This tomato tart, with an herbed pâte brisée crust, ricotta and mascarpone filling, and a touch of roasted garlic, is a beautiful addition to any summer table.Inspired by Williams-Sonoma Test Kitchens
9tablespoonsunsalted butter, chilled and cut into ¼-inch cubes
½tablespoonfresh thyme
1tablespoonfresh chives, snipped
2tablespoonsfresh basil, chopped
3-5tablespoonsice water
For the Ricotta-Mascarpone Filling
1-½cupsricotta*whole or part-skim
½cupmascarpone cheese
¾cupgrated Parmigiano Reggiano
For the Roasted Garlic
1whole headgarlic
1tablespoonextra-virgin olive oil
To Assemble the Tart
1-½poundsassorted heirloom tomatoes, cut into ¼-inch slices
Fresh basil for garnish, cut into a chiffonade
extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling
sea salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
Make the Herbed Pâte Brisée
Place flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse 2-3 times to combine. Add chilled butter and pulse until the mixture is the consistency of a coarse meal, about 10 one-second pulses. Add the herbs and pulse 2-3 times.
Add ice water, one tablespoon at a time, pulsing until dough just begins to come together, but is not sticky. For a tender crust, do not over mix. Pinch a small amount of dough between your fingertips. If it feels crumbly, add additional ice water in 1-tablespoon increments. Transfer dough to a clean work surface and shape into a disk. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.
On a lightly-floured surface, roll chilled dough to a 13-inch circle (about ⅛-inch thick). Roll dough onto rolling pin and gently transfer to a 10 ¼-inch tart pan. Gently ease dough into the pan, being careful not to stretch it. Fold excess dough into the pan to make a wall of double thickness. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Pierce the chilled crust all over with a fork ("docking the crust"), line with parchment or foil, and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Place on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove parchment/foil and beans/weights. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue baking 10-15 minutes, until crust is a light golden brown. Remove from oven and cool completely.
Make the Ricotta-Mascarpone Filling
In the bowl of a food processor, combine ricotta, mascarpone, and Parmiggiano-Reggiano. Process until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to assemble tart.
Make the Roasted Garlic
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Cut the top off of the garlic head, about ¼-inch down, to expose cloves. Place on a square of foil. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil. Wrap foil up around the garlic to make a purse. Place on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes to an hour, until garlic is golden, soft, and fragrant. Cool to room temperature.**
Assemble the Tart
Spread 2-3 cloves of roasted garlic on the bottom of the cooled tart shell. Fill with ricotta-mascarpone mixture. Layer heirloom tomatoes on top of the filling to cover. Sprinkle the tart with sea salt and freshly ground pepper, lightly drizzle with extra virgin olive oil, and garnish with the basil chiffonade.
Cut into slices, passing additional salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
*If your brand of ricotta is especially milky, it's best to strain it in cheesecloth for a few hours before making the filling so it isn't too loose.**This makes more roasted garlic than you need. To store leftovers, place the cloves in a covered container with a bit of extra virgin olive oil. Sweet roasted garlic is delicious spread onto slices of lightly-toasted baguette, or mixed into mayonnaise for sandwiches.Make ahead: All tart components can be prepared a day or two in advance. I prefer to slice the tomatoes and assemble the tart just before serving to preserve the crust's crispness.