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No-Knead Brioche Tarts with Zucchini and Crispy Prosciutto

By Sarah Ewald

Published on January 27, 2022

Time

1¾ hours, plus 20 hours resting

Yield

Serves 8 (Makes 8 tarts)

No-Knead Brioche Tarts with Zucchini and Crispy Prosciutto

Ingredients

Dough

1⅔ cups (9⅛ ounces/259 grams) bread flour 1¼ teaspoons instant or rapid-rise yeast ¾ teaspoon table salt 3 large eggs, room temperature, plus 1 large egg lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted¼ cup water, room temperature3 tablespoons sugar

Filling

1 (8 ounces/227 grams) zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced ⅛ inch thick¾ teaspoon table salt, divided6 ounces (170 grams/¾ cup) whole-milk ricotta cheese 2 ounces (57 grams) whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (½ cup)3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided¼ cup chopped fresh basil, divided2 garlic cloves, minced¼ teaspoon pepper 2 ounces (57 grams) thinly sliced prosciutto, sliced ¼-inch-thick crosswise

Before You Begin

We used King Arthur bread flour to develop this recipe.

Instructions

  1. For the dough: Whisk flour, yeast, and salt together in large bowl. Whisk room temperature eggs, melted butter, water, and sugar together in second bowl until sugar has dissolved.
  2. Using rubber spatula, gently fold egg mixture into flour mixture, scraping up dry flour from bottom of bowl, until cohesive dough starts to form and no dry flour remains. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let dough rest for 10 minutes.
  3. Using greased bowl scraper (or your fingertips), fold dough over itself by gently lifting and folding edge of dough toward middle. Turn bowl 90 degrees and fold dough again; repeat turning bowl and folding dough 2 more times (total of 4 folds). Cover tightly with plastic and let rise for 30 minutes. Repeat folding and rising every 30 minutes, 3 more times. After fourth set of folds, cover bowl tightly with plastic and refrigerate for at least 16 hours or up to 48 hours.
  4. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Transfer dough to well-floured counter and divide into 8 equal portions (about 2½ ounces or 71 grams each). Working with 1 piece of dough at a time (keep remaining pieces covered), form into rough ball by stretching dough around your thumbs and pinching edges together so that top is smooth. Place ball seam side down on clean counter and, using your cupped hand, drag in small circles until dough feels taut and round. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough.
  5. Evenly space 4 rounds seam side down on each prepared sheet, about 3 inches apart. Cover loosely with greased plastic and let rise until rounds double in size and dough springs back minimally when poked gently with your knuckle, 1½ to 2 hours.
  6. For the filling: Toss zucchini with ½ teaspoon salt and spread over paper towel–lined plate. Let zucchini sit for 30 minutes, then gently blot dry with paper towels; set aside. Combine ricotta, mozzarella, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons basil, garlic, pepper, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt; set aside. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add prosciutto and cook, stirring frequently, until crispy, about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towel–lined plate and set aside to cool.
  7. Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of flat-bottomed, round, 2 ½-inch-wide dry measuring cup or drinking glass. Press cup firmly into center of each dough round until cup touches sheet to make indentation for filling. Divide reserved ricotta mixture evenly among each indentation (about 2 tablespoons each) then spread into smooth layer. Divide reserved zucchini evenly among each tartlet, shingling zucchini decoratively on top of ricotta.
  8. Gently brush dough with egg wash and bake until light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. Transfer tarts to wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with reserved crispy prosciutto and remaining 2 tablespoons basil. Serve warm or at room temperature.
No-Knead Brioche Tarts with Zucchini and Crispy Prosciutto
Photography by Daniel J. van Ackere. Styling by Ashley Moore.

No-Knead Brioche Tarts with Zucchini and Crispy Prosciutto

Headshot of Sarah Ewald
By Sarah Ewald
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Time

1¾ hours, plus 20 hours resting

Yield

Serves 8 (Makes 8 tarts)

Ingredients

Dough

1⅔ cups (9⅛ ounces/259 grams) bread flour
1¼ teaspoons instant or rapid-rise yeast
¾ teaspoon table salt
3 large eggs, room temperature, plus 1 large egg lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
¼ cup water, room temperature
3 tablespoons sugar

Filling

1 (8 ounces/227 grams) zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced ⅛ inch thick
¾ teaspoon table salt, divided
6 ounces (170 grams/¾ cup) whole-milk ricotta cheese
2 ounces (57 grams) whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (½ cup)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 ounces (57 grams) thinly sliced prosciutto, sliced ¼-inch-thick crosswise

Ingredients

Dough

1⅔ cups (9⅛ ounces/259 grams) bread flour
1¼ teaspoons instant or rapid-rise yeast
¾ teaspoon table salt
3 large eggs, room temperature, plus 1 large egg lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
¼ cup water, room temperature
3 tablespoons sugar

Filling

1 (8 ounces/227 grams) zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced ⅛ inch thick
¾ teaspoon table salt, divided
6 ounces (170 grams/¾ cup) whole-milk ricotta cheese
2 ounces (57 grams) whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (½ cup)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 ounces (57 grams) thinly sliced prosciutto, sliced ¼-inch-thick crosswise

Ingredients

Dough

1⅔ cups (9⅛ ounces/259 grams) bread flour
1¼ teaspoons instant or rapid-rise yeast
¾ teaspoon table salt
3 large eggs, room temperature, plus 1 large egg lightly beaten with 1 teaspoon water
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
¼ cup water, room temperature
3 tablespoons sugar

Filling

1 (8 ounces/227 grams) zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced ⅛ inch thick
¾ teaspoon table salt, divided
6 ounces (170 grams/¾ cup) whole-milk ricotta cheese
2 ounces (57 grams) whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (½ cup)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
¼ cup chopped fresh basil, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
¼ teaspoon pepper
2 ounces (57 grams) thinly sliced prosciutto, sliced ¼-inch-thick crosswise

Why This Recipe Works

Classic brioche bread has a tender crumb, a golden color, and a buttery, eggy flavor. Achieving these sumptuous results via traditional methods is laborious: Butter, softened to just the proper temperature, is kneaded into the dough in increments to ensure that it is completely incorporated. Only after one portion is fully incorporated can the next be added. We developed this much simpler no-knead method by using melted butter instead of solid butter for an enriched brioche that needs no kneading. The folding process and long resting time ensure success by encouraging the gluten to form correctly. For the savory filling, a blend of ricotta, mozzarella, garlic, and basil makes the creamy cheese base. To ensure that the zucchini slices won't leach moisture into the tart, you'll salt them and let them drain for half an hour on paper towels before shingling them on top of the cheese and baking the tarts. To finish these in style, give them a final sprinkle of salty crisped-up prosciutto and chopped fresh basil.

Before You Begin

We used King Arthur bread flour to develop this recipe.

Instructions

  1. For the dough: Whisk flour, yeast, and salt together in large bowl. Whisk room temperature eggs, melted butter, water, and sugar together in second bowl until sugar has dissolved.
  2. Using rubber spatula, gently fold egg mixture into flour mixture, scraping up dry flour from bottom of bowl, until cohesive dough starts to form and no dry flour remains. Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and let dough rest for 10 minutes.
  3. Using greased bowl scraper (or your fingertips), fold dough over itself by gently lifting and folding edge of dough toward middle. Turn bowl 90 degrees and fold dough again; repeat turning bowl and folding dough 2 more times (total of 4 folds). Cover tightly with plastic and let rise for 30 minutes. Repeat folding and rising every 30 minutes, 3 more times. After fourth set of folds, cover bowl tightly with plastic and refrigerate for at least 16 hours or up to 48 hours.
  4. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Transfer dough to well-floured counter and divide into 8 equal portions (about 2½ ounces or 71 grams each). Working with 1 piece of dough at a time (keep remaining pieces covered), form into rough ball by stretching dough around your thumbs and pinching edges together so that top is smooth. Place ball seam side down on clean counter and, using your cupped hand, drag in small circles until dough feels taut and round. Repeat with remaining pieces of dough.
  5. Evenly space 4 rounds seam side down on each prepared sheet, about 3 inches apart. Cover loosely with greased plastic and let rise until rounds double in size and dough springs back minimally when poked gently with your knuckle, 1½ to 2 hours.
  6. For the filling: Toss zucchini with ½ teaspoon salt and spread over paper towel–lined plate. Let zucchini sit for 30 minutes, then gently blot dry with paper towels; set aside. Combine ricotta, mozzarella, 2 tablespoons oil, 2 tablespoons basil, garlic, pepper, and remaining ¼ teaspoon salt; set aside. Heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add prosciutto and cook, stirring frequently, until crispy, about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towel–lined plate and set aside to cool.
  7. Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of flat-bottomed, round, 2 ½-inch-wide dry measuring cup or drinking glass. Press cup firmly into center of each dough round until cup touches sheet to make indentation for filling. Divide reserved ricotta mixture evenly among each indentation (about 2 tablespoons each) then spread into smooth layer. Divide reserved zucchini evenly among each tartlet, shingling zucchini decoratively on top of ricotta.
  8. Gently brush dough with egg wash and bake until light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes, switching and rotating sheets halfway through baking. Transfer tarts to wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with reserved crispy prosciutto and remaining 2 tablespoons basil. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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