Asparagus Tart (Savory Tart Recipe)

Asparagus tart is a delightful, tasty, light meal. It’s perfect when you have your girlfriends coming over for lunch. I don’t know why, but there is something fancy about these green, long-stemmed vegetables. It’s perfect if you’re serving a vegetarian meal that contains no egg. And if you’re looking for a similar recipe with eggs, you could always make a quiche.

To make the dish, I caramelized leeks and a fennel bulb in a pan, then added Indian-style tomato chutney. I like the kick from the Indian spices and I think they really highlight the asparagus well. This mixture forms the base of the tart. Finally, I topped the tart with roasted asparagus and gave them a light sprinkling of jalapeño cheddar cheese.

I love combining Indian and French cuisine. At first blush, it may seem like these two styles of cooking would clash, but if care is taken, you can really make some special dishes. The trick is to reduce the heat from the Indian components of the dish and to pick French dishes that have bold flavors. This approach works both ways; I’ve made a mustard-based raita that is absolutely amazing with khichdi (rice cooked with coral lentils).

Until I got married, I didn’t really have much exposure to Indian food. So I guess I have my husband Lulu to thank for broadening my culinary horizons!

1. Info for Asparagus Tart (Savory Tart Recipe)

Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 549kcal

2. Ingredients for Asparagus Tart (Savory Tart Recipe)

1 (8-ounce) store-bought pie crust (see tips)
1/3 cup olive oil
2 (5-inch) leeks (green part only), thinly sliced
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 small fennel bulb
1 puréed small roasted red bell pepper
3/4 cup homemade tomato chutney
1-½ pounds small asparagus
zest of a lemon
juice of half a lemon
1 teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
¼ cup jalapeño Cheddar cheese, shredded

3. Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Place the dough in a non-stick rectangular (12” x 8”) tart mold, previously lined with parchment paper, following the curve of the mold, crimp the dough against the edge. Leave a little excess above the edge because the dough will settle a bit in the oven. Prick the dough with a fork. Chill in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes. Line the dough with another sheet of parchment paper and top with ceramic pie weights (or dried beans). Place the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake for about 12-14 minutes. Allow to cool to room temperature. Remove the pie weights and discard the pieces of parchment paper. Set aside.
Note: With the dough remnants, I decorated the tart with 2 leaves made from the dough that I placed at the edges of the pan. Just cut the dough into the shape of a leaf and create the veins using the back of a paring knife.
Discard the stalk and thinly slice the fennel bulb.
In a large, non-stick pan, heat about 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the leeks. When the color is translucent, season with salt. Add butter and fennel. Stir-fry the fennel and cook until slightly browned (about 5-7 minutes). Add the tomato chutney and puréed red bell pepper. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat to medium-low. Cook for about 10 minutes until thickened. Adjust seasoning.
Roasting the asparagus: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Trim about ½ inch from the root of each asparagus. Line a baking pan with a sheet of parchment paper or aluminum foil. Brush with olive oil. Spread the asparagus on the baking pan. Drizzle with lemon zest and more olive oil to coat the asparagus. Toss well. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for about 10 minutes, tossing half-way through the cooking process for even roasting. Drizzle with half the lemon juice.
Fill the tart shell with the warm tomato chutney filling. Top with the roasted asparagus. Finish with a sprinkle of jalapeño Cheddar cheese. Bake at 375°F for 10 minutes and then broil for about 2-3 minutes to get a nice golden top.
Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes.
Serve warm or at room temperature with a green salad.
Bon appétit!