60 minutes
A delightful combination of flaky puff pastry, creamy cheese, and sweet roasted rainbow carrots, garnished with fresh herbs.
Flour, for rolling out dough
0 oz
Puff Pastry, thawed
0 oz
Multicolored Carrots, scrubbed and sliced lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces
0 lb
tablespoons
to taste
to taste
Ricotta
0 oz
Feta Cheese, crumbled
0 oz
Garlic Clove, grated
each
Flat Leaf Parsley, chopped
to taste
Fresh Chervil, chopped
to taste
Chives, chopped
to taste
1. Prepare the Puff Pastry
Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the thawed puff pastry to smooth out any creases. Transfer the pastry to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a paring knife, score a 1-inch border around the edges of the pastry, being careful not to cut all the way through. Prick the center area all over with a fork to prevent it from puffing excessively during baking. This step ensures the pastry bakes evenly and achieves a beautiful, lightly golden color.
2. Bake the Puff Pastry
Place the pastry on the top rack of your preheated oven and bake for about 20 minutes, or until it turns lightly golden. This initial bake is crucial for setting the pastry base, making it crisp and ready to hold the toppings.
3. Prepare the Carrots
While the pastry is baking, toss the sliced carrots with 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil, a generous pinch of kosher salt, and a few grinds of black pepper. Spread the carrots out on another baking sheet in a single layer to ensure they roast evenly.
4. Roast the Carrots
Place the carrots on the bottom rack of the oven and roast for 15-20 minutes. You'll know they're ready when the edges are golden brown and the carrots are crisp-tender. This roasting process caramelizes the natural sugars in the carrots, enhancing their sweetness and flavor.
5. Blend the Cheese Mixture
In a food processor, blend together the ricotta, crumbled feta, and grated garlic until smooth. Season with a pinch of salt and some black pepper to taste. This creamy, tangy mixture will provide a flavorful bed for the roasted carrots.
6. Assemble the Tart
Once the puff pastry and carrots are ready, spread the cheese mixture evenly over the center of the pastry, leaving the borders free. Arrange the roasted carrots on top of the cheese layer in a decorative pattern, pressing them gently into the cheese.
7. Bake the Assembled Tart
Return the assembled tart to the oven and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, or until the carrots are fully tender, and the edges of the cheese have turned a lovely golden brown. This final bake melds all the flavors together, creating a harmonious and delicious tart.
8. Finish and Serve
Once out of the oven, drizzle the tart with a bit more extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle generously with your choice of chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, chervil, or chives. These fresh herbs add a bright, fresh finish to the tart. Serve warm or at room temperature, and enjoy the delightful combination of flaky pastry, creamy cheese, and sweet roasted carrots.
Use a mix of sautéed mushrooms, substitute with Gruyere, and add caramelized onions.
Use ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella slices, and basil, ideal for summer.
Use zucchini slices and add lemon zest to the herbed goat cheese.
Use roasted butternut squash with blue cheese, walnuts, and sage for a fall variation.
Replace thyme and rosemary with basil, oregano, and mint for a Mediterranean twist or dill and chervil for a French flair.
Choose carrots of uniform size for even cooking and aesthetic symmetry. Use a mandoline for consistent, thin slices, which not only look better but also cook more evenly.
Pre-bake your tart shell until it's just starting to turn golden to prevent a soggy bottom, using pie weights or dried beans to keep the pastry from puffing up.
Monitor the tart as it bakes to ensure the pastry edges are a deep golden brown and the carrots are tender but not overly browned, covering edges with foil if necessary.
Blanch the carrot slices briefly in salted boiling water to maintain vibrant colors and tender-crisp texture, and to remove some of the raw taste.
Opt for a high-quality, full-fat cheese and mix in finely chopped fresh herbs like chives, thyme, and rosemary for a flavorful herbed cheese.
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