Thursday, April 8, 2021

Tomato Tart with Balsamic Glaze

 I don't participate often enough in the Improv Cooking Challenge, but had to do it this month.

This month it's all about Tomatoes and Balsamic Vinegar. 

Tomato Tart with Balsamic Glaze

Let me tell you a little about the Improv Cooking Challenge.  It's hosted by Nichole of Cookaholic Wife

She likes to throw out a challenge for anyone who cares to participate. Nichole will suggest two ingredients for us to use, and make something delicious from.  

She calls it the Improv Cooking Challenge. 

I call it fun.


I've participated in it a few times, and have had a blast.  I've made a Candied Carrot Coffee Cake, which was pretty darn tasty.  I made a taste from my home town, Almond Chicken, I've used Lavender and Lemon in these Lavender and Lemon Scones.  I've been a long time fan of Chopped on the Food Network and this is just my little way of playing along.  There are more, just click on the Improv Cooking Challenge in the cloud to the right. 

I happened to run into some incredible tiny heirloom type tomatoes at Trader Joes, and well, gee, magic happened. 

At least my mouth said it did. 

I do love my puff pastry, and combining tomatoes and balsamic together is magic.  At least in my book. 

I had a little bit of a Fig and Strawberry Balsamic glaze left and it was the perfect foil for the Tomatoes and Puff Pastry. 

I also had fun with the Puff Pastry trying out something I'd seen on Instagram.  I made some little boats for the tomatoes, and they were fun to make. 

Here are the photo's I took of the process, and guess what, they were actually fairly easy.  And it makes the tarts look really special, like you took hours and hours to make them.    😜 

Start with a sheet of puff pastry, that has been thawed in the fridge.   Cut each third of the pastry (you know where it folds) into two pieces.  

Then cut two slices into each side of the pastry like the picture below.

Puff Pastry for Tomato Tart

After you cut it. Pick up one side, like so.

Puff Pastry for Tomato Tart

Then fold it over, tacking it down with a little water to make it stick.

Puff Pastry for Tomato Tart

Then take the other side, and pull it through.   This makes a nice little boat.  As you can see, I had a couple of eager little tomatoes in there. They had their turn to shine, a little later on. 

Puff Pastry for Tomato Tart

And after you've got it done, fill with some sliced cherry tomatoes or whole ones, if you like. But I wanted the sliced ones which I then adorned with some chopped chives from my garden.  You can use any kind of fresh herb you like.  I like chives.  Recognize the tomatoes that were so eager to be a part of the dish? No?, well, they're in there, or in one of them.

Tomato Tart with Balsamic Glaze

I added a little of my Fig and Strawberry Balsamic Glaze to them before they went into the oven to bake at 425 degrees for 25 minutes.  

Tomato Tart with Balsamic Glaze

I also employed a trick my mother taught me.  After they were baked, I turned off the oven and placed the pan of tarts back in. This 'dries' them out, and in effect bakes them a little longer so that when you bite into the tart, it flakes apart.  

After they baked I added a little scootch more glaze and then proceeded to demolish eat a couple.  

If I bake it, I'll eat it.  

It was lunch... and a snack...

Tomato Tart with Balsamic Glaze

Tomato Tart with Balsamic Glaze


Improv Cooking Challenge:April 2021

Tomatoes & Balsamic
Sidsel Munkholm - Author
Sidsel Munkholm - Author

Sid loves to cook, feed people and have fun in the kitchen. She shares her successes and the involuntary offerings she sometimes gives the kitchen goddess as well. And she's still looking for the mythical fairy to help her clean the kitchen after a marathon cooking session. Currently working on a cookbook showcasing the recipes from her Danish heritage.

7 comments:

  1. I love these little boats Sid. They look wonderful and I'm sure they were scrumptious.

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  2. Look how CUTE these are - and they sound absolutely delicious! Perfect little appetizers.

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    Replies
    1. As soon as we can assemble safely in groups again, I'll be making them again. I thought they were just about perfect.

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  3. They are cute! I love how you made it. These are perfect appetizer for a party too!

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