Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart

While we wait for glorious tomato season to start in the Southern U.S., which is happily just around the corner, we thought we would share this recipe for a tomato and goat cheese tart to hold us all over since it works equally well with tomatoes from the produce aisle. This dish comes together quickly. The store-bought puff pastry requires little more than thawing, and the cheese spread takes no time to mix. After that, add the breadcrumbs, layer the tomatoes, sprinkle on the salt, pepper, and dried herbs, and it’s into the oven. A quick and light dinner, this recipe is reminiscent of pizza so even the little ones should like it.

Ingredients

3          tablespoons     goat cheese    

3          tablespoons     mascarpone cheese    

3          tablespoons     milk    

1          teaspoon          honey 

1 1/4    teaspoons        fleur de sel     

1          sheet    puff pastry, thawed    

2          tablespoons     panko bread crumbs   

5 to 6               tomatoes, sliced 1/2-inch thick          

1          teaspoon          herbes de Provence  

1/2       teaspoon          freshly ground black pepper  

Method

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees.           

2. Mix the cheeses, milk, honey, and one-quarter teaspoon of the salt together in a small bowl until fully incorporated.                  

3. Unfold the puff pastry and place it on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Shape into a 9 x 9 inch rectangle.            

4. Spread the cheese mixture onto the pastry dough using the back of a spoon or an off-set spatula, taking care to leave a half-inch border around the pastry's edge.             

5. Scatter the breadcrumbs across the cheese mixture. Layer on the tomatoes, overlapping their edges. Sprinkle the herbes de Provence, pepper, and remaining salt onto the tomatoes.                  

6. Bake for 30 minutes. 

Notes For Tomato & Goat Cheese Tart

• Herbes de Provence is a seasoning blend consisting, usually, of marjoram, rosemary, thyme, basil, oregano, savory, and bay leaf, all of which are herbs found in the Provençal region of southern France. It’s sold in most grocery stores alongside the spices.

• We recommend Dufour Pastry Kitchens puff pastry, but any variety available to you will work great.