Tomato & Mozzarella Tart

I haven't had much desire to cook of late but I did manage to get a tomato & mozzarella tart made this past weekend- this was my second time making it...so good:)

The original recipe is from Cooks Illustrated.

Ingredients:

•  Flour, unbleached all-purpose, 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)
• 1 pound plum tomatoes (about 3 to 4 medium), cored and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices
• Salt
• 2 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 teaspoons)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Ground black pepper
• 8 ounces whole-milk mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil

Instructions:

1. 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- overlap pieces by an inch and use rolling pin to adhere together.  Cut a 1 inch strip from each side, apply egg wash around the perimeter of the pastry base and gently adhere the trim pieces, creating a frame.  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.
   
   

   

   I didn't have the full amt of Parmesan & it was still fabulous:)

   Transfer to wire rack; increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.
   
2. 2. While shell bakes, place tomato slices in single layer on double layer paper towels and sprinkle evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt; let stand 30 minutes. Place second double layer paper towels on top of tomatoes and press firmly to dry tomatoes. Combine garlic, olive oil, and pinch each salt and pepper in small bowl; set aside.
   
   
   
   
3. 3. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over warm (or cool, if made ahead) baked shell. Shingle tomato slices widthwise on top of cheese (about 4 slices per row); 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.

 

And this is what happened- it got nibbled & devoured before the basil even made it on!

Yum!

This fresh treat is sure to impress your taste buds and coupled with a salad makes a delicious meal:)