Potato Blue Cheese Tartlets are a triumph of flavor and simplicity, serving as an easy, elegant, and irresistibly hearty appetizer. Perfect for any gathering, from a casual family game night to a sophisticated holiday party, these savory bites are designed to impress without the fuss. Imagine the scene: your guests are eagerly awaiting the main course, perhaps during a lively football game or a festive celebration, and you present these golden, cheesy, herb-infused tartlets. The aroma alone is enough to draw everyone in, promising a delightful culinary experience. My family, like many others, enjoys gathering around the TV for weekend sports, and for the big game, I knew we needed an appetizer that was both satisfying and memorable. This simple yet sophisticated recipe quickly became a beloved staple, proving that delicious doesn’t have to mean complicated.
These Simple Savory Tarts are an absolute game-changer when you need a quick, flavorful starter that feels gourmet. They combine the earthy comfort of potatoes with the distinctive tang of blue cheese, all nestled in a delicate, crispy shell. It’s an appetizer that genuinely delivers on both taste and presentation, making it an ideal choice for hosts who want to offer something special without spending hours in the kitchen.
Why These Potato Blue Cheese Tartlets Are a Must-Make
- **Effortless Elegance:** Hosting a party often means juggling multiple tasks. These tartlets simplify your appetizer menu dramatically. Starting with pre-made fillo shells is a secret weapon, saving you precious time and effort. Despite their quick preparation, they look incredibly chic and professional, making your guests think you’ve spent hours crafting them. It’s our little secret to effortless entertaining!
- **The Ultimate Game-Day Appetizer:** As the excitement builds for the big game, a hearty and satisfying appetizer is essential. While classic potato skins are always a hit with my meat-and-potatoes loving family, I wanted to create something truly unique and irresistible. These savory potato tartlets deliver on all fronts, providing a substantial bite that keeps everyone fueled and happy through halftime and beyond. They are easily the star of any football party, offering a gourmet twist on familiar flavors.
- **Versatile for Any Occasion:** Beyond game day, these tartlets are perfect for a wide range of events. Think holiday gatherings, dinner parties, brunches, or even a sophisticated weekend snack. Their appealing presentation and rich flavor profile make them adaptable to both casual and formal settings.
- **Unforgettable Flavor Combination:** The pairing of creamy potatoes, tangy blue cheese, and fragrant fresh herbs creates a symphony of flavors that is both comforting and sophisticated. Each bite offers a delightful contrast of textures – the crisp fillo, the tender potato, and the melt-in-your-mouth cheese.
Essential Ingredient Notes for Perfect Tartlets
Crafting these delectable tartlets starts with selecting high-quality ingredients. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving the perfect balance of flavor and texture:
- Kitchen Staples: You’ll need basic items like a single Egg Yolk to enrich the custard and act as a binder, along with a pinch of Salt to enhance all the flavors.
- 1 Package Fillo Shells: For ultimate convenience, pre-made fillo shells are a lifesaver. Brands like Athens typically offer 15 appetizer shells per box, making it easy to create a batch of these delightful bites without the hassle of making your own pastry. These shells bake up incredibly crisp and light.
- Idaho® Russet Potatoes: The choice of potato is critical for the success of this recipe. Opt for baking potatoes like Idaho® Russets, which are known for their high starch content and dry, fluffy texture when cooked. Avoid waxy varieties, as they tend to become gummy when mashed or diced and won’t absorb the flavors as well.
- Heavy Cream: A generous cup of heavy cream, ideally with 36% butterfat, provides the luxurious richness and creamy base for our savory custard. It binds the ingredients together beautifully and contributes to the overall indulgence of the tartlets.
- Minced Fresh Thyme: Fresh herbs are non-negotiable for elevating the flavor profile. Thyme offers a subtle, earthy, and slightly floral note that pairs wonderfully with both potatoes and blue cheese.
- Minced Fresh Rosemary: Rosemary introduces a piney, fragrant, and slightly peppery accent. Its robust flavor stands up well to the other ingredients and adds a sophisticated aromatic touch.
- Blue Cheese: The star of the show! Use your favorite variety of blue cheese, crumbled. Whether you prefer a milder Gorgonzola Dolce, a pungent Roquefort, or a classic Stilton, the choice is yours. The bold, tangy flavor of blue cheese is what truly makes these tartlets shine, providing a wonderful contrast to the creamy potatoes.
The Idaho® Russet Challenge: Taste the Difference!
Before trying them, I confess I was skeptical about whether I could truly discern the difference between an Idaho® potato and an ordinary brand. I was sure wrong! The unique growing conditions in Idaho—rich volcanic soil, ideal weather patterns, and the meticulous care given to these potatoes—result in a distinctively superior product. This translates to fluffier baked potatoes, creamier mashed potatoes, and, in our case, perfectly textured potato pieces for these tartlets.
I promise you will taste the difference! The high solids content and low moisture of Idaho® Russet potatoes make them ideal for baking and mashing, yielding a superior texture that is both light and substantial. That’s why I always make it a point to look for the iconic Idaho® potato logo when I shop. It’s worth taking those extra few seconds to ensure you’re buying the best of the best, guaranteeing exceptional results in all your potato dishes, including these divine tartlets.
Mastering How to Make Potato Blue Cheese Tartlets: A Simple Guide
Despite their elegant and gourmet appearance, these Potato Blue Cheese Tartlets are surprisingly simple to prepare. The beauty of this recipe lies in its straightforward approach, allowing you to create something truly impressive with minimal fuss. Here’s a detailed overview of the process:
- Prepare Your Potatoes Ahead: A clever trick to save time on the day of your event is to make some extra baked potatoes a day or two in advance. Simply bake one or two medium Idaho® Russets, then allow them to cool completely before refrigerating. Cold potatoes are easier to dice cleanly and hold their shape better.
- Assemble the Flavor Foundation: The core of these tartlets involves three main components: perfectly diced potatoes, crumbled blue cheese, and a rich, savory custard. Once your potatoes are ready, crumble your favorite blue cheese into small pieces. For the custard, simply whisk together heavy cream, an egg yolk (for richness and binding), a pinch of salt, and your freshly minced thyme and rosemary. This aromatic mixture will infuse the tartlets with incredible depth.
- Fill and Bake with Ease: The final steps are incredibly quick. Arrange the pre-made fillo shells on a baking sheet. Evenly distribute the diced potatoes and crumbled blue cheese among the shells. Finally, carefully pour the prepared custard mixture over the potato and cheese in each shell, ensuring they are well-filled but not overflowing. Bake the tartlets until the custard is set and the shells are golden and crisp. The result is a sophisticated appetizer that tastes as good as it looks.
The Nutritional Powerhouse: Health Benefits of Potatoes
Often misunderstood, potatoes are a genuine nutritional powerhouse, especially when consumed as part of a balanced diet. Idaho® potatoes, in particular, offer a range of health benefits that make them a smart choice for your meals and appetizers:
- Naturally Gluten-Free: Idaho® potatoes are an excellent foundation for a gluten-free diet, making them suitable for individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities. They are a naturally wholesome carbohydrate source.
- Rich in Vitamin C: Just one medium potato provides a significant 45% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C. This essential vitamin is crucial for immune function, skin health, and acting as an antioxidant to protect your cells.
- Good Source of Dietary Fiber: A single potato contributes 8% of your daily fiber needs. Dietary fiber is vital for digestive health, helps regulate blood sugar levels, and can contribute to a feeling of fullness, aiding in weight management.
- More Potassium Than a Banana: Surprisingly, one potato contains more potassium than a medium banana. Potassium is an electrolyte that plays a key role in maintaining fluid balance, nerve signals, and muscle contractions, including those of the heart.
- Ideal for Baking: The inherent characteristics of an Idaho® Russet potato—naturally high in solids and low in moisture—make it perfect for baking. This composition leads to a delightfully fluffy interior when baked, providing both satisfying texture and nutritional value.
Frequently Asked Questions About Savory Tartlets
Russet Potatoes, also widely known as Old Potatoes, Idaho Potatoes, or Baking Potatoes, are ideal. Their dry, mealy texture makes them perfect for mashing into a creamy consistency and for dicing to hold their shape beautifully in tartlets, absorbing the other flavors wonderfully without becoming watery.
For a less pungent blue cheese flavor, try Cambozola, which offers a delightful creamy texture similar to Brie with a hint of blue. Italian Gorgonzola is a classic choice and works exceptionally well; you might find two options depending on your cheesemonger. Gorgonzola Dolce is softer and creamier with a milder tang, while Gorgonzola Piccante is more crumbly with a significantly more intense flavor. Other excellent choices include Stilton for a robust, earthy note, or even a milder Danish Blue. Choose what best suits your palate and your guests’.
Absolutely! You can prepare the potatoes (bake and dice) and mix the custard a day in advance. Store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Assemble and bake the tartlets just before serving for the freshest taste and crispiest shells. If you must, you can fully bake them and gently reheat them in a low oven (around 300°F/150°C) until warmed through, though the shells may lose some crispness.
The possibilities are endless! For a meatier bite, add crispy crumbled bacon or prosciutto to the filling. If blue cheese isn’t for everyone, swap it out for smoked gouda, sharp cheddar, or a blend of Parmesan and mozzarella. A touch of finely minced chives or green onions can add a fresh, oniony note. For a bit of heat, a pinch of red pepper flakes in the custard would be fantastic. You could also experiment with other fresh herbs like chervil or dill for different flavor profiles.
You May Also Savor These Delicious Recipes:
- Twice Baked Potatoes
- Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- Cheesy Potato Cups
- Discover more of my Best Appetizer Recipes to elevate your entertaining!
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Potato Blue Cheese Tartlets Recipe
20 minutes
30 minutes
50 minutes
10 servings
These delightful potato tartlets, inspired by classic gourmet flavors, combine the earthy goodness of potatoes with the distinctive tang of blue cheese and aromatic fresh herbs, all baked in crispy fillo shells. An easy, elegant, and hearty appetizer perfect for any gathering.
Average Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars (Based on 3 reviews)
- Beth: “Perfect for blue cheese lovers. Excellent!” (August 29, 2024)
- Anonymous: (September 7, 2022)
- Joannie: “So easy using premade shells! Our guests loved these. Great recipe” (April 6, 2022)
Ingredients
- 1 package Fillo Shells (Athens brand has 15 appetizer shells/box)
Filling:
- ¾ pound Idaho® Russet potatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 egg yolk
- A pinch of salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh thyme
- 1 ½ teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
- ¼ pound blue cheese, crumbled
Instructions
- Prepare Potatoes: Bake 1-2 medium Idaho® Russet potatoes (½-¾ pound) until tender. Allow them to cool completely in the refrigerator. This step can be done a day in advance.
- Pre-bake Fillo Shells: Prebake your fillo shells according to package instructions, but remove them from the oven 2-3 minutes earlier than recommended to prevent over-browning. Once cooled for about 5 minutes, gently press down the centers (they may puff up) to create a well, ensuring the bottoms remain intact. Set aside.
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Dice Potatoes: Dice the cooled potatoes into pieces slightly larger than ¼-inch cubes. Set aside in a bowl.
- Prepare Custard: In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg yolk, salt, minced fresh thyme, and minced fresh rosemary until well combined.
- Assemble Tartlets – Potatoes: Arrange a few cubes of diced potato into the bottom of each pre-baked fillo shell.
- Assemble Tartlets – Blue Cheese & Custard: Evenly divide the crumbled blue cheese among the shells, layering it over the potatoes. Then, carefully fill each shell with the cream mixture, ensuring the custard coats the potatoes and cheese.
- Bake Tartlets: Place the filled tartlets on a baking sheet and bake for 10-14 minutes, or until the custard is set and the tops are lightly golden.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the tartlets to cool for about 10 minutes on the baking sheet before carefully removing them. Serve warm for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
You may also make these tartlets using puff pastry shells for a richer, flakier texture, but they will likely require additional baking time compared to fillo shells. Adjust baking time as needed until golden brown and cooked through.
Recommended Products
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8
Serving Size:
2
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 354Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 381mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 6g
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