Ingredients: 400 grams All Purpose Flour (Maida),1 teaspoon All Purpose Flour (Maida) – for dusting,200 grams Salted butter – cut into cubes and chilled,1 1/2 teaspoon Paprika powder,1/2 cup Chilled water – (you may not require all of it),4 Cherry tomatoes – or Heirloom TOmatoes,1/3 cup Goat Cheese,1/2 teaspoon Dried Thyme Leaves – (optional),1/4 cup Mustard greens – (optional)
Time in minutes: 65 Servings: 4 Course: Lunch Diet: Vegetarian
Instructions: To begin making the Tomato Tarts recipe, mix the flour and paprika. Add the chilled butter, using your fingertips rub it into the flour till it resembles coarse bread crumbs.Add water, a couple of tablespoons at a time, just until the dough comes together to form a ball (you can also use a food processor for this, I prefer to do it by hand).Don’t knead the dough too much; just work it till it holds together.Flatten the pastry into a disk; wrap in cling film and stick it in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes (more if the dough has not firmed up).To check if the dough is ready, press it lightly with your fingertips, it should leave an imprint but shouldn’t sink into the dough easily.Take the pastry out of the fridge and on a lightly floured surface knead just a little to bring it together.Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface roughly 3 mm thickness.Carefully lift the rolled out pastry and gently press it into the bottom and up the sides of the tart tin.Trim the edges and patch any cracks with the remaining dough. Place the crust in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes.This dough will easily make two 8 inch tarts; I used moulds with a removable bottom.Preheat the oven to 200C. Using a fork, prick all over the bottom of the crust, then place baking paper on top of the crust and fill it with baking weights or beans or rice (to prevent the crust from rising).Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Take it out of the oven and remove the baking paper and beans.Thinly slice the tomatoes (cherry tomatoes and grape tomatoes can be added whole).Arrange the slices in the tart shells sprinkle the thyme and add crumbled goat cheese.Bake again for 10 to 15 minutes till the tomatoes have softened. Top with mustard greens and serve.Serve Tomato Tarts along with Smoked Tofu and Grilled Vegetable Salad for a delicious weekend lunch or dinner.