Provencial Tomato Tarte

This quick summer treat is so easy and elegant!  With just a few basic ingredients you'll be ready for a decadent brunch dish.  Or, it pair with a green salad for a refreshing dinner.  Its the perfect way to showcase your homegrown tomatoes, or the beautiful seasonal tomatoes on display at your local market.

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The Tomato Tarte is a favorite in the south of France where tomatoes grow in abundance.  This quick farmhouse version is so simple and flavorful that you'll be making it all season long!

Serve with a glass of white wine or rose, and imagine the cigales chirping as if you you were summering in southern France.

PROVENCIAL TOMATO TARTE

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 Puff pastry crust

- 30 plum-sized tomatoes

- 3 Tbsp Dijon mustard

- 1 cup Comte cheese (emmental, mozzarella, or even cream cheese also work nicely)

- 2 Tbsp Herbes de provence seasoning

- Salt and pepper

- Olive oil

INSTRUCTIONS:

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425 F.

Roll out your puff pastry onto a baking sheet following the package instructions.  Use a sheet of parchment underneath, either the sheet that comes with the pastry or add your own. 

Step 2: Slice the tomatoes in half.  Prepare a frying pan over medium heat with a splash of olive oil and add the tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and herbes de provence.  Saute until they soften, around 5 minutes, then flip them and continue until they're tender.

Step 3: While the tomatoes are cooking, spread a thin layer of Dijon mustard onto the puff pastry. Scatter thin slices of Comte cheese across the pastry sheet, or sprinkle with the hard cheese of your choice. Just a light sprinkle is enough, we're not making pizzas and really want the flavors to all shine through.

Step 4: Bake on 425 until the crust is puffed and gorgeous, around 20 minutes.

Tip for an airy crust: Make sure you keep the puff pastry nice and cool until its time for it to go in the oven.  On a hot day I like to pop mine back into the refrigerator for a few minutes as my tomatoes saute.

ENJOY!

This tarte is so beautiful!  Each juicy mouthful pops with a surprisingly complex flavor with so few ingredients.

Its a great recipe for entertaining because its simple, and you can prepare the elements beforehand.  

For a head start: Saute the tomatoes and prepare the pastry the day before, then put it all together and bake just before your guests arrive. A wonderfully inviting appetizer!  

It tastes best straight from the oven, while the crust is still toasty and the warm cheese mixes with all the other ingredients. 

You'll find that its so easy to make, that paired with a fresh green salad it can become a healthy weeknight go-to.   

Why tomatoes?  Besides the amazing flavor, especially when they're in peak season, tomatoes are brimming with nutritional benefits!  According to Health, they contain nearly half of your daily Vitamin C intake in a single serving!  They're also brimming with Lycopene which is beneficial for heart and eye health.  And at just 22 calories each, they're an amazing way to add fiber and flavor to a dish while keeping it trim.