Mini low carb cauliflower spinach tarts is my latest experiment. I’m searching for alternative ways to eat my favorite foods with less carbohydrates (white rice, bread, pasta, etc.). Searching the web for low-carb recipes, it’s filled with cauliflowers; cauliflower rice, cauliflower pizza crust, cauliflower this and that, so I’ve decided to try my luck at mini spinach tarts with a crust of cauliflower, of course… Since it works apparently well as a pizza base, it should work fine for mini tarts as well… and it did! The texture isn’t the one of a crispy flaky pastry but it does hold well the tarts, even if it’s filled with a moist filling. I was surprised by the result, it’s true; cauliflower is a great alternative to carbs filled ingredients like white flour.
Those mini tarts can be a low-carb diet lunch, dinner, snack or even appetizer. There is still some carbs in it, although the amount is relatively low, I’ve used a bit of integral flour to make the cauliflower base and bechamel filling but I presume you could exchange it for a lower carb flour like flax seed flour.
You will need for this recipe a silicone muffin mold, (I can not guaranty the greased metal mold will function for this recipe, since the cauliflower base isn’t holding up too tight). Also, the filling will be quite soft, coming out from the oven, but just wait a 10 minutes, it should hold better.Eat those mini tarts accompanied with a nice green salad for dinner, or use it as a side dish. Also, it makes a great lunch for the next day.
Let’s try those low carb bites!
Mini low carb cauliflower spinach tarts
Makes 12 mini tarts
Ingredients
1/2 a cauliflower
30g butter
120g integral flour (30g for the bechamel + 90 g for the cauliflower base)
120ml of cold milk
250g of spinach chopped
1/2 onion finely chopped
1 garlic clove
2 eggs(separate one yolk)
nutmeg
parmesan for topping
pinenut for topping
salt and pepper
Directions
Start by blending the cauliflower to a sand texture
In a bowl add the cauliflower, the 2 eggs (reserve a yolk for later), the 90g of integral flour (or flax seed flour), salt and pepper
Mix well
In a silicon muffin mold, (not sure it’s going to work with a greased mold) press down the cauliflower base in each hole (check the picture)
In a pan add the onion and soften them, medium low heat, in olive oil or butter
When soft, add the garlic and spinach bit by bit until it melt all down
Once the spinach is all in, make a well, add the butter and 30g of integral flour
Let cook the flour into the butter, while mixing, for a minute or 2, medium high heat
Add the cold milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper to the mix
Turn it until it becomes thick
Take off the fire (*at this point you can add some parmesan cheese extra in the filling) and let cool
When cooled (3 -4 minutes) add the yolk and mix
Fill up the cauliflower base with the filling
Top with a bit of parmesan and pine nuts
Cook in the lower level of the oven at 180°C (350F) for 20 minutes until the cauliflower turn light brown on top
Let the tarts cool, 10 minutes, before taking out from the mold and serving
These look fabulous. We are big fans of cauliflower, and have tried numerous recipes. I have never tried a tart but there is always a first time. Thanks for the inspiration, and well done! Loreto
7 Comments
These look fabulous. We are big fans of cauliflower, and have tried numerous recipes. I have never tried a tart but there is always a first time. Thanks for the inspiration, and well done!
Loreto
Cauliflower is the new carb free ingredient! We’ve got to experiment with it;)
Love the idea behind this, a really great way to use ingredients (:
I love, love cauliflower! If I wasn’t already sold by the idea of using cauliflower, it was certainly the béchamel that did it 😉 Must try this recipe!
Really inventive use of cauliflower! It’s amazing how versatile cauliflower is.
Cauliflower is the new wheat;)
Nice Read