It’s happened to most of us: you need to bring something to a party, whether it be a baby/bridal shower or brunch, and you agonize (either a little or a lot) over what to bring that will be 1) EASY 2) pretty 3) delicious 4) affordable, and 5) EASY. Have we got the go-to recipe for you! This Spring Tart is all of those things and the only cooking involved is sliding some puff pastry in the oven. This is no joke: you score the edges of a sheet of pastry, give it an egg wash so it comes out golden, bake it for 20 minutes, and top with your favorite herb cheese spread, thinly sliced vegetables & microgreens, lemon zest, olive oil, salt & pepper. The result is a light, crispy (pastry), creamy (cheese), fresh (veggies) and GORGEOUS tart that you can cut into squares and put on a pretty dish.
Is it just us or are fresh vegetables breathtakingly beautiful? That rainbow of color equals vitamins and minerals that run the nutritional gamut. The same phytonutients that give these foods their vibrant colors are the same phytonutrients that feed your cells and help fight disease and the signs of aging.
Tips (unsponsored): We find our microgreens at Trader Joe’s. The key to this tart being light and fresh is slicing your veggies very thinly on a mandolin and not weighing the pastry down with too many toppings. We used this cheese spread (from Trader Joe’s as well, but many grocers carry it):
All “scoring” means is using a knife to cut half-way through the dough:
Have your kids help you place toppings on the pastry. As you prepare and enjoy this tart with those you love, teach them a few things about the ingredients:
- Microgreens can have up to 40% more nutrients than more mature vegetables, including luteine, which helps you have good vision.
- Radishes can help clean out your digestive system and get rid of viruses.
- Lemon juice has tons of vitamin C, which may make it harder to develop asthma.
From: Spring Tart , #12
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- egg wash (1 egg whisked with 2 T water)
- herb cheese spread
- microgreens
- sliced radishes
- any other vegetables you might enjoy (such as heirloom cherry tomatoes, cucumbers)
- lemon zest
- olive oil
- salt and pepper
- Roll out 1 puff pastry sheet into a 10-inch square; score a 1-inch border around the edge with a knife.
- Brush with egg wash.
- Pierce the rest all over with a fork.
- Bake at 400 degrees F until golden, 20 minutes.
- Top with herb cheese spread, microgreens, sliced radishes, lemon zest and olive oil.
- Season with salt and pepper.
