This post may contain affiliate links which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through links. I will only recommend products that I have personally used! Learn more on my Private Policy page.
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, we’re embracing the flavors of Ireland with a delightful twist for the third in my series of Irish themed appetizers may be the best of all. The inspiration for this Irish Cheddar Cheese Spinach Tart comes from my improved ability to see a recipe and intuitively get a sense for how good it will be. I would say that sense was applied to all of these Irish themed recipes I created beginning with the IRISH ROSEMARY CHEDDAR SODA BREAD and into the IRISH CHEDDAR CHEESE BEER DIP. This recipe was borrowed from Save Room for Dessert.
Irish Cheddar Cheese Spinach Tart
The learning is that the intuitive sense for understanding a recipe is a learned skill. After the number of years that I have been cooking, working with recipes and creating my own unique recipes, I feel I have obtained a real good sense for what will be good and also what my family, guests and I will enjoy eating. The good news here is that I believe we can all obtain this skill. For those of you reading this and do a lot of cooking, I am sure you know exactly what I mean. For those of you getting into cooking, as you get more familiar with flavors and textures, you will really develop a sense of what the end product will look like from a collection of independent ingredients.
The above stated really calls up an image of a tapestry. We start with a blank canvass, mix colors and brush strokes. In the end, we end up with a painting. Cooking is the same way. In this Irish Cheddar Cheese Spinach Tart, I really use simple ingredients. When the cheese, eggs and cottage cheese come together, you know the result will be creamy. The flavor of both cheeses with a couple of simple spices makes the dish balanced. The recipe is rounded out with the sweetness of the onion and the great green flavor from the slightly bitter wilted spinach leaves. Note that this dish is also gluten free.
The cast of characters.
Ingredients
The mixing of the ingredients and shown in the tart pan cooking and out of the oven.
Assembling of the Tart
The Irish Cheddar Cheese Spinach Tart plated.
Irish Cheddar Cheese Spinach Tart plated
Irish Cheddar Cheese Spinach Tart
Ingredients
- 10 Ounces Fresh Spinach wilted and drained
- 1 Whole Medium Onion diced
- 3 Large Eggs beaten
- 10 Ounces Small Curd Cottage Cheese
- 3 Ounces Parmesan cheese
- 7 Ounces Irish White Cheddar cheese - dubliner
- 1/2 Tsp Black Pepper
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large mixing bowl combine the chopped onion, eggs, cottage cheese, grated cheese and pepper. Mix with a spatula until blended. Set aside.
Wilt the spinach. Remove the spinach to a strainer. Drain the spinach well then press it with paper towels until you remove as much moisture as you can. Rough chop the spinach and add it to the cheese and egg mixture. Fold with the spatula until combined.
Spray a tart pan. Place the mixture into the tart pans (with removable bottom). Press the spinach and cheese mixture into the tart pans smoothing to level the top.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until just set in the center and lightly browned on the edges.
Remove from the tart pan. Cut into squares.
Serve and enjoy!
Recipe Notes
https://www.savingdessert.com/spinach-tarts-irish-recipe/
Hi there. Looking forward to making this delicious tart this evening. My grandmother was born in Ireland and one of my favorite recipes that she cooked was a Spinach Souffle (very similar to this). But since going GF, I have not attempted to make because it has white flour in it. I have a quick question. Your image of the ingredients shows a bottle of Allspice but your ingredients doesn’t list that. I don’t want to mess up the taste. How much Allspice is used? Thanks!
It is so nice that this recipe reminded you of your grandmother. I honestly cannot remember about the allspice. I really don’t think I used it at all. If I did, it was no more than 1/4 tsp. But I would leave it out. Let me know how it turns out for you.
What a great looking dish. Perfect for brunch or dinner. Love the “crustless” part too. This would be a crowd pleaser for sure.
Thx Gloria. The crustless part works for my new gluten free lifestyle.
O fun! What a great savory dish!
totally delicious. fun and easy to make.
This looks just perfect… So many of my favorite things combined into one!
Then that sounds like a hit!
What a delicious looking tart. Love all the ingredients and flavors going in there. I will try it.
I hope you do try it. Snap a pic if you do.
This tart looks amazing. Perfect for the summer or fall! And I love the idea of rosemary cheddar soda bread!
Thx so much. I really enjoyed eating both the tart and the bread.