a tablespoon of cold water just to make a firm but flexible dough.

Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces, and form each piece into a disk shape. On a floured work surface, roll each round out into a 7-inch circle.

Place a round on the prepared pan and measure 1/2 cup of the Brussels sprouts mixture into the center of the dough, and leave a 1-inch border bare all around the edge as you spread the vegetables mixture and pat it down gently. Form pleats as you fold the dough over the filling, picking up the edge and pulling it toward the center and repeating a section at a time. Repeat to form all 6 tarts.

Bake for 20 minutes on the bottom rack of the oven, then rotate the pan and bake on the top rack until crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool. Serve warm. These keep for 3 days in the refrigerator, and reheat well in a warm oven.

Nutrition information per serving:

Calories410Fat24 gSodium70 mg

Carbohydrates40 gSaturated fat12 gTotal sugars4 g

Protein11 gCholesterol50 mgDietary fiber7 g

Exchanges per serving: 1 vegetable, 2 starch, ½ carb, ½ high-fat protein, 3½ fat.