The BEST Tomato Tart (2024)

This rustic Tomato Tart goes from prep to finish in less than 30 minutes! Made with buttery puff pastry, creamy cheddar and havarti cheese, fresh tarragon, and hot honey, this tart is the perfect Summer dinner or appetizer to showcase all those ripe, juicy tomatoes!

Perks and Highlights of the Best Tomato Tart

Cuisine Inspiration: Fusion (A delightful mix of French elegance with an American comfort food twist)

Primary Cooking Method: Baking

Dietary Info: Vegetarian, a sweet and savory sensation

Key Flavor: The lushness of cheese, the freshness of tarragon, and a kick from the hot honey

Skill Level: Intermediate (You got this, culinary rockstars!)

Special Perks:

1. Flavor Explosion: This isn’t your average tomato tart; it’s a flavor fiesta! The cheesy goodness, aromatic tarragon, and spicy-sweet hot honey come together for a taste sensation that will have your tastebuds dancing.
2. Showstopper Alert: Looking for a dish that screams, ‘I’m a culinary genius’? This tart is your ticket to impressing at dinner parties, potlucks, or even just a fancy night in.
3. Flexibility at its Finest: Serve it warm, serve it cool, have it as an entrée, or make it the star of your brunch spread. This tart fits every occasion.
4. Sweet Meets Heat: The hot honey isn’t just a drizzle; it’s the secret weapon that elevates this tart from delicious to “Can I have the recipe, please?” levels of amazing.
5. Vegetarian Heaven: Who needs meat when veggies can taste this good? It’s rich, satisfying, and packed with layers of flavor that’ll please even the most dedicated carnivores.

This Cheesy Tarragon Tomato Tart is a pretty solid representation of my taste: herby, sweet, tangy, buttery, crisp, bright, and cheesy. Each bite is a serious explosion of flavor! What do you say we make one together?

Ingredients

Tomato Tarts come in all shapes and sizes! As long as you’ve got a crust and a tomato filling, you’ve got a tart. I love the simplicity of this recipe, and utilizing fresh summer produce is my absolute favorite.

If you’ve never had a tomato tart before, or you’re unsure about them, this recipe is going to rock your world.

Heirloom Tomatoes- These colorful, juicy tomatoes are summer’s best gift. There isn’t a sandwich or salad that can’t be made better with one of these. Heirlooms are best when their skin is taut and shiny, with no bruises or splits. Without squeezing, you should notice a slight give when you pick one up, and the bottom of the fruit should be nice and dark.

Balsamic Vinegar- When paired with tomatoes, balsamic vinegar takes on new life. It’s sharp, yet sweet flavor compliments the tomato’s sweetness and layers in a pleasant acidity.

Olive Oil- I highly recommend investing in at least one good bottle of olive oil. With simple recipes like today’s, an ingredient like this comes through a lot more. A light, buttery, and floral olive oil is gonna make a huge difference.

Garlic- Garlic is my favorite ingredient. Roast it, poach it, fry it, or serve it raw, it’s delicious. Grated garlic is more concentrated and flavorful. Add as much or as little as you’d like.

Tarragon- Tangy and licorice-like, tarragon is subtle but pronounced. Fresh herbs offer brightness and tarragon’s unique flavor heightens the experience. Basil, rosemary, or thyme will also work.

Hot Honey- Spicy honey is my jam. If this isn’t in your pantry, it needs to be. Perfectly sweet, perfectly spicy, and out of this world GOOD.

Kosher Salt and Black Pepper- I swear by kosher salt and loads of black pepper. You won’t eat anything in my kitchen that doesn’t include the two.

Puff Pastry- Keeping a spare box of puff pastry in the freezer is never a bad idea. These buttery, flaky sheets are an open canvas for all kinds of desserts, pizzas, and tarts.

Sharp White Cheddar- When in doubt, cheddar cheese. Sharp, buttery, and creamy, white cheddar cuts through all the strong flavors and makes its own statement.

Havarti or Gouda- Slightly acidic, the taste is buttery and sweet. Gouda is a bit nuttier with a subtle sweetness. Both are complementary and beyond delicious.

Egg- This just helps to brown the edges and get the garlic salt/everything bagel spice to stick.

Garlic Salt or Everything Bagel Spice- I’m a crust girl. Pizza, pies, tarts: I’m the most excited about their base! Using a bit of spice on the edges makes for a bite you’ll look forward to.

Shaved Parmesan- There’s no such thing as too much cheese! Parmesan’s salty, sour addition is what takes this recipe from “I’ll have a slice or two” to “better put on my sweatpants and make a second one”.

TIP: For a more visually appealing tart, choose a variety of heirloom tomato colors and sizes. Get creative with the design too!

How to Make a Tomato Tart

I’m all about an easy recipe. So, I keep an index of simple recipes like this one for weeknights or entertaining. You just can’t go wrong with a tomato tart made in less than 30 minutes!

Here’s how it’s done:

• Marinate the Tomatoes- Your gonna want these tomatoes to be as flavorful as possible. As the oven preheats, marinate the tomatoes in seasoning, vinegar, fresh herbs, garlic, and honey. Ten minutes is enough to draw some moisture out of the tomatoes and infuse them with tons of flavor.
• Prep the Puff- Don’t attempt to work the pastry without having defrosted it. Allow the sheet to sit out at room temperature for 30-40 minutes. Alternatively, you can defrost puff pastry in the microwave, just be sure to adhere to the package instructions. Stretch the dough very slightly to create a thinner layer, then lay it on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
• Top, Bake, and Serve- Puff pastry needs to be topped and baked immediately. You don’t want it to melt! Top the pastry, making sure to carefully place the tomatoes rather than dumping them on. Use a pastry brush (or your fingers) to egg wash the edges, then sprinkle on the seasoning immediately. Once out of the oven, top with shaved parmesan, more tarragon, black pepper, and a HEAVY drizzle of hot honey (it’s that good).

Storage and Reheating

Don’t let a single bite of this tart go to waste. It’s too cheesy, too buttery, and too refreshing to let go. Before storing, allow the tart to come to room temperature. Either wrap the tart in aluminum foil or place it in an airtight container. Keep the tart in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

To reheat, remove the tart from the fridge and allow it to come back to room temperature, about 10-15 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the desired portion on the sheet, then heat for 10 minutes or until warmed through and crisp.

Note: I wouldn’t recommend reheating this tart in the microwave. The result is often chewy and unpleasant.

Best Tomato Recipes

If you loved this recipe, give a few more of my tastiest tomato recipes some love:

• Homemade Tomato Basil Soup
• Homemade Pizza Sauce
• Okra and Tomatoes
• Heirloom Tomato Sandwich
• Mini Tomato Tart recipe
• Fried Green Tomatoes