Cheese Tomato Pesto Tart Food

CHEESE, TOMATO & PESTO TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200c/fan 180c/gas 6. Unroll the pastry onto a flat baking sheet and, using a sharp knife, score a rectangle two finger-widths from the edge. Fork the pastry all over the inside of the marked edge. Scatter the cheese, olives and tomatoes over the centre of the tart, then season to taste.
• Bake for 20-25 mins until pastry is crisp and risen, tomatoes are soft and the cheese is golden. Drizzle over the pesto and cut the tart into slices to serve. Great with a green salad.

SUNNY'S HEIRLOOM TOMATO AND PESTO TART

Steps:

• Set the crusts. Unroll and press the pie crusts into two 9-inch tart pans. If using rectangular pans, just trim one-third of each crust and press the pieces together to fit. Then, use your pointer finger to press the dough into the sides of the tart pan. Use a knife to remove the excess crust along the top edges and discard the scraps. Using a fork, prick the bottom of the crust a few times to allow for venting (maybe 3 pricks per quadrant). Chill for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Prebake the crusts. Spray the shiny side of 2 pieces of aluminum foil with a bit
• of nonstick spray and press into the tart shells, sprayed side down. Fill with dried beans or pie weights and bake until the edges are golden and the sides are set, about 15 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and bake another 10 to 12 minutes, until cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
• Make the pesto. Blend the parsley, basil, thyme, garlic, Parmesan, almonds,
• lemon zest, and lemon juice in a food processor until the ingredients resemble a rough paste. Taste the pesto and season with salt and pepper, if needed. To finish, slowly drizzle the olive oil into the feed tube while blending.
• Assemble and bake the tarts. Divide the pesto equally and, using a rubber spatula, evenly spread it over the bottom of each prepared crust. Starting around the outer edges, place the tomatoes over the pesto, overlapping each slice slightly as you move around the tart pan. Then make a smaller circle of overlapping slices within the starter ring. Continue until the entire pan is covered in circles of tomato slices. Repeat for the second tart. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over the top of each tart and sprinkle with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the tomatoes appear roasted in texture and the edges of the crust are golden brown. If the dough browns too quickly, tent the edges with foil.
• Garnish the tarts and serve. Remove the tarts from their rings and sprinkle Parmesan on top. Serve warm, at room temperature, or cold.

ROASTED TOMATO TART WITH RICOTTA AND PESTO

Steps:

• Line a large baking sheet with paper towels. Set the sliced tomatoes on top in a single layer. In a small bowl, combine 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper. Use it to season the tomatoes evenly on both sides, cover with another paper towel and let sit, 15 minutes, allowing the salt to draw moisture out of the tomatoes.
• As the tomatoes sit, heat the oven to 400 degrees and set a rack in the middle of the oven. Working on a large sheet of parchment paper, roll out the puff pastry into a 9-by-11-inch rectangle, trimming any uneven edges. Prick the inside with a fork every few inches, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Using a pastry brush, coat the center of the puff pastry with the crème fraîche, leaving the border unbrushed.
• Working within the border, layer the tomatoes and red onion on top of the tart, allowing them to overlap slightly. Transfer to a sheet pan and bake, rotating halfway through, until puff pastry is browned and puffed, 30 to 35 minutes.
• Sprinkle tomatoes with Aleppo pepper, if using. Dollop with fresh ricotta. Thin pesto with olive oil until it reaches the proper consistency for drizzling; drizzle on top of tart to taste. Top with basil, if using, and serve warm or at room temperature.

TOMATO PESTO TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease baking sheet.
• Unfold puff pastry on lightly floured surface, roll out into 12-inch square.
• Crimp edges (or gently fold over 1/2 inch of edge).
• Spread pesto evenly over top, sprinkle with cheese.
• Top with thin tomato slices, top with rest of cheese.
• Bake 17 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.

PESTO CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the tomatoes, mayonnaise, cheeses, pesto and pepper. Spoon heaping teaspoonfuls into tart shells. Place on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 8-12 minutes or until lightly browned.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO AND PESTO TORTA

Steps:

• Finely chop garlic in processor. Add basil, 1/4 cup pine nuts, oil and lemon juice. Process until well blended. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese. Using on/off turns, process just until blended. Transfer pesto to medium bowl.
• Coarsely chop tomatoes in processor. Add tomato paste and process until mixture is almost smooth. Add 1/3 cup cream cheese and blend well.
• Using electric mixer, beat 2 cups cream cheese and butter in large bowl until fluffy. Season with salt and pepper.
• Spray 6-cup soufflé dish with nonstick spray. Line with plastic wrap, extending plastic over sides. Spread 3/4 cup cream cheese-butter mixture evenly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with half of tomato mixture, then 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, then half of pesto mixture. Repeat layering with 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture, remaining tomato mixture, 1/2 cup cream cheese-butter mixture and remaining pesto. Top with remaining cream cheese-butter mixture. Cover and chill overnight. (Can be made 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• Invert torta onto platter. Peel off plastic. Garnish with basil sprigs and toasted pine nuts. Serve with baguette slices.

TOMATO PESTO TART

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, unroll pie pastry. Roll into a 14x12-in. rectangle; transfer to an ungreased baking sheet. Flute edges; prick bottom with a fork. Bake at 425° for 6-8 minutes or until lightly browned., Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese; top with tomatoes. In a small bowl, mix the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, pesto, pepper and remaining mozzarella until blended; spread over tomatoes. Bake 10-12 minutes longer or until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbly.

OKA CHEESE RIPE TOMATO PESTO TARTS

Steps:

• Pre-heat oven to 350°F (180°C).
• Roll dough to 1/4 inch (0.5 cm) thickness. Cut six - 5 inch (12-cm) squares. Set aside.
• In a bowl, beat the egg. Add milk. Brush dough pieces with beaten egg. Fold the sides 1-inch (2.5-cm) to create shell with points. Brush the folded sides with beaten egg. Bake for 15 minutes.
• Melt butter in saucepan and sauté garlic, simmer for about 2 minutes.
• Add tomatoes and cook 2 or 3 minutes. Add pesto, salt and pepper and mix gently. Remove from heat.
• Remove cooked pie crusts from oven and spread evenly with the pesto and tomato mix.
• Add grated Oka cheese.
• Return to oven for 2 or 3 minutes to melt the cheese.
• Serve hot.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO TART WITH PESTO AND MOZZARELLA

Steps:

• Pour flour into a bowl and make a well in the center. Add butter, egg, water, salt, and sugar. Work the ingredients together with your fingertips until they resemble bread crumbs. Mix until smooth, pushing with the bottom of your palm to form dough into a ball. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.
• Roll dough out into a large round on a floured work surface. Roll up dough over the rolling pin to transfer it to a tart pan with a detachable bottom. Drape dough over the tart pan; press over the bottom and against the edges. Trim the edges. Chill the crust for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Prick the bottom of the crust with a fork. Line with waxed paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans.
• Bake crust in the preheated oven until partially cooked, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the weights and waxed paper. Continue baking for 5 minutes. Let cool. Leave the oven on.
• Spread a thin layer of pesto over the crust. Break mozzarella into pieces over the pesto. Cover with tomatoes.
• Return tart to the oven; bake until tomatoes are tender and cheese is melted, about 10 minutes. Season with sea salt before serving.

GOAT CHEESE AND TOMATO TART

Steps:

• Make the crust:
• In the bowl of an electric mixer stir together the yeast, the sugar, and 1/3 cup lukewarm water and proof the yeast mixture for 5 minutes, or until it is foamy. Stir in an additional 1/3 cup lukewarm water, the oil, the cornmeal, 1 1/2 cups of the flour, and the salt and blend the mixture, adding more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, as necessary to form a dough. Knead the dough, incorporating as much of the remaining 1/4 cup flour as necessary to form a smooth and elastic dough, for 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer the dough to an oiled bowl and turn it to coat it with the oil. Let the dough rise, covered with plastic wrap, for 1 hour, or until it is double in bulk, and punch it down. Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick on a floured surface, fit it into a greased 15- by 10 1/2-inch jelly-roll pan, crimping the edges decoratively, and bake the crust in the bottom third of a preheated 450°F. oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until it is pale golden. Transfer the crust on the pan to a rack and let it cool for 10 minutes. The crust may be made 1 day in advance and kept, covered tightly with plastic wrap, at room temperature.
• Make the custard:
• In a bowl whisk together the scallion, the goat cheese, the eggs, the cream, the minced basil, salt and pepper to taste until the mixture is smooth.
• In a large skillet heat the oil over moderately high heat hot but not smoking and in it sauté half the tomatoes with half the garlic for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, or until they are browned lightly, transferring them as they are sautéed to a plate. Sauté the remaining tomatoes with the remaining garlic in the same manner.
• Spread the custard evenly over the crust and arrange the tomatoes in rows on it. Bake the tart in the middle of a preheated 400°F. oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the custard is pale golden and set. Remove the tart carefully from the baking sheet with 2 spatulas and let it cool on a rack for 15 minutes. Garnish the tart with the basil sprigs and serve it at room temperature.