Description
Delicate goat cheese and walnut tarts showcase French countryside elegance with creamy cheese and crunchy walnuts nestled in buttery pastry. Rustic yet refined, these tarts promise a delightful culinary journey you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup goat cheese
- 1/2 cup California walnuts, chopped
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
Seasoning and Herbs:
- 1.5 teaspoons herbs de Provence
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Finishing Ingredients:
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- Honey (to drizzle)
- Fresh thyme sprigs (for garnish)
Instructions
- Gently unfold the defrosted puff pastry and smooth out any creases with a rolling pin to ensure an even surface.
- Carefully trace and cut eight precise 5-inch circular shapes from the pastry dough, using a sharp round cutter or knife.
- Create a delicate border on each pastry circle by using a knife to trace a shallow ¼-inch perimeter, which will help form a raised edge during baking.
- Distribute creamy goat cheese into the center of each pastry round, leaving the marked border clear and untouched.
- Enhance the cheese with a light sprinkle of salt, freshly ground black pepper, and a generous dusting of Herbs de Provence to elevate the flavor profile.
- Scatter roughly chopped walnuts across the seasoned goat cheese, ensuring an even coverage for consistent texture.
- Drizzle golden honey over the walnuts, allowing it to cascade and pool around the nuts and cheese.
- Whisk an egg with a touch of warm water to create a glossy egg wash for brushing the pastry edges.
- Using a soft pastry brush, gently coat the outer border of each tart with the egg wash to promote a rich, golden-brown color.
- Position the tarts in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) and bake for approximately 20 minutes until the pastry transforms into a crisp, amber-hued shell.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and garnish with delicate fresh thyme sprigs for an aromatic finish.
- Optional: Add an extra drizzle of honey just before serving to enhance the tart’s sweetness and visual appeal.
Notes
- Use cold puff pastry and work quickly to keep the dough flaky and crisp, preventing it from becoming soggy or tough.
- Choose a creamy, tangy goat cheese that melts smoothly and complements the nutty walnuts for a balanced flavor profile.
- Lightly toast walnuts in a dry skillet before adding to enhance their natural nuttiness and create a deeper, more complex taste.
- For gluten-free options, substitute puff pastry with almond flour or gluten-free pie crust, and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg