Description
This Mediterranean tuna, pepper & courgette tart combines flaky puff pastry with a flavorful topping of sautéed courgettes, creamy garlic and herb cheese, tuna flakes, roasted peppers, capers, and black olives. Perfect as a light lunch or an impressive appetizer, this tart offers a delightful blend of textures and Mediterranean flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 320g pack ready-rolled puff pastry
Topping
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 courgettes, coarsely grated
- 150g pack garlic & herb soft cheese (we used Boursin)
- 185g can tuna in spring water, drained and broken into flakes
- 140g ready-roasted peppers, sliced into strips
- 1 tbsp capers in brine, drained
- 8 pitted black olives
Instructions
- Prepare the oven and pastry base: Preheat your oven to 220°C (200°C fan) or gas mark 7. Unroll the puff pastry onto a large baking sheet lined with baking parchment. Using a sharp knife, score a 1cm border around the edges without cutting through the pastry. Prick the area inside the border thoroughly with a fork to prevent puffing. Bake the pastry base for 15 minutes until slightly golden.
- Cook the courgettes: While the pastry is baking, heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the coarsely grated courgettes and fry until tender and the mixture is quite dry, releasing excess moisture. Remove from heat and allow the courgette mixture to cool slightly before mixing it with the garlic and herb soft cheese.
- Assemble the tart: Remove the partially baked pastry base from the oven and gently press down any puffed-up areas within the scored border using the back of a spoon to create an even surface. Evenly spread the courgette and cheese mixture over the pastry base, staying within the border.
- Add toppings: Scatter the drained tuna flakes evenly over the courgette layer. Arrange the roasted pepper strips on top of the tuna. Sprinkle the drained capers over the peppers and finally dot the tart with the pitted black olives.
- Finish baking: Return the tart to the oven and bake for a further 15 minutes, or until the pastry is fully cooked, golden, and puffed up. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Ensure you drain the tuna and capers well to avoid excess moisture that could make the pastry soggy.
- If you prefer, substitute black olives with green olives for a different flavor profile.
- This tart is best served warm but can be enjoyed at room temperature as well.
- You can customize the tart by adding fresh herbs like thyme or oregano for extra Mediterranean aroma.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keywords: Mediterranean tart, tuna tart, puff pastry tart, courgette tart, roasted pepper tart, easy lunch recipe, savory tart
