Asparagus Tart
Asparagus spears on a layer of cream cheese and parmesan over puff pastry, cooked for 30 minutes.
Where This Goes Wrong
Snap off the woody ends.
Blanch and dry the spears.
If your oven runs hot, check at 24 minutes.
Score, but do not cut through, the border.
How to Make Asparagus Tart
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Heat the oven to 200°C / 390°F. Snap off the woody ends of the asparagus, blanch for 2 minutes, cool in cold water and dry.
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Lay the pastry on a lined tray and score a 2 cm border. Mix the cream cheese, parmesan, lemon zest and pepper and spread inside the border.
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Arrange the asparagus on top and brush the border with the egg.
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Cook for 30 minutes until puffed and golden. Add the lemon juice and oil.
Why the Method Works
Asparagus is at its best in spring, and a tart is a good way to show it off: a crisp pastry, a cool, creamy base and spears that keep a bit of snap.
Trim the woody ends from the spears by bending each until it snaps, which finds the natural break. Blanch them for 2 minutes in boiling water, then cool in cold water. Blanching keeps them green and part-cooks them, so they finish in the oven without going grey or stringy.
Score a 2 cm border on a sheet of puff pastry with a knife, without cutting through. Spread the middle with cream cheese mixed with lemon zest, parmesan and a little pepper, and lay the dry spears on top.
Brush the pastry border with egg and cook at 200°C for 30 minutes, until puffed and deep gold. If your oven runs hot, check at 24 minutes. Finish with a squeeze of lemon and a drizzle of oil.
Leftovers, Reheating and Keeping
Best on the day. Keeps in the fridge for 2 days.
What to Serve Alongside
- Green salad
- New potatoes
- Smoked salmon
- Dry white wine
Questions and Answers
How long does Asparagus Tart take to make?
About 45 minutes in total — 15 minutes of preparation and 30 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 6.
What are the key tips for making Asparagus Tart?
Snap off the woody ends. Blanch and dry the spears. If your oven runs hot, check at 24 minutes. Score, but do not cut through, the border.
What should I serve with Asparagus Tart?
Green salad; New potatoes; Smoked salmon; Dry white wine.
How should Asparagus Tart be stored?
Best on the day. Keeps in the fridge for 2 days.
Is Asparagus Tart suitable for a special diet?
This recipe is no added sugar. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.
How many calories are in Asparagus Tart?
About 383 kcal per serving, with 10 g protein, 25 g carbohydrate and 27 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.
Asparagus Tart Nutrition
Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.
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Written and tested by Turab
One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.
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