I've got some pretty exciting news. Come next month, I'll be starting a new job! The change has me saying goodbye to an amazing team that I've worked with for the last handful of years (sad face). Although at the same time, I'm really looking forward to joining a stellar crew in my hometown of Vancouver. And given that some of my old colleagues are now some of my closest friends, I know they're never more than a phone call away. So overall, it's good feels all around!
On one of my final work trips back to Toronto, a colleague of mine commented on my calm demeanor. Given my job, I took it as a pretty nice compliment. Deadlines are tight, clients can be demanding, and the pressure can sometimes boil over (inevitably). Years ago, there's no way I would have expected "calm" to be a word someone used to describe me. But here we are. Frankly, I'd be kidding myself if I agreed that I am always calm. Often times, I still feel like a new swimmer treading water: shoulders and head are calmly above the surface, but underneath, two legs are furiously kicking away to keep everything afloat. The kicking isn't so much flailing or panic, but rather a constant stream of thoughts. A list of to-do's, things to remember, e-mails to return, phone calls to make. It goes on and on, and it rarely slows down. Over the years I've found ways to quiet these voices…things like hiking, yoga or just chilling the heck out. But the thing that works best for me – and I've known this all along – is cooking.
This recipe isn't the fastest thing out there, but it's one of the most cathartic recipes in my repertoire. Whenever my mind feels full of thoughts, I like to make dishes like this. Things where you can go through the motions without thinking too hard. Where you can nibble along the way. And ultimately, where the product is a comforting dish that you could dive into, face first.
While tomato tarts definitely aren't new or revolutionary, it's taken me a lot of trial-and-error to get one that I'm fully happy with. Almost a month to be exact. Not kidding. Although, I was totally up for the challenge because the combination of ripe tomatoes, soft cheese and fresh herbs makes me weak at the knees. That and I've noticed a lot of common let-downs when it comes to tomato tarts. Things like soggy crusts, watery fillings or a tomato flavor that's less than all there. And when tomatoes as beautiful as these are in season – why settle for anything less than exceptional?
I started with one of my most popular recipes on the blog: the sunflower seed crust from this quiche recipe. After a couple minor tweaks to account for the different fillings, I'd say it makes for the most perfect base. I ended up bumping up some of the ingredients to get a thicker crust, which helps it hold up nicely after being filled with cheese and topped with tomatoes. Par-baking the crust, prior to adding to filling, is a pretty critical step in my opinion. It helps the crust firm up and brown on the inside. In other words, it's key to avoiding a soggy crust.
But perhaps the biggest revelation when developing this recipe was the two-step baking process for the tomatoes. The first time I made this, I ended up putting raw tomatoes directly on the tart. To be fair, I dried them off a bit beforehand. But regardless, I quickly learned that because tomatoes are quite watery, they'll continue to release water during the baking process (especially when they're juicy and in-season). And that's a definite no-no if you want a thick, creamy filling. To prevent a watery filling, I first roast the tomatoes in the oven, prior to layering them atop the tart for a second bake. Sure, the second step adds a bit of time to the overall baking process, but in the end I'm confident you'll agree it's worth it. And, since you can bake the tomatoes at the same time as the crust, it really isn't so bad after all.
Once the crust is baked and the tomatoes are roasted, you'll fill the tart with a creamy blend of goat cheese and ricotta. Fresh basil gets mixed in for extra flavor. Then, layer the tomatoes on top of the tart and bake until the cheese is warm and the crust is golden brown. The smell is intoxicating, I'm warning you. For best results, allow the tart to cool slightly before attempting to cut into it. Serve alongside a light salad or sides of your choice. This tart makes for a yummy brunch or main dish…you choose!
📖 Recipe
Heirloom Tomato Tart with Gluten Free Crust
Ingredients
- 2 lbs heirloom tomatoes (see note 1)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided
- ¾ cup ricotta cheese
- ¾ cup soft goat cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- Black pepper (to taste)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Sunflower Seed Crust (see note 2)
- 1¼ cups rolled oats
- ¾ cup sunflower seeds (raw and shelled)
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3 tablespoons chilled butter
- 2 to 4 tablespoons ice water
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Put a rack in the upper- and lower-third of the oven; preheat to 350°F (177°C).
- Drain tomatoes: Slice the tomatoes ¼-inch thick. Line a baking sheet with paper towel and arrange slices on top. Cover the tomatoes with another layer of paper towel. Let sit to drain.
- Mix Crust: Add oats to a food processor, pulse until the texture of coarse sand. Add sunflower seeds and salt, pulse until coarse sand. Add butter and pulse until butter is smaller than the size of peas. Add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the mixture comes together.
- Bake crust: Transfer the dough into 1 (9-inch) tart pan (ideally one with a removable bottom). Use your fingers to press the dough firmly into the bottom and up the sides. Use a fork to prick the bottom crust, about 15 times, to allow steam to escape. Bake on the lower rack until the crust is medium-firm to the touch, about 30 minutes (it'll take on a bit more color in the second bake). Remove and let cool.
- Bake tomatoes: Meanwhile, arrange the tomatoes on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Bake on the upper rack until the tops begin to wrinkle and brown at the edges, about 40 minutes.
- Mix cheese: Add ricotta and goat cheese to a medium bowl. Use a rubber spatula to mix the cheese until fluffy. Stir in basil, salt, and pepper (to taste).
- Assemble and bake: Spoon the filling into the cooled crust. Use a spatula to lift and arrange the tomatoes on top. Brush the tomatoes with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle with the garlic. Bake until the cheese is warm and crust is golden brown, about 20 minutes. Garnish with more pepper. Let cool slightly before slicing.
Notes
- Tomatoes: Choose tomatoes of similar size so they cook evenly. If you can't find heirloom tomatoes, use the sweetest, ripest tomatoes you can find.
- Gluten Free Crust: If you'd prefer, you could substitute with a premade crust (it doesn't necessarily need to be gluten free).
Kelsey says
I’ve had this recipe pinned for ages and have always wanted to make it but assumed it would be either challenging or time intensive so I kept putting it off for a special occasion. Decided to just go for it on a weeknight and discovered it is so super easy to make. It does take a bit of time, but the steps are overlapping which saves time and felt really thoughtful to consider for home cooks.
The flavor was just perfect and the genius move of roasting the tomatoes separately first, then also on top of the tart, makes the flavor so heightened and not soggy at all. The cheese mixture is nice and light but satisfying and the crust is delicious.
I highly recommend sprinkling some coarse sea salt on top which made the flavors really pop.
My husband who is usually more of a meat eater thought it was great!
I served this with a mixed green side salad with a honey Dijon dressing, cucumber, red onion sunflower seeds and crispy bacon crumbles. Complimented it nicely and reminded me of an elevated BLT.
HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
bri says
Hi Kelsey!
Thank you for the thoughtful review! So glad to hear this tomato tart was a hit with you and your husband. And thank you for noticing the overlapping prep steps. I try to incorporate that as much as possible when I develop recipes, so it makes me really happy to hear it helps! The side salad you describe sounds delicious too. Have a great week ahead!