Fresh Tomato Tart With Herbed Ricotta Food

FRESH TOMATO TART WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425ºF.
• Place unfolded, thawed puff pastry on a piece of parchment paper and use a rolling pin to roll it out 1-2 inches bigger on all sides.
• Place parchment and puff pastry on a baking sheet.
• Using a small knife, score (cut part of the way through, but do not cut completely through) a 1/2-inch border all the way around the puff pastry sheet.
• In the inside of the border, poke all over with a fork. Brush the outside edges with beaten egg.
• Bake 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.
• Remove from oven and let cool.
• Meanwhile, prepare ricotta filling. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta, parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, mint, garlic powder, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine.
• Let tart crust cool. When cooled, spread with ricotta mixture and top with sliced tomatoes. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with flaky sea salt, cracked black pepper, and fresh herbs.
• Best served immediately.

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta, scallions, dill, chives, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside for up to 30 minutes.
• With a small serrated knife, cut the larger tomatoes in wedges through the stem and the smaller tomatoes in half through the stem. Place them in a medium bowl with the garlic, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and set aside.
• When ready to serve, add the basil to the tomatoes and combine. Pile the ricotta in a large (12-inch) round shallow bowl or oval platter. Using a slotted spoon, place the tomatoes around the ricotta, discarding any liquid. Drizzle the tomatoes and ricotta with olive oil, sprinkle with the reserved basil and fleur de sel, and serve at room temperature.
• Set a fine-mesh sieve over a deep bowl. Dampen 2 pieces of cheesecloth with water and line the sieve with a double layer of the cheesecloth.
• Pour the milk and cream into a medium stainless-steel or enameled pot, such as Le Creuset, and stir in the salt. Bring to a full rolling boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Turn off the heat and pour in the vinegar. Allow the mixture to stand for one minute, until it curdles. It will separate into thick parts (the curds) and milky parts (the whey).
• Pour the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined sieve and allow it to drain into the bowl at room temperature for 20 minutes (for soft ricotta) to 25 minutes (for firmer ricotta), occasionally discarding the liquid that collects in the bowl. Transfer the ricotta to a bowl, discarding the cheesecloth and any remaining liquid. Use immediately or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The ricotta will keep, refrigerated, for 4 to 5 days.

HERBED RICOTTA & FRESH TOMATO TART

Steps:

• 1. In a small bowl, mix together one- half of oil with the garlic. Brush onto crusts; bake according to package directions. Set aside to cool slightly. 2. Meanwhile, in a food processor, blend ricotta, lemon zest and juice, basil and dill. Season with fine salt and pepper. 3. Evenly spread ricotta mixture over both crusts, leaving a 1-inch border. Top with tomatoes, Parmesan and pepper flakes and drizzle with remaining one-half of oil; scatter additional basil on top (if using). Sprinkle with flaky salt.

FRESH TOMATO TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375*.
• In a food processor, combine the flour, cornstarch, one-fourth teaspoon salt and butter. Pulse the mixture until it is in very tiny bits.
• Add one egg and pulse until a dough forms. This dough is rather tough but, it does come together nicely.
• Gather the dough into a ball. Then press the dough in to the tart pan, covering every bit. (You could, roll the dough out to a 12-inch circle, if you want.) Crimp the edges, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Roughly chop 1/4 cup of the basil leaves. Stack and roll the other basil leaves and cut them into thin ribbons.
• Mix the cheese, mayo, chopped basil, green onions and pepper in a bowl. Spread the mixture over the bottom of the tart shell.
• Top with grape tomatoes and press them down. Bake for 35 minutes�until the crust edges are golden-brown and the cheese is bubbling up.
• Cool for 10 minutes, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup sliced basil ribbons. Serve warm.

FRESH TOMATO TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Combine the flour, sugar and 1/4 tsp salt in food processor.
• Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles dry oats.
• Add 1 Tbsp water and process for a few seconds.
• Add the remaining 1 Tbsp water and pulse 3 or 4 times.
• Place the dough in a bowl and form into a ball.
• Cover and chill for 30 minutes.
• Place the dough on a floured surface and roll into an 11 inch circle.
• Place the dough in a 10 inch tart pan.
• Sprinkle the cheese on the dough and then sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped basil on top of cheese.
• Place the tomato slices on top.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper and then drizzle with the olive oil.
• Bake at 400°F for 30 to 40 minutes or until crust is golden.
• Garnish with basil.
• May be served hot or room temperature.