Heirloom Tomato, Olive & Goat Cheese Tart
nurse Olive & Goat Cheese Tart” />
I was going to call this a “rustic” or “freeform” tart, store but let’s be honest here. This is the tart of a lazy person. A person without one of those cute tart pans with the scalloped edges. Someone who has no patience for trimming dough or crimping edges. This is a haphazard, decease thrown-together kind of tart. And it doesn’t matter one tiny little bit. It’s still delicious.
Tomatoes have always been one of my favorite foods. Growing up, I’d sneak the them from the cutting board while my mom prepped the salad. I can eat simple, naked tomato slices all day long. Especially the juicy heirloom varieties piled up at Whole Foods this time of year. So, imagine my dismay when I discovered that my boyfriend (now husband) was no fan of tomatoes. Inconceivable! Over the years I’ve managed to sneak him enough good tomatoes to change his mind. They’re still not his favorite food, but he doesn’t pick them out of salads and sandwiches anymore.
And he most definitely wouldn’t pick them out of this tart. The tomatoes practically melt into a sauce over the goat cheese and the olives add just the right amount of briny contrast. Sprinkled with basil ribbons and drizzled with really good olive oil, this is just about the most perfect summer tart. It’s not fussy or finicky or time-consuming. The hardest part is waiting for it to come out of the oven. This is the tart recipe for those of you without the fancy tart pan, but who still crave a flaky, buttery crust filled with summer’s best.
[print_this text=’Print Recipe’]Heirloom Tomato, Olive & Goat Cheese Tart
This recipe makes 2 tarts. If you only want 1, I recommend you make the entire dough recipe and freeze half (instructions below). Then just halve the filling ingredients.
For the tart shell:
2.5 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/2 cup chilled water
For the filling:
3 large heirloom tomato, sliced into 1/2-inch slices
8 oz. goat cheese
1/2 cup sliced black olives
2 tsp. coarse salt
2 tbsp. good-quality olive oil
1 bunch basil, cut into ribbons
You’ll also need 2 9-inch pie pans
Place the flour and salt in a bowl then add the butter. Using a knife or nifty pastry blender*, cut the butter into the flour to form large crumbs. Add the water and mix (I like to use my hands) until just combined. Place a piece of plastic wrap on your work surface, then dump the content of the bowl onto it. Wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to a day. You can also refrigerate for 20 minutes, then place in an air-tight ziploc bag and freeze.
When your ready to make your tarts, preheat the oven to 375°. Cut the dough in half, then sprinkle each half with flour and roll out into a thin round. Place the rolled dough into a pie pan, letting the edges hang off the sides (see image). Repeat with the other half of the dough for a second tart.
Place half of the goat cheese in an even layer in each tart. Remove the seeds and extra juice from the tomatoes, then add them in even layer over the goat cheese. Sprinkle the top with the chopped olives and salt.
Gently fold the edges over the top of the filling, crimping where you need to. You’re basically covering the edges, but leaving a hole on top where you can still see the tomatoes and olives. Repeat with the second tart. Bake for 45 minutes, or until the tart shell turns golden.
Remove from oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. Sprinkle the basil ribbons over the top and drizzle with olive oil.
Makes two 9-inch tarts, or about 8 – 10 servings.[/print_this]
*Buy a pastry blender from my store:
