Tomato Tarts
User Reviews
5
-
Prep Time
10 mins
-
Cook Time
15 mins
-
Cooling Time
5 mins
-
Total Time
30 mins
-
Servings
6 people
-
Calories
375 kcal
-
Course
Main Course
-
Cuisine
American
Tomato Tarts
Description
This recipe uses refrigerated puff pastry as a base, rolled out and marked with a shallow indentation along the edges to create a border. Thinly sliced Brie cheese is arranged on the pastry, followed by halved or sliced tomatoes depending on size. The tomatoes are lightly salted to enhance their flavor. Fresh basil torn into pieces adds herbal brightness on top before baking at a high temperature to crisp the pastry and warm the toppings.
The recipe highlights the importance of avoiding pre-shredded or crumbly cheeses to maintain melting quality and texture. The final tart has a flaky, golden crust combined with creamy, soft Brie and juicy, slightly roasted tomatoes. Fresh basil adds a complementary aromatic note.
An optional step for very juicy tomatoes involves slow roasting them at low heat before assembly to reduce moisture, helping to prevent sogginess of the pastry. This step is advised if extra-juicy tomatoes are used.
Ingredients
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- 8 ounces Brie cheese Avoid pre-shredded or pre-crumbled cheese, soft cheese, such as mozzarella, goat cheese, or feta cheese
- 1 pound tomato See Recipe Notes for extra-juicy tomatoes, ~3 medium or ~1 pint smaller, any variety
- 1 egg optional
- 1 teaspoon salt sea salt
- 3 basil fresh sprigs, removed from stem and torn into pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
Prepare cheese:
- If using Brie, thinly slice the cheese. For goat cheese or feta, use a fork to flake the cheese apart. For mozzarella, flake with a fork or tear into small pieces with your hands.
Prepare tomatoes:
- Halve grape tomatoes, quarter cherry tomatoes, and/or thickly slice larger tomatoes.
Prepare puff pastry:
- Roll out the puff pastry on the included sheet of parchment paper.Note: This recipe was written for refrigerated puff pastry. If using frozen puff pastry, thaw before using, rolled out to ¼" thickness, and work on a floured surface instead of parchment paper.
- If desired, cut pastry into 6 even rectangles. Alternatively, leave the sheet whole and make one large tart.
- Move the parchment paper and pastry onto a baking sheet.
- Use a butter knife to make a shallow indentation on the pastry (or pastries), creating a ½" border along the edges. Do not cut all the way through the pastry!Tip: If you accidentally cut all the way through the pastry dough while making the border, use your finger to add a few drops of water to the cut area of the dough. Rub the dough to seal it back up.
- Arrange the cheese in a single layer on the dough, covering everything except the ½" border.
- Top the cheese with the tomatoes.
- Whisk the egg in a small bowl, add a splash of water, and carefully brush the egg wash onto the top outer edge of the pastry (the ½" border). Take care to only brush the TOP of the pastry-- if the egg wash drips onto the side, it will seal the puff and prevent it from rising.Tip: An egg wash makes the pastry extra glossy when baking. It's totally optional.
Bake + Serve:
- Bake for 15 - 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the pastry is golden. Cool for about 5 minutes on a cooling rack, and then top with sea salt and basil.
- Serve while still warm.Best served immediately, but leftovers can be served cool (like cold pizza) or reheated in the oven for a 3-5 minutes. Store for up to 2 days.
Notes
- Use a high-quality, refrigerated puff pastry and thaw fully before rolling out for best texture.
- If tomatoes are very juicy, roasting them at 300°F for about an hour before assembling can reduce moisture and keep the pastry crisp.
- Thinly slicing Brie ensures even melting on the tarts.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 375 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 375kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 21g | 7% |
| Protein | 12g | 24% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 10g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 65mg | 22% |
| Sodium | 741mg | 31% |
| Potassium | 271mg | 6% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 895IU | 18% |
| Vitamin C | 10.4mg | 12% |
| Calcium | 85mg | 9% |
| Iron | 1.6mg | 9% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.