Gascon tomato tart

Gascon tomato tart, a French tomato pastry, originates from the Gascony region in southwestern France and can be eaten warm or cold. The secret to pastry perfection lies in not overworking the pastry dough and resting for at least 30 minutes before rolling out, allowing the gluten to develop into a tender and flaky crust.

Credit: Jiwon Kim

• serves

  8

• prep

  10 minutes

• cook

  20 minutes

• difficulty

  Easy

Ingredients

• 125 g unsalted butter, cubed
• 210 g plain flour
• Sea salt flakes
• 1 egg
• 25 ml cold water
• 30 g rocket leaves, to serve
• Extra virgin olive oil, to serve

For the filling

• 60 g Dijon mustard
• 500 g - 1 kg mixed heirloom tomatoes, thinly sliced
• Sea salt flakes and black pepper
• 100 g goat’s cheese of your choice

Chilling time 30 minutes

Instructions

1. To make the pastry, in a large mixing bowl, use your fingers to crumble the butter into the flour with a generous pinch of sea salt, until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Make a well in the centre, then add the egg and water and mix to combine into a dough. Do not over-handle the pastry, for the best results. Wrap the pastry in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes, or overnight.
   
2. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 210°C (190˚C fan-forced). Line a 40 cm x 32 cm baking tray with baking paper. Divide the pastry in half and on a work surface, roll out to 40 x 20 cm rectangle. Repeat with the remaining pastry and carefully transfer to the lined baking tray. Fold over the edges of each rectangle to make a decorative border.
   
3. For the filling, spread each pastry rectangle with mustard, then cover with an overlapping pattern of sliced tomatoes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, then crumble (or slice and layer) your goat’s cheese on top.
   
4. Bake on the top shelf of the oven for 20 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and allow to cool.
   
5. Lightly dress the rocket with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper and serve with the Gascon tomato tart.

Note

• You can serve this tart whole on a large platter, or cut into individual serving pieces.
  
  

Photography by Jiwon Kim.

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Cook's Notes

Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.