Prep time:

Cooking time: 23 minutes

Total time:

Serves: 5

1 sheet ready rolled puff pastry (or home made - but if you’ve grown and harvested your own asparagus, you are definitely excused from making pastry)

2 medium onions, finely sliced

20g butter

2 eggs, beaten

200g asparagus tips, steamed (for 2-3 minutes only)

100g soft goats’ cheese, cut into 1-2cm chunks

1tbsp oregano

50g parmesan cheese

If you grow your own, it is very useful to keep a pack of pastry in the fridge. So many home-grown harvests can be made into tarts or quiches of various kinds. Asparagus tart is one of the simplest and most delicious of all.

  1. Pre-heat oven to 180ºc (gas 4). Sauté the onions in butter for 5 mins until soft. Leave to cool.
  2. Roll/unfurl pastry onto a baking sheet and fold over the edges to make a lip around the edges of the pastry.
  3. Top with onion and then pour over beaten egg. Arrange asparagus on top, then top with goat’s cheese, oregano and sprinkle with parmesan.
  4. Bake in the oven for 20-25 mins. Serve warm or cold with a mixed salad.

Savoury gingerbread & local Camembert (Winnie’s Wheel)

To make this canapé you can use shop-bought gingerbread, but I prefer something a bit more savoury.

Parma ham basket with labneh, truffle or herb oil & Jerusalem artichoke crisp

A complex canapé with multiple elements, but the wow factor lies in the surprisingly simple-to-make basket.

Chilli beef, mozzarella & chilli jam bruschetta

A super easy canapé that can be elevated with homemade bread and chutney or simplified using shop-bought ingredients. The flexibility makes it ideal for both casual gatherings and more polished events.