Tomato Tart Recipe

Nothing says summer like actually great tasting tomatoes. This recipe features ripe tomatoes on top of flavorful smoked mozzarella, fresh cut basil, and roasted garlic spread. This tart will be the most flavorful dish on the table and happens to be entirely plant-based! I promise that it is so tasty that no one will guess it is vegan friendly.

Enjoy!

-Katie Mednick

Serves 6-8, Prep time 10 to 30min, Cook time 1 hour 45 min

Ingredients:

• Homemade or premade pie crust
• 1 head of garlic
• 1 package Miyoko’s Smoked Mozzarella
• 1/3 cup fresh basil, cut with the chiffonade technique
• 1-2 large tomatoes of any variety

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Slice the top off the garlic head so most of the cloves are exposed. Wrap the whole garlic head with foil and place right side up on a cookie sheet. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, or until the cloves are brown in color and very soft. Set aside to cool when done.
2. Prepare your pie crust. Either follow the directions for thawing a premade crust, or make a crust from scratch using any “all butter” pie crust recipe but use Miyoko’s vegan butter in place of dairy butter.
3. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the smoked mozzarella from the fridge and place on the counter to allow it to come to room temperature.
4. Cut the tomatoes into thin slices and place them on a plate lined with a paper towel to catch excess liquid.
5. Squeeze out the cooled roasted garlic cloves from the bulb and carefully spread out the paste over the bottom of the pie crust with the back of a spoon.
6. Cut the wheel of smoked mozzarella into small cubes. Spread the cubes evenly over the bottom of the pie crust and flatten them slightly by pressing down with your hands.
7. Sprinkle the chopped basil over the mozzarella, then arrange the tomato slices to completely cover the bottom layer. You can overlap the tomato slices or even create two layers of tomato slices if you have enough.
8. Bake the tart at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 40 to 45 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before serving. Great served warm or at room temperature.

Recipe notes: I have been able to find frozen, vegan friendly pie crusts at grocery stores in the past and this is a great option if you are pressed for time. I made my own pie crust by following a traditional “all butter” pie crust recipe but used Miyoko’s vegan butter instead of cow’s milk butter. Whichever pie crust you use, just remember to keep it refrigerated as much as possible during preparation so it does not get warm before baking. If the fat melts in the pie dough it will not be flaky after baking. Miyoko’s Smoked Mozzarella can be found at co-op markets, health food stores, or ordered online. Miyoko’s butter can be found at Trader Joes or health food stores. Other vegan products can be used if necessary, but Miyoko’s is certainly the most delicious on the market!