The perfect way to showcase heirloom tomatoes when in season. This is a true summer tart!
Quantity: 125cm/10" galette (serves 4-6)
Author: sbaskitchen
Ingredients
750gheirloom tomatoesdifferent colours and sizes, if you can get them
350gshortcrust pastry
150gsoft cheese
25gParmesan cheesefreshly grated
1clovegarliccrushed, or finely chopped
1tbspfinely chopped basil
1tbspfinely chopped parsley
1tbspfinely sliced shallot
Sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Extra virgin olive oil.
1eggfor egg wash
Small basil leavesto garnish.
Instructions
Line a tray with paper towel or a tea towel.
Thickly slice the tomatoes( 6-7mm/1/4” thick) and lay in a single layer on the paper towel or a tea towel.
Line a baking tray or pizza try with baking paper.
Roll pastry out to a 30cm/12” circle and carefully lay on the prepared baking tray. Place into the refrigerator for 20 minutes to rest.
Combine soft cheese, parmesan, garlic, basil together and season with salt and pepper.
Preheat oven to 210˚C/420˚F.
Remove the pastry from the refrigerator and spread the cream cheese mixture over the base, leaving a space of 3-4cm/ 1-11/2” around the edge.
Lay the tomato slices in overlapping concentric circles, starting from the outer edge of the cheese layer, until you have used all of the tomatoes.
Sprinkle with the finely sliced shallots, a little salt and freshly ground black pepper and then carefully turn the uncovered edges up over the outer edge of the tomatoes.
Brush pastry with egg wash and bake in pre-heated oven for 35 - 45 minutes, until golden and the tomatoes have caramelised.
Remove from the oven and allow too cool a little before serving.
Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve warm, or at room temperature, with lightly dressed salad greens.
Notes
Laying the sliced tomatoes on the paper towel and leaving them uncovered, removes excess moisture and reduces the risk of a soggy galette and helps the tomatoes caramelise.
For the soft cheese you could use, chévre, mascarpone, quark, whipped cottage cheese, marinated feta, ricotta, etc.
Feel free to use fresh herbs of your choice. You could even add a sprinkling of fresh chilli if it’s your thing.
You can purchase soft cheese with garlic and herbs at the supermarket, which also works perfectly in this recipe.