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Sun-Dried Tomato and Mozzarella Tart

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Time

1¼ hours, plus 12 hours thawing

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Sun-Dried Tomato and Mozzarella Tart

Ingredients

Flour for work surface for work surface1 box frozen puff pastry (Pepperidge Farm, 1.1 pound), thawed in box in refrigerator overnight1 large egg, beaten2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup)4 ounces oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, rinsed, and chopped fine2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 8 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves

Before You Begin

To make a simple, savory tart any time of the year, we replace plum tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes. Thawing the frozen puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight will help prevent cracking while unfolding it. Be sure to use a low-moisture supermarket mozzarella sold in block form, not fresh water-packed mozzarella. If you prefer to do some advanced preparation, the tart shell can be prebaked through step 1, cooled to room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, and kept at room temperature for up to two days before being topped and baked with the mozzarella and tomatoes.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Dust work surface with flour and unfold both pieces puff pastry onto work surface. Follow illustrations below, form 1 large sheet with border, using beaten egg as directed. Sprinkle Parmesan evenly over shell; using fork, uniformly and thoroughly poke holes in shell. Bake 13 to 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees; continue to bake until golden brown and crisp, 13 to 15 minutes longer. Transfer to wire rack; increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.
  2. While shell bakes, combine garlic, olive oil, and pinch each salt and pepper in small bowl; set aside.
  3. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over warm (or cool, if made ahead) baked shell. Distribute sun-dried tomatoes evenly on top of cheese; brush tomatoes with garlic oil. Bake until shell is deep golden brown and cheese is melted, 15 to 17 minutes. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes, sprinkle with basil, slide onto cutting board or serving platter, cut into pieces, and serve.
Sun-Dried Tomato and Mozzarella Tart

Sun-Dried Tomato and Mozzarella Tart

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Time

1¼ hours, plus 12 hours thawing

Yield

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

Flour for work surface for work surface
1 box frozen puff pastry (Pepperidge Farm, 1.1 pound), thawed in box in refrigerator overnight
1 large egg, beaten
2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup)
4 ounces oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, rinsed, and chopped fine
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

Flour for work surface for work surface
1 box frozen puff pastry (Pepperidge Farm, 1.1 pound), thawed in box in refrigerator overnight
1 large egg, beaten
2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup)
4 ounces oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, rinsed, and chopped fine
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

Flour for work surface for work surface
1 box frozen puff pastry (Pepperidge Farm, 1.1 pound), thawed in box in refrigerator overnight
1 large egg, beaten
2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup)
4 ounces oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, drained, rinsed, and chopped fine
2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
8 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

For a year-round tomato tart recipe, we replaced plum tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes. We used a two-step baking method for a flaky yet rigid crust, then "waterproofed" it with egg wash and layers of two kinds of cheese. Baking the tart at 425 degrees quickly melted the cheese.

Before You Begin

To make a simple, savory tart any time of the year, we replace plum tomatoes with sun-dried tomatoes. Thawing the frozen puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight will help prevent cracking while unfolding it. Be sure to use a low-moisture supermarket mozzarella sold in block form, not fresh water-packed mozzarella. If you prefer to do some advanced preparation, the tart shell can be prebaked through step 1, cooled to room temperature, wrapped in plastic wrap, and kept at room temperature for up to two days before being topped and baked with the mozzarella and tomatoes.

Instructions

  1. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Dust work surface with flour and unfold both pieces puff pastry onto work surface. Follow illustrations below, form 1 large sheet with border, using beaten egg as directed. Sprinkle Parmesan evenly over shell; using fork, uniformly and thoroughly poke holes in shell. Bake 13 to 15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees; continue to bake until golden brown and crisp, 13 to 15 minutes longer. Transfer to wire rack; increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.
  2. While shell bakes, combine garlic, olive oil, and pinch each salt and pepper in small bowl; set aside.
  3. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over warm (or cool, if made ahead) baked shell. Distribute sun-dried tomatoes evenly on top of cheese; brush tomatoes with garlic oil. Bake until shell is deep golden brown and cheese is melted, 15 to 17 minutes. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes, sprinkle with basil, slide onto cutting board or serving platter, cut into pieces, and serve.

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