Best Provençal Tart Recipes

PROVENçAL ZUCCHINI AND SWISS CHARD TART

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil while you stem the greens, and wash them thoroughly in several rinses of water. If the ribs are wide, wash and dice them, then set aside. Fill a bowl with ice water. When the water reaches a rolling boil, add a generous amount of salt and the chard leaves. Blanch for one minute, until just tender. Using a slotted spoon or deep-fry skimmer, transfer to the ice water, then drain. Squeeze out excess water and chop. Set aside.
• Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet, and add the onion and diced chard stems, if using. Cook, stirring, until tender, about five minutes. Stir in the zucchini. Season to taste with salt, and cook, stirring, until just tender and still bright green, about 10 minutes. Stir in the garlic, thyme and rosemary, and cook with the zucchini and onion until the garlic is fragrant, about one or two minutes. Stir in the greens, toss everything together, and remove from the heat. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
• Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Stir in 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste), the zucchini mixture, and the Gruyère. Mix everything together, add pepper, taste once more and adjust seasoning.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Oil a 10-inch tart pan. Roll out two-thirds of the dough and line the pan, with the edges of the dough overhanging. Freeze the remaining dough. Fill the lined pan with the zucchini mixture. Pinch the edges of the dough along the rim of the pan. Place in the oven and bake 50 minutes, until set and beginning to color. Allow to rest for at least 15 minutes before serving (preferably longer). This can also be served at room temperature.

PISSALADIERE (PROVENCAL ONION TART)

Steps:

• In workbowl of food processor fitted with plastic dough blade (can use metal blade if necessary), pulse flour, yeast, and salt to combine, about five 1 second pulses. With machine running, slowly add oil, then water, through feed tube; continue to process until dough forms ball, about 15 seconds.
• Generously dust work surface with flour. Using floured hands, transfer dough to work surface and knead lightly, shaping dough into ball.
• Lightly oil 1 quart measuring cup or small bowl, place dough in measuring cup, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and set aside in draft-free spot until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• While dough is rising, heat oil in 12 inch nonstick skillet over high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Stir in onions, garlic, salt, and brown sugar and cook, stirring frequently, until moisture released by onions has evaporated and onions begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently. After 15 minutes, remove garlic cloves, mince them and then return them to the pan, along with the balsamic vinegar. Stir and continue cooking for 5 more minutes, until onions have softened and are medium to golden brown. Off heat, stir in water; transfer to bowl and set aside.
• When dough has doubled, adjust oven rack to lowest position, set baking stone on rack, and heat oven to 500°F.
• Remove dough from measuring cup and divide into 2 equal pieces using dough scraper. Working with one piece at a time, form each piece into rough ball by gently pulling edges of dough together and pinching to seal. With floured hands, turn dough ball seam-side down. Cupping dough with both hands, gently push dough in circular motion to form taut ball. Repeat with second piece.
• Brush each lightly with oil, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut two 20 inch lengths parchment paper and set aside.
• Coat fingers and palms of hands generously with oil. Using dough scraper, loosen 1 piece of dough from work surface. With well-oiled hands, hold dough aloft and gently stretch to 12-inch length (like a very large breadstick). Place on parchment sheet and gently dimple surface of dough with fingertips. Using oiled palms, push and flatten dough into 14x8 inch oval.
• Brush dough with oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Leaving 1/2 inch border around edge, sprinkle 1/4 cup olives, 1 tablespoon chopped anchovies, and 1 teaspoon thyme evenly over dough, then evenly scatter with half of onions. Sprinkle with fennel seeds and marjoram, if using.
• Slip parchment with tart onto pizza peel (or inverted rimless baking sheet), then slide onto hot baking stone. Bake until deep golden brown, 13 to 15 minutes. While first tart bakes, shape and top second tart.
• Remove tart from oven with peel or pull parchment onto baking sheet; transfer tart to cutting board and slide parchment out from under tart. Cool 5 minutes; sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons parsley, if using. Cut tart in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise to form 8 pieces; serve immediately. While first tart cools, bake second tart.

PROVENCAL ONION TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Melt butter with oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and thyme, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and soft, about 10 minutes.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to an 8 1/2-by-15-inch rectangle, trimming edges to make them straight. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, transfer to oven, and immediately reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees. Bake until pastry just begins to puff, about 12 minutes.
• Arrange onions in a single layer over pastry, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Top with olives and anchovies (if desired). Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees, and continue baking until tart is puffed and golden around the edges, about 15 minutes more (tent with foil if crust browns too quickly). Let cool slightly before cutting into small squares and serving.

PROVENçAL TART

Steps:

• To make the pastry, put the flour in a bowl with the butter, then rub together to resemble breadcrumbs. Stir in the basil, oregano and sundried tomatoes, then pour in the olive oil and about 4 tbsp cold water to make a soft dough (it will be a bit softer than regular pastry). Wrap in cling film and chill for one hour.
• While the pastry is chilling, make the sauce. Halve, seed, then dice the peppers and reserve half for the filling. Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Add the garlic, oregano and peppers and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the peppers start to soften. Tip in the rest of the sauce ingredients and simmer over a medium heat, uncovered, for about 10 minutes until reduced to a thick sauce. Stir frequently so it doesn't stick. Season well and set aside to cool completely.
• Preheat the oven to fan 180C/conventional 200C/ gas 6. For the filling, line a baking sheet with parchment or greaseproof paper, drizzle with 1 tbsp of the oil and lay the aubergines slices over it. Drizzle the rest of the oil over the top - it seems a lot, but it all gets soaked up - then scatter with the dried basil and some salt and pepper. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the slices look golden, and are tender when poked with a knife.
• Roll out the pastry to a circle, about 40cm, and use to line a 28cm fluted flan tin (preferably loose-bottomed). Bend the pastry over the edges and trim with scissors so you have a 1-2cm overhang. Put the tin on a baking sheet. Prick the pastry base, brush it with egg if you wish to give a crisper crust, and bake blind for 10 minutes (there's no need for baking beans).
• Spread the sauce evenly over the bottom of the pastry. Lay the aubergines on top, then the sliced tomatoes and a good handful of chopped basil. Season with salt and pepper.
• Now scatter with the reserved peppers and olives, then the grated cheeses, right up to the edges.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Let the tart cool a little, then trim off the pastry edges with a sharp knife for a neat finish.

TIAN A LA PROVENCAL (RUSTIC VEGETABLE TART)

Steps:

• PREHEAT oven to 400°F Thinly slice potatoes, tomato, onion and zucchini.
• ARRANGE vegetables in a shallow baking dish, alternating each.
• PUT the garlic in the center of the dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and pour the oil over the vegetables.
• ARRANGE the rosemary sprigs on top of the vegetables and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the potatoes are tender. Pour off excess oil and serve immediately.

RUSTIC PROVENCAL ONION TART

Steps:

• For the Onions: In a medium saute pan with a lid, heat the olive oil over medium. Add the sliced onions and stir to cover with oil. Add some salt & pepper, and Magic Mediterranean Blend if desired. Turn the heat down and cover the pan with the lid. Let the onions "sweat", or release their juices, for about 6 minutes. Remove the lid and stir once or twice. Keep the heat on low and let the onions sit in the hot oil without stirring for about 6-8 minutes. Stir and continue to cook the onions. Repeat every 6-8 minutes until onions are soft and golden slightly caramelized. Adjust the heat to avoid scorching but do not cook on high heat. This is a slow process and can take up to 30 minutes. Be patient, it's worth it! The onions can be made up to 1 week ahead of time, keep in a well-sealed container in the fridge until you're ready to use, let them come up to room temperature first.
• For the Tart: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
• Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Lightly dust a level, flat surface with some flour and place the defrosted pastry on it. With the rolling pin, gingerly begin to roll the dough, using gentle but firm pressure. Roll the dough out from the center in each direction, creating a somewhat non-conforming rectangle. That's ok, this is a rustic tart!
• Once the dough is rolled, use the pastry scraper, if necessary, and roll it back on the pin, wrapping it gently. Unroll the dough onto the baking sheet. Crimp the side of the dough with your fingers, creating a raised edge. Place in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes, so the dough firms up.
• Remove the pastry from the fridge and dust with the grated Parmesan (you may add more if you like). Spread the caramelized onions across the pastry to evenly cover. Spread the pepper slices over the dough randomly & sprinkle with the chopped olives. Top all this with Gruyere &/or crumbled goat cheese & then scatter Magic Mediterranean Blend over the cheese. Dip pastry brush into the egg wash and run over the edge.
• Bake the tart for 15-20 minutes, depending on how hot your oven runs. It should be golden and puffy, with the cheese melted.
• Slice with a pizza cutter & serve warm. ENJOY!

PROVENÇAL TART WITH ARTICHOKES AND PROSCIUTTO

Steps:

• Preheat oven 400 F. Line a rimmed baking tray with parchment paper. Cut puff pastry along folded lines (if using different puff pastry, slice into rectangular pieces about 4-6 inches wide and as long as will fit on baking tray). Place each piece about 1-2 inches apart on baking tray. Prick dough all over with a fork so pastry does not rise. Spread cheese over dough, making sure to go all the way to the edge of the dough. Place toppings, garlic and herbs in a bowl and toss with olive oil and salt and pepper. Top cheese pastry with topping mixture and place in oven and bake until puff pastry is golden brown, about 30-35 minutes. Slice each tart into 1 1/2 inch strips and serve.

PROVENCAL ONION TART

Steps:

• In a large sauté pan cook the onions over medium heat with the olive oil, thyme sprigs and salt. Cover and cook for 40 minutes to an hour until onions are wilted and soft. Remove the lid and continue cooking until all the moisture is gone and onions are starting to turn golden brown. Pull the thyme sprigs out and discard. Allow to cool while making the tart. Preheat oven to 400°F. Cut four ½" strips from the sheet of puff pastry and set aside. On a lightly floured surface roll remaining piece of pastry to thickness of 1/16". Trim edges to measure the length of each strip. Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper. Dock the surface with a fork and lightly brush with the beaten egg. Lay the strips of puff pastry on each edge. Place in the middle of the oven and bake for 10-12 minutes until just starting to turn brown and pastry no longer looks raw. Spread the onion mixture on the inside of the tart. Brush the edges with the egg and return to the oven to continue cooking. Remove when pastry is dark golden brown. Push olives into onions to form a grid pattern and sprinkle with the fresh thyme leaves.

PISSALADIERE (PROVENCAL ONION TART)

Steps:

• In workbowl of food processor fitted with plastic dough blade (can use metal blade if necessary), pulse flour, yeast, and salt to combine, about five 1 second pulses. With machine running, slowly add oil, then water, through feed tube; continue to process until dough forms ball, about 15 seconds. Generously dust work surface with flour. Using floured hands, transfer dough to work surface and knead lightly, shaping dough into ball. Lightly oil 1 quart measuring cup or small bowl, place dough in measuring cup, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and set aside in draft-free spot until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours. While dough is rising, heat oil in 12 inch nonstick skillet over high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Stir in onions, garlic, salt, and brown sugar and cook, stirring frequently, until moisture released by onions has evaporated and onions begin to brown, about 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently. After 15 minutes, remove garlic cloves, mince them and then return them to the pan, along with the balsamic vinegar. Stir and continue cooking for 5 more minutes, until onions have softened and are medium to golden brown. Off heat, stir in water; transfer to bowl and set aside. When dough has doubled, adjust oven rack to lowest position, set baking stone on rack, and heat oven to 500°F. Remove dough from measuring cup and divide into 2 equal pieces using dough scraper. Working with one piece at a time, form each piece into rough ball by gently pulling edges of dough together and pinching to seal. With floured hands, turn dough ball seam-side down. Cupping dough with both hands, gently push dough in circular motion to form taut ball. Repeat with second piece. Brush each lightly with oil, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut two 20 inch lengths parchment paper and set aside. Coat fingers and palms of hands generously with oil. Using dough scraper, loosen 1 piece of dough from work surface. With