Heirloom Tomato Tarts Food

HEIRLOOM TOMATO TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Place sliced tomatoes on a non-stick baking tray and drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper then place into the oven.
• Roast for 20 minutes or until the tomatoes are soft and caramelizing around the edges.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly; turn the oven down to 325°F.
• Roll pastry out thin and place on a paper-lined baking sheet; score the edges to make a border; make sure not to slice through the pastry. Then bake halfway (for approximately 10 minutes); remove from the oven.
• place tomatoes and mozzarella on the pastry, alternating the two.
• brush the edges of the pastry with the beaten egg.
• Drizzle a little olive oil over the tomatoes and mozzarella; season with salt and pepper.
• Place back in the oven for approximately 10-15 minutes; until the pastry is crisp and golden.
• Remove from the oven and top with fresh basil leaves.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Fit the rolled-out dough into a 9-inch tart pan, allowing the edges to rise about 1/4 inch above the rim of the pan. Prick the dough all over with a fork.
• Line the dough with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes until beginning to brown at the edges. Remove from the oven and carefully remove the foil and weights. Increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees.
• Meanwhile, cut the tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices. Place in a colander to drain excess tomato liquid for 20 minutes.
• Spread 1/4 cup pesto in an even layer over the parbaked tart crust. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella over the pesto. Sprinkle the fresh basil and oregano over the cheese.
• In a medium bowl, prepare the custard: Whisk together the eggs, cream, salt and pepper until combined.
• Place the sliced tomatoes evenly over the cheese and herbs in overlapping concentric circles.
• Pour the custard evenly over the tomato slices. Swirl the pan to evenly distribute the liquid. Bake until the filling is set and won't jiggle when shaken, about 35 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving warm. This tart can also be served at room temperature.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO & BLUE CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400.
• On a floured surface, roll out the puff pastry into a circle a scant ¼-inch thick and about 10 ½ inches in diameter. Transfer it to a 9-inch tart pan. Pat into the bottom and sides and trim the edge so it's even with the rim. Freeze for 15 minutes.
• In a small bowl, using a fork, crumble the cheese and mash together with the milk, starting with ½ tablespoon, until the consistency is spreadable but still has some lumps. May need up to 2 Tablespoons. Set aside.
• Slice tomatoes about ¼-inch thick. Blot with paper towels to remove most of juices; set aside.
• Remove pastry from freezer. Bake until light golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool about 15 minutes.
• Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the bottom of the pastry. Cover with the tomato slices in a tightly packed single layer. Sprinkle with the pepper and thyme and drizzle with the olive oil.
• Bake until the crust is deeper golden brown and the tomatoes have collapsed, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let stand for 20-30 minutes before serving.
• To serve, gently slide a knife around the edges, then remove the bottom and place the tart on a serving plate. Cut into wedges and serve warm or room temperature.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO TART

Steps:

• Make pastry:
• Blend together flour, butter, shortening, parmesan, pepper, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size lumps. Drizzle 2 tablespoons ice water over and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in food processor) until incorporated.
• Gently squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together without falling apart, add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) after each addition until incorporated, continuing to test. (Do not overwork dough, or it will become tough.)
• Turn out dough onto a work surface and divide into 2 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather both portions of dough into 1 ball, then pat into a disk. Chill, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, about 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch round and fit into a 9-inch round tart pan with a removable rim. Roll rolling pin over top of pan to trim dough flush with rim. Lightly prick tart shell all over with a fork.
• Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights or rice. Bake in middle of oven 20 minutes. Carefully remove foil and weights and bake until golden, about 15 minutes more. Cool in pan on a rack.
• Fill tart shell:
• Remove side of pan and slide shell onto a platter. Arrange one third of mozzarella in bottom of shell and drizzle with one third of pesto. Arrange one third of tomato slices, overlapping, on top of cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Repeat layering twice.

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.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO AND BASIL TART

Steps:

• For the crust: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the pie crust on an ungreased baking sheet and bake for 7 minutes until lightly golden. Cool for 20 minutes.
• For the pesto: In a blender or food processor, pulse the basil, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper until finely chopped. With the machine running, slowly add the olive oil until the mixture forms a smooth and thick consistency. Add the Parmesan and pulse until combined. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Using a spatula, spread the pesto over the cooled crust. Arrange the tomato slices on top of the pesto and garnish with the sliced basil. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Cut the tart into wedges and serve.

HEIRLOOM TOMATO AND GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the butter, flour and pinch of salt. Pulse until the butter is about the size of small peas. In a small bowl, mix 1 egg with the ice water. Add to the flour-butter mixture. Pulse until the dough begins to come together, but is still somewhat loose and shaggy. Turn dough out onto lightly floured board and gather together lightly and quickly into a disk. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 30 minutes before rolling out.
• Place dough on floured surface and roll out into large circle, about 1/8-inch in thickness. Sprinkle the bottom of the dough with 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Begin to layer the tomatoes around in concentric circles inside the dough, leaving about a 2-inch margin of dough at the edges. Sprinkle the fresh goat cheese evenly over the sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese over the top of the goat cheese.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining egg with the 1/2 cup of half-and-half. Season with salt and pepper, about 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Fold the edges of the dough up around the tomatoes, pinching the creases as you go, but casually. Enclose the tomatoes partway to make it leak-proof. Carefully pour the custard around and over the tomatoes and cheese. Brush the dough with the egg wash. Place in 400 degree oven and bake for 30 to 45 minutes, or until golden brown. Cut the tart into 10 wedges and sprinkle wit the julienned basil. Serve