This recipe makes 18 tartlets.
Ingredients
Hollandaise
Method
Main
1.Preheat oven to 220C. Roll out pastry to 3mm thick on a lightly floured surface and cut into rounds using a 4cm-diameter pastry cutter. Place on a baking paper-lined oven tray, prick the centre of each disc with the tines of a fork several times, brush with egg wash and bake until golden brown (5-10 minutes). Remove from oven and, while still warm, press lightly to flatten. Set aside.
2.For hollandaise, melt butter in a small saucepan, remove from heat and keep warm (it should remain at blood temperature). Meanwhile, simmer vinegar, shallot, peppercorn, bay leaf and 35ml water in a small saucepan over high heat until reduced by half. Strain through a fine sieve into a heatproof bowl and cool to room temperature. Add egg yolks and whisk over a saucepan of gently simmering water until pale and creamy (4-6 minutes). Make sure you don’t let the mixture get too hot as it will curdle. Remove from heat and slowly ladle in butter, one ladle at a time, whisking vigorously until combined. Season to taste with sea salt and lemon juice and set aside in a warm place.
3.Bring a saucepan of salted water to a simmer over low-medium heat. Stir water to create a slow-moving whirlpool, then carefully crack quail eggs into water in batches. Cook until just set (2 minutes), then remove using a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper. Keep warm.
4.Place a folded piece of jamón on each pastry disc, top with a quail egg and spoon a little hollandaise over. Scatter with chives and serve immediately.
Russell Blaikie recommends sour cream shortcrust pastry by Carême, available from select delicatessens or substitute with another good-quality shortcrust pastry. Jamón Ibérico is available from Spanish delicatessens and select butchers.
Drink Suggestion: Champagne will cut through the richness of egg yolk and hollandaise – something fresh and crisp with great acidity and structure such as a blanc de blancs. Drink suggestion by Emma Sputore
Notes
