beef essentials: unique carnitas tart
There is probably a good reason why you may have never heard of a carnitas tart. It is pretty much because I am making it up as I go along. It is called, Mad Scientist at work. As Spring slowly gives way to Summer, I find myself making new dishes for Summer events that I cater, and working on new recipes for the Autumn. This is what I would define as a Summer/Autumn recipe. So, you ready… Let’s get into the kitchen.
yield
serving(s)
prep time
15 Min
cook time
30 Min
method
Bake
Ingredients For beef essentials: unique carnitas tart
- PLAN/PURCHASE
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1piecrust dough recipe, more on this later
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10 - 12 ozcarnitas meat with sauce, more on this later
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3 - 4 sliceswiss cheese
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4 - 5 ozrefried beans
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2 ozsharp cheddar cheese, freshly grated
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salt, kosher variety, to taste
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black pepper, freshly ground, to taste
- ADDITIONAL ITEMS
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oil or butter
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sour cream, for serving
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salsa, your favorite, for serving
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white rice, for serving
How To Make beef essentials: unique carnitas tart
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1PREP/PREPARE
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2You will notice that I am rather light on the spices. That is because the carnitas beef recipe I am using is well spiced. If you are using some bland shredded beef, you will need to load up on the spices, like: cumin, cayenne, paprika, etc. Here is the carnitas shredded beef recipe that I used: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/main-course/beef/mexican-essentials-spicy-carnitas-beef.html
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3I experimented with several types of crust. What I was going for was something flaky, buttery, and that melts in your mouth. In the end, I went back to my Cordon Bleu roots, and made a Pâte Brisée crust… perfect. You can use any piecrust dough you desire; even store-bought. However, if you are looking for a Pâte Brisée recipe, here is mine: https://www.justapinch.com/recipes/appetizer/vegetable-appetizer/pate-brisee-hors-doeuvre-cups.html?r=1
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4You will need an ovenproof tart pan (ceramic or metal), or similar container. I picked mine up at Williams-Sonoma (I am a big fan of Bill’s). It measures 9-inches (23cm) in diameter.
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5Gather your ingredients (mise en place).
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6Place a rack in the middle position, and preheat the oven to 450f (230c).
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7Oil or butter your tart pan.
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8Roll out your piecrust of choice, on a lightly-floured surface.
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9Add the bottom pie crust to the tart pan.
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10Use a fork to poke holes in the bottom of the dough.
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11Chef’s Note: Poking holes in the dough is called docking, and will keep the dough from rising as it cooks.
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12Place in the preheated oven, and bake until it begins to brown, about 6 – 8 minutes.
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13Remove from the oven, and allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
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14Add the Swiss cheese to the bottom of the tart.
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15Cover with the refried beans.
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16Add the cheese to the carnitas beef, and add to the tart.
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17Roll out the dough for the top of the tart.
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18Add to the top, poke a few holes to allow the steam to escape, and brush with a bit of melted butter.
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19Place into the oven, and bake until the filling is hot, and the crust brown, about 15 – 18 minutes.
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20PLATE/PRESENT
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21Cut into wedges, and serve with some rice, a bit of sour cream, salsa, and a lime wedge. Enjoy.
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22Keep the faith, and keep cooking.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Make all your friends drool by posting a picture of your finished recipe on your favorite social network. And don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes so we can see it too!
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