Gotta Try That! Serendipitous Taste of Spring

Don't you love it when you're browsing food blogs, see something you'd like to make, and realize you have all of the ingredients on hand? That's exactly what happened to me yesterday as I was wandering through Lydia's archives at The Perfect Pantry. There it was: a recipe for a simple asparagus tart in puff pastry. Even better, Lydia recommends a specific type of frozen puff pastry and it's the only brand I buy! Win!

This tart is a Martha Stewart Living recipe and man, is it good! So easy to make, so rich-tasting, so pretty. Thanks, Lydia!

Asparagus Gruyere Tart
from Everyday Food - Great fast Food, by Martha Stewart Living Magazine

1 sheet frozen puff pastry
2 cups (approx. 5-1/2 oz) gruyere, Emmental or swiss cheese, shredded
1-1/2 pounds medium asparagus
1 Tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400°F. On a floured surface, roll pastry into a 16 x 10 inch rectangle. Trim uneven edges. Place the pastry on a baking sheet. With a sharp knife score the dough 1 inch in from the edges to mark a rectangle. Using a fork, pierce the dough inside the markings at half-inch intervals. Bake until golden, about 15 minutes.

Remove the pastry shell from the oven, and sprinkle with cheese. Trim the bottoms of the asparagus spears to fit crosswise inside the tart shell; arrange in a single layer over the cheese, alternating ends and tips. Brush with oil, and season with salt and pepper. Bake until spears are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.

This post goes out to Bookmarked Recipes, a weekly event hosted by Ruth's Kitchen Experiments.

Comments

[Manggy]

Back when I was starting out (uh... a year ago) and I couldn't yet tell that a recipe was going to flunk just by looking at it, I tried a soup from Everyday Food that didn't turn out so well, and ever since, I haven't touched the 2 issues I bought. (But the pictures did look v. nice.) I'm glad this recipe worked out for you! It certainly looks very Spring-y :) (I'm just beginning to understand, as a Filipino, what that means food-wise, haha) Maybe I should crack the magazines open one more time for the blog event :)

[frenchtart]

this looks yummy! this is similar to a jamie oliver recipe that was shown recently on food network, except his uses a loose mashed potato as filling, and swapped phyllo for puff pastry.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_155082,00.html">recipe here

i bookmarked his recipe to try sometime soon, but i might just opt for this one. it looks very delicious.

[ann]

Oh damn that would be good with a poached egg on top of it!

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

Ann, I'm so glad you found this -- it's become one of my favorite recipes to make during asparagus season (which is right now!), and one of my all-time favorite Martha Stewart recipes.

[mimi]

i also made this a while back and it was sooo yummy! if i wasn't already tired of asparagus and yet more asparagus i'd be tempted to have it again!

[Sandie (Inn Cuisine)]

As Lydia's blogdaughter, I'm embarrassed to admit I've not seen this recipe while cruising her archives, and oh how I love asparagus. Whoever mentioned a poached egg on top, I am so with you!!

I am making this THIS weekend. Thanks for sharing (now...off to The Perfect Pantry to see what other to-die-for recipes I've missed...)

[Deborah]

I have seen a few asparagus tarts that I have bookmarked. This one sounds fantastic!

[Lisa]

Oh, this just looks delicious! Thanks for stopping by my blog and checking out my roasted garlic.

[grace]

things that excite me more than they should: symmetry, smelly urine, and anything involving puff pastry. check, check, and check. :)

[giz]

asparagus - check
pastry - check
cheeses - hmmm...ricotta - nope, won't work, mozarella - won't have as much flavour - goat's cheese - maybe
I'll let you know how it all works out

[Ruth E]

Hi Ann!
I love coming across new exciting recipes that I have all the ingredients for there and then! Means you just have to make it that much sooner! Thanks for entering this into Bookmarked Recipes! Hope you can join in again sometime.

[Peter]

Ann, I've seen quite a few of these asparagus tarts, flat breads, etc . in food magazines for this month. I think asparagus is getting it's deserved spotlight. I must jump in too!

[joey]

I'm leaving your delicious site hungry ... mind if I link to 'food haunts' on mine? I am a cook/gardener with macro-photographs of flowers combined with seasonal food (focus on herbs and edible flowers).

[RecipeGirl]

I just love this recipe. SO simple and delicious!

[dhanggit]

oh ann you just gave me an idea of what to do with the left-over tart dough sitting on my fridge for days now. Love the idea of gruyere and asparagus!! im drooling just imagining the taste!!the only hard part now is getting the fresh asparagus in the market :-)

[Lore]

Any asparagus-cheese recipe works for me, but using pastry puff in the same recipe really makes it a winner :)

[Bellini Valli]

I did see this Spring tart over at Lydia's. I had better give it a try with both of your recommendations:D

[Karyn]

Mmm. I'm waiting for local asparagus ... the price went back up and I miss my favorite spring vegetable!

[anna]

Yum!!! I have to make this - the asparagus at the greenmarket is so amazing right now, and this looks just perfect. And of course you've made it lovely and artful with your alternating spears framed by the puff pastry...just gorgeous. Thanks for the recipe!

[Aran]

I have been seeing a lot of pizza lately... so tempting! I need to try this next time I go amping!

[feeding maybelle]

Yum, this is so pretty--would be great for a brunch.

[Suzana]

Oh, how adorable! And certainly delicious, I imagine. :)

[Myfrenchkitchen]

This DOES really look delicious and what a delight to look at!
ronell