Tomato Tart

This Tomato Tart made with puff pastry, ricotta and Parmesan is summer on a plate – perfect as a stunning appetizer or light meal.

Table of Contents

Toggle

This Puff Pastry Tomato Tart Is Peak Summer

When you grow your own tomatoes or buy amazing ones from the farmer’s market, they’re too special to just use all of them up in an everyday dish like tacos or something, you know? We certainly do use SOME of our garden tomatoes for staple meals like that, but we try to reserve a few harvests for something that truly highlights this seasonal delight.

After many years of perfecting this recipe to achieve the right balance of rich pastry to creamy cheese filling to sweet and tangy tomatoes, this Tomato Tart recipe is now an every summer go-to. The summer cannot end before we make this once or twice, we won’t allow it!

The best part? It’s one of those recipes that looks super elegant and impressive (French cafe vibes, right?), but it’s secretly silly easy and fast thanks to store-bought puff pastry.

Tomato Ricotta Tart Ingredients

A full recipe card, including exact ingredient amounts, appears at the bottom of this post.

• puff pastry – just one sheet is all you need!
• heirloom tomatoes – use a mix of colors for the prettiest presentation. You can also use a variety of sizes – all sliced big ones, or mix in some sliced or halved cherry tomatoes as well.
• ricotta cheese – the main component of the cheese filling. Buy the full fat ricotta for the best taste and texture.
• Parmesan cheese – adds a salty, savory note to the cheese filling.
• lemon zest – just a bit of acid to cut through the richness of the cheese. Lemon and tomato are a surprisingly great flavor pairing.
• egg and milk – for making an egg wash to brush the edges of the puff pastry tomato tart (making it super golden brown and crisp).
• basil – adds a fresh herbacous note and pop of green color at the end. Other herb options for this tomato ricotta tart are discussed below.
• salt and pepper – we recommend flaky sea salt (we like Maldon brand) and freshly cracked black pepper for finishing the tart.
• olive oil – a finishing drizzle at the end is highly recommended!

How to Make A Tomato Tart

1. PREP. Preheat the oven and thaw your puff pastry. Slice the tomatoes and place them on paper towels, then sprinkle with salt. Let them sit while you prep the rest of the ingredients.

2. EGG WASH & FILLING. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and milk. In a separate bowl, mash together the ricotta, Parmesan and lemon zest.

3. PASTRY. Unwrap the puff pastry and use a rolling pin to lightly roll it out a bit. Use a paring knife to score a 1-inch border around the outside edge, then spread the cheese filling insider the border. It can be a bit tricky to spread, since the mixture can be crumbly. Keep working at it, and it will eventually spread! 

4. TOMATOES. Arrange the tomateos over the ricotta, overlapping them a bit as needed. Brush the border of the tart with the egg wash.

5. BAKE. Bake until the edges are puffed and dark golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes before cutting into 8 pieces and serving drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with basil, salt and pepper.

Tomato Tart With Puff Pastry Variations

• TRY OTHER CHEESES – Substitute some of the ricotta for a bit of crumbled goat cheese or blue cheese to add another layer of cheese flavor.
• MIX UP THE VEGGIES – You don’t have to stick with just tomatoes. Other veggies we’ve added to this tart on occasion are thinly sliced zucchini, red peppers and eggplant.
• LEVEL UP THE CRUST – After egg washing, brush the border of the crust with our Everything Bagel Seasoning Recipe before baking for a crunchy, savory twist.
• GLAZE IT UP – After baking, drizzle the tart with Balsamic Glaze for a sweet and tangy contrast to the tomatoes.
• ADD SOME SPICE – Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the ricotta mixture, or finish the tart with hot honey or chili oil to add some heat that balances the sweet.
• EXPERIMENT WITH HERBS – You can use other fresh herbs like fresh parsley, thyme, oregano or rosemary in addition to, or in place of, the basil in this tomato tart with puff pastry.

How To Serve A Tomato Tart

This tomato tart can be served in a variety of ways throughout the day to suit different occasions:

• APPETIZER – Cut it into small wedges for a sophisticated light bite.
• BRUNCH – Serve this tomato puff pastry tart alongside some crisp Oven Bacon, Roasted Breakfast Potatoes and an Orange Mimosa for a delightful morning spread.
• DINNER – Pair with a fresh green salad tossed with Miso Dressing or Citrus Salad Dressing for a light but satisfying meal.

Tomato Puff Pastry Tart Storage

Tomato tart is best eaten right after it is made. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day. Reheat in the oven, not the microwave.