Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen all-butter puff pastry
- 2 extra-large egg yolks
- 1 1/4 pounds wild mushrooms
- cleaned
- 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 1/2 cups sliced young onions
- plus a 1/4 cup diagonally sliced young onion tops
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
- 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta
- drained if wet
- 1/4 cup creme fraiche
- 1/4 pound Gruyere
- thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
- 1/4 cup tarragon leaves
- 1/4 cup chervil sprigs
- 1/4 cup 1/2-inch-snipped chives
- A drizzle of super-good extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 lemon
- for juicing
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Defrost the puff pastry slightly and unroll it onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Use a paring knife to score a 1/4-inch border around the edge of the pastry.
- Make an egg wash by whisking 1 egg yolk with 1/4 teaspoon water, and brush the egg wash along the border.
- (You will not need all of the egg wash.) Return the puff pastry to the freezer until youre ready to use it.
- If the mushrooms are big, tear them into large bite-sized pieces.
- (Not too small, as they will shrink when theyre cooked.)
- Heat a large saute pan over high heat for 2 minutes.
- Swirl in 2 tablespoons olive oil and wait 1 minute.
- Add 1 tablespoon butter, and when it foams, scatter half the mushrooms into the pan.
- Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and a healthy pinch of pepper.
- Saute the mushrooms about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are tender and a little crispy.
- (The cooking time will depend on the particular mushrooms you use.)
- Transfer the cooked mushrooms to a baking sheet, and repeat with the second half of the mushrooms.
- When the second batch of mushrooms are just cooked, reduce the heat to low and toss in the spring onions, thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
- Stir gently 1 to 2 minutes, until the onions are just wilted.
- Stir in the onion tops.
- Transfer to the baking sheet, and stir to combine with the first batch of mushrooms.
- Place the ricotta, remaining egg yolk, and remaining tablespoon olive oil in the bowl of a food processor.
- Puree until smooth, and remove to a mixing bowl.
- Gently fold in the creme fraiche, and season with a healthy pinch of salt and a few grindings of black pepper.
- Spread the ricotta mixture on the puff pastry within the scored border.
- Place the Gruyere over the ricotta.
- Arrange the mushrooms and spring onions on top.
- If you arent ready to bake it yet, cover the tart with plastic and chill.
- Bake the tart 20 to 25 minutes, rotating the baking sheet after 10 minutes, until the cheese is bubbling and the crust is golden brown.
- Lift the crust to peek underneath the tart to make sure the crust is really cooked through.
- (If you underbake the tart, it will be soggy.)
- Toss the herbs in a small bowl with salt, pepper, a drizzle of super-good olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon juice.
- Let the tart cool a few minutes, and serve it on a cutting board at the table.
- Serve the herb salad on the side in a small bowl or scatter it over the tart.
- Assemble the tart in the morning, cover, and refrigerate.
- Bake just before youre ready to serve.
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