Summer Tomato-Parmigiano Tart

By Palma Hansen –

This month, farmers’ markets, gardens, fruit stands, and grocery stores are full of summer’s bounty of seasonal veggies and fruits. Italians have paired tomatoes with cheese for centuries, giving us Caprese salads, eggplant-mozzarella dishes and simple fresh tomato sauce with basil and parmigiano-reggiano to use those luscious sun-ripened tomatoes.

tomato tart with a parmigiano crust
Tomato Tart with a Parmigiano Crust

How about a beautiful appetizer, side dish or vegetarian dinner of a tomato tart with a parmigiano crust and fresh basil? It is a feast for the eyes as well as the taste buds!

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3-4 colorful heirloom tomatoes, washed
sea salt
1 c. flour
8 T. unsalted butter, cold
2 c. freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
2 T. ice water
2 T. olive oil
1 c. fresh basil leaves finely cut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Slice tomatoes and place slices on a double layer of paper towels. Sprinkle with about a teaspoon of sea salt. Top with another layer of paper towels and press gently. Let tomatoes rest until crust is baked. This will rid tomatoes of excess liquid.

Put flour, butter (cut into small cubes) and cheese into a food processor and pulse several times until mixture is crumbly. Add ice water and pulse until mixture is sticky and pinches together into a thick dough.

Remove dough and press it into the bottom and up the sides of an 8 or 9 inch tart pan. Chill tart crust in the fridge for 30 minutes. Poke crust with a fork and cover it with foil and pie weights or beans. Bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and weights, and bake another 15 minutes until it is a golden brown. Sprinkle with a little additional cheese and let cool.

Arrange tomato slices inside tart shell. Drizzle with good olive oil, and chopped basil.

Palma’s passions are Italian travel, cooking, and living an Italian lifestyle in the southern California desert. She is in private practice as a licensed Marriage Family Therapist. Palma and her husband love sharing their knowledge of Italy with others during their small group tours to bella Italia. http://www.palmabellasitaly.com/.

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Summer Tomato-Parmigiano Tart
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