Homemade Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Tart: An Easy & Impressive Vegetarian Delight
Prepare to be enchanted by this exquisite Homemade Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Tart – a truly impressive yet surprisingly easy-to-make vegetarian dish that promises to elevate any meal. Whether you’re planning a sophisticated brunch, a light and satisfying lunch, or a flavorful dinner, this savory tart is the perfect choice. Its vibrant colors, rich flavors, and delightful textures make it a culinary centerpiece that looks complex but is a cinch to put together.
Forget about complicated recipes and endless hours in the kitchen. This tart is crafted with a simple, yet incredibly flaky and flavorful olive oil tart dough, a luscious filling of sweet roasted red peppers, tangy crumbled goat cheese, and perfectly whisked eggs. The combination creates a harmonious balance that will have your guests asking for the recipe. It’s a testament to how simple ingredients, when treated with care, can transform into something truly extraordinary. This recipe offers a perfect blend of rustic charm and gourmet appeal, making it suitable for both casual family meals and elegant gatherings.
Why This Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Tart Will Be Your New Favorite
This savory tart might sound gourmet, but its simplicity is its greatest charm. It’s designed to be approachable for home cooks of all skill levels, delivering maximum flavor with minimal fuss. The base of this incredible dish is an olive oil tart dough, which comes together in about five minutes flat. Unlike traditional butter-based pastries that require precise chilling and careful handling, this olive oil dough is forgiving and wonderfully easy to work with. It provides a tender, slightly crisp crust that beautifully complements the rich filling.
The star of the filling is, of course, the roasted red peppers. Roasting them intensifies their natural sweetness and gives them a smoky depth that jarred peppers often lack. While preparing them from scratch adds a layer of flavor that is truly unbeatable, we understand that time can be a luxury. Therefore, if you’re looking to save a significant amount of time, using high-quality jarred roasted red peppers is a perfectly acceptable and delicious shortcut. Just be sure to drain them well and pat them dry before marinating.
Versatility at Its Best: Perfect for Any Meal
One of the many reasons to love this Goat Cheese and Roasted Red Pepper Tart is its incredible versatility. It shines equally bright whether served for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. For a delightful breakfast or brunch, pair a slice with a fresh fruit salad and a cup of coffee. As a light lunch, it’s fantastic alongside a simple green salad dressed with a vinaigrette. For dinner, consider serving it with a hearty bowl of soup or a more elaborate side dish to create a truly satisfying meal.
Beyond its flexible serving times, the filling itself is highly adaptable. While the classic combination of roasted red peppers and tangy goat cheese is undeniably delicious, feel free to let your culinary imagination run wild. Here are just a few ideas to inspire your next tart creation, ensuring that this recipe remains a fresh and exciting option for every occasion:
- Spinach and Feta: A timeless Mediterranean combination that offers a salty, earthy twist. Sauté the spinach before adding to the tart to remove excess moisture.
- Roasted Tomato and Basil: For a taste of summer, roast cherry tomatoes until bursting and combine with fresh basil leaves.
- Asparagus and Goat Cheese: A sophisticated pairing, especially delightful in spring. Lightly blanch or roast asparagus spears before layering.
- Grilled Zucchini and Mozzarella: Adds a smoky flavor and a classic cheese pull. Grill thin zucchini slices until tender.
- Caramelized Onion and Thyme: Sweet, savory caramelized onions with fragrant fresh thyme create a comforting, rich flavor profile.
- Mushroom and Swiss: Sautéed mixed mushrooms with earthy Swiss cheese offer a robust and satisfying alternative.
- Sun-Dried Tomato and Pesto: Mix sun-dried tomatoes with a dollop of pesto for an intensely flavored Italian-inspired tart.
The possibilities are endless, allowing you to tailor this tart to your personal preferences or whatever fresh ingredients you have on hand.
The Star Ingredients: A Closer Look
The Olive Oil Tart Dough
Our recipe begins with a unique olive oil dough. This isn’t just a substitute for butter; it’s a choice that imparts a distinct flavor and texture. Olive oil makes the dough incredibly tender, with a slightly nutty flavor that complements the savory filling beautifully. It’s also much easier to handle than traditional pastry doughs, as it requires minimal kneading and is less prone to becoming tough. The quick prep time means you can have your crust ready and chilling in the refrigerator in mere minutes, leaving you more time for the star of the show – the peppers.
The Magic of Roasted Red Peppers
Roasting red bell peppers transforms them from crisp, slightly bitter vegetables into sweet, succulent morsels with a smoky aroma. This process caramelizes their natural sugars, intensifying their flavor dramatically. While the roasting is the “longest” part of this recipe, it’s largely hands-off time, and the results are undeniably worth the effort. The charring on the outside, followed by steaming in a covered bowl, makes the skin incredibly easy to peel, revealing the tender, flavorful flesh underneath. Marinating them briefly in olive oil and garlic further enhances their taste, adding an aromatic depth that permeates the entire tart.
The Tangy Elegance of Goat Cheese
Goat cheese, with its distinct tangy and slightly earthy flavor profile, is the perfect counterpoint to the sweet roasted red peppers. Its creamy, crumbly texture melts beautifully into the egg custard, creating pockets of rich, piquant flavor throughout the tart. If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, or if you simply want to experiment, feta cheese or even a mild cheddar could be interesting alternatives, though the unique character of goat cheese is highly recommended for this particular recipe.
Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Tart
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Ingredients
Olive Oil Tart Dough:
- 1½ cups (180g) unbleached all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon (4g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ cup (60 mL) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 large egg, plus 1 large yolk
- 2 tablespoons (30 mL) water
Roasted Peppers:
- 4 medium red bell peppers roughly 2 lbs
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt
- 1 garlic clove thinly sliced
Tart Filling:
- 6 large eggs
- 10 ounces soft goat cheese crumbled
- roasted red peppers see recipe above
Instructions
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Lightly grease a 10 or 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Set aside. This ensures your beautiful tart releases easily after baking.
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Olive Oil Savory Dough: In a food processor, combine the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, kosher salt, baking powder). Pulse several times until they are well mixed and evenly distributed. Add the olive oil, whole egg, egg yolk, and water to the food processor. Pulse the mixture just until the dough comes together and forms a shaggy ball. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough crust. The goal is a tender, flaky texture.
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Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface. Dust the top of the dough with a little more flour, and gently press it into a ½-inch thick rectangle. Using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough outwards from the center to form a thin disc. Aim for a diameter roughly 10 to 11 inches, depending on the size of your tart pan, ensuring it’s large enough to cover the bottom and sides with a slight overhang.
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Carefully transfer the rolled dough into your greased tart pan. Gently press the dough into the edges and up the sides of the pan to form the tart shell, making sure there are no gaps or tears. Trim any excess dough that overhangs the rim of the pan. Cover the tart shell tightly with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator while you proceed with preparing the roasted red peppers. This chilling step helps the dough hold its shape and prevents shrinkage during baking.
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Prepare Peppers: Preheat your oven broiler to high. Place the whole bell peppers on a foil-lined half sheet pan. Slide the pan under the preheated broiler. Allow the peppers to char completely on all sides, rotating them with tongs every few minutes until their skins are blackened and blistered. This charring creates the desirable smoky flavor. Once charred, transfer the hot roasted peppers to a bowl, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and allow them to cool down until they are comfortable enough to handle. The steam trapped inside the bowl will help loosen the skins. Once cooled, peel the peppers, discard the stems and seeds, and slice them into strips. Place the sliced peppers in a clean bowl with 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, the thinly sliced garlic, and a generous sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Allow the peppers to marinate, absorbing these flavors, while you prepare the remaining tart components.
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Assemble and Bake Tart: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Position an oven rack in the center of the oven. Set aside a half sheet pan; this will be used to place the tart on for easier handling and to catch any potential spills during baking.
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In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the 6 large eggs vigorously with a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper until the mixture is smooth and slightly frothy. Ensure the seasonings are well incorporated for a flavorful custard.
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Remove the chilled tart shell from the refrigerator. Evenly scatter half of the crumbled goat cheese over the bottom of the crust. Arrange a generous layer of the marinated roasted red peppers over the cheese. Repeat this layering process with the remaining crumbled goat cheese and then the rest of the peppers. Finally, carefully pour the whisked egg mixture into the crust, ensuring it fills all the gaps between the peppers and cheese. Place the tart pan onto the reserved half sheet pan and transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 30 minutes, or until the filling is set (it should jiggle only slightly in the center when gently shaken) and the crust is beautifully golden brown and baked through.
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Once baked, carefully remove the tart from the oven and place it on a wire rack. Allow it to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before attempting to slice and serve. This cooling time allows the custard to fully set, making for clean slices. Serve your delicious tart warm or at room temperature. Enjoy this impressive and flavorful dish!
Tips for a Flawless Tart Every Time
- Don’t Overmix the Dough: The key to a tender olive oil crust is to mix it just enough for the ingredients to combine. Overmixing can develop the gluten too much, leading to a tough crust.
- Proper Chilling is Essential: Chilling the tart dough before baking is crucial. It allows the gluten to relax, preventing the crust from shrinking excessively during baking, and helps the fat solidify, resulting in a flakier texture.
- Broiler Watch: When roasting the peppers, keep a close eye on them under the broiler. Broilers can be intense, and peppers can go from perfectly charred to burnt very quickly. Rotate them frequently for even charring.
- Marinate for Flavor: Don’t skip the marinating step for the roasted peppers. Even a short 15-minute marinade in olive oil and garlic significantly deepens their flavor.
- Prevent a Soggy Bottom: If you’re concerned about a soggy crust, you can blind bake the tart shell for 10-15 minutes before adding the filling. This is especially helpful if your filling is very moist or if you prefer a crispier bottom crust.
- Know When It’s Done: The tart is ready when the filling is set. A gentle shake of the pan should result in only a slight jiggle in the very center. The crust should also be golden brown.
- Cool Before Slicing: Allowing the tart to cool for 10-15 minutes on a wire rack before slicing is vital. This gives the egg custard time to fully set, ensuring clean, beautiful slices.
Storage and Reheating
This Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Tart is delicious served warm, at room temperature, or even cold straight from the fridge. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, you can warm individual slices in the microwave for a quick bite, or for a crispier crust, reheat in a preheated oven at 300°F (150°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through. This tart also freezes well, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, for up to 1 month. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
A Delightful Culinary Journey
Ultimately, this Homemade Roasted Red Pepper and Goat Cheese Tart is more than just a recipe; it’s an invitation to enjoy simple, fresh ingredients brought together in a harmonious and satisfying way. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a novice in the kitchen, this vegetarian quiche offers a rewarding cooking experience and a truly delicious outcome. Its vibrant colors and rich flavors make it a showstopper on any table, yet its ease of preparation makes it a practical choice for everyday meals. So go ahead, gather your ingredients, and embark on this delightful culinary journey. You won’t be disappointed!