Method
Step 1
Heat oven to 200⁰C.
Step 2
Shave a little of the hard cheese with a potato peeler/cheese cutter to create cheese shavings for the salad topping. Grate the rest of the cheese finely.
Step 3
In a large mixing bowl, mix the mascarpone, grated hard cheese, basil, lemon zest, salt and pepper. It will form a lumpy mixture - that’s ok.
Step 4
Unroll the pastry and cut into 2 equal pieces (2 portion recipe) or 4 equal pieces (4 portion recipe). Take a knife and cut a line in each pastry piece about 1cm in from the edge all the way around. Don’t cut through, just score the pastry with the knife. Now spoon on equal portions of the cheese mixture within the borders you just “cut” into the pastry.
Step 5
Toss the asparagus in the oil, then arrange on top of the cheese mixture on each pastry piece.
Step 6
Bake the pastries for about 20 minutes until the pastry turns golden brown.
Step 7
To make the vinaigrette put red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt and pepper in a shaker (or any container with a lid) and shake well. Toss the salad leaves in a bowl with the vinaigrette and set aside.
Step 8
To serve, place a pastry on each plate and top with dressed salad and hard cheese shavings.