Tomato, basil and cheese tart

1 servings

Ingredients

Quantity Ingredient
1¼ cup All-purpose flour
¾ Stick cold unsalted butter; cut into bits (6
; tablespoon)
2 tablespoons Cold vegetable shortening
¼ pounds Sliced lean bacon; cooked, drained,
; cooled, and
; crumbled
¼ teaspoon Salt
Raw rice for weighting the shell
4 larges Firm-ripe tomatoes; sliced
; horizontally,
; 1/3-inch thick
; (about 2 pound)
1½ teaspoon Salt plus additional for sprinkling the
; tomatoes
1 cup Firmly packed fresh basil leaves plus 3
; basil sprigs for garnish
½ cup Plus 2 tablespoon whole-milk ricotta
2 larges Eggs beaten lightly
¼ pounds Whole-milk mozzarella; grated coarse
½ cup Freshly grated Parmesan
Vegetable oil for brushing the tomatoes

Directions

FOR THE SHELL

FOR THE FILLING

Make the shell: In a large bowl, blend the flour, butter, shortening, bacon, and salt until the mixture resembles meal. Add 3 to 4 tablespoon ice water, or enough to form a dough, tossing the mixture until the water is incorporated. Knead the dough lightly with the heel of the hand against a smooth surface for a few seconds to distribute the fat evenly and form it into a ball.

Flatten the dough slightly, dust it with flour, and chill it, wrapped in wax paper, for 1 hour. Roll the dough into a ⅓-inch thick round on a floured surface and fit it into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable fluted rim. Prick the shell lightly with a fork and chill it for 30 minutes. Line shell with foil, fill foil with the rice, and bake shell in lower third of a preheated 425oF oven for 15 minutes. Remove rice and foil carefully, bake the shell for 3 to 5 minutes more, or until it is pale golden, and let it cool in the pan on a rack.

Make the filling: Sprinkle tomato slices on both sides lightly with additional salt and let them drain on paper towels. In a food processor or blender, pure'e the basil leaves with the ricotta, add the eggs, and blend the mixture until it is combined. Add the remaining 1½ teaspoon salt, mozzarella, Parmesan, and freshly grated black pepper to taste and blend the mixture until it is just combined. Pat the tomato slices dry with paper towels, line the bottom of the shell with the tomato end pieces, and spoon the cheese mixture over the end pieces, smoothing the mixture.

Arrange remaining tomato slices in one layer, overlapping them slightly, over the cheese mixture and brush them with the oil. Bake the tart in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until the cheese mixture is set. Transfer the tart to a rack, let it stand for 10 minutes, and garnish with the basil sprigs. Serve the tart hot or at room temperature. Serve 6.

1987 'Best of Gourmet', Copyright 1987 by Sara Moulton.

Converted by MC_Buster.

Recipe by: Good Morning America Converted by MM_Buster v2.0l.

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