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Tomato and basil tarte tatin
By Lorraine Pascale. From Baking Made Easy
Savoury tarte tatin is perfect for a light lunch, just add a green salad.
500g/1lb 2oz ready-made puff pastry
40 vine-ripened cherry tomatoes
2 tbsp vegetable oil
pinch sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp honey
2 tbsp breadcrumbs
plain flour, for dusting
1 free-range egg, lightly beaten
small bunch fresh basil
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
Place the tomatoes into a 20cm/8in ovenproof frying pan with the vegetable oil, salt and pepper and honey. Arrange together as tightly as possible and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs.
On a well-floured work surface, roll out a circle of puff pastry the same size as the top of the frying pan. Place the puff pastry over the tomatoes, tucking it around them so the tomatoes are encased.
Brush the pastry with the lightly beaten egg on the top only. (It does seem a bit pointless as this will be the underneath of the tart, but I like that bit of extra crunch that it adds to the pastry and it looks so much more presentable for that minute before you turn it upside down!)
Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, or until the puff pastry is well puffed and golden brown. Remove from the oven and leave to sit for a few minutes, then tip away the excess liquid (if any) and put a large plate upside down on top of the frying pan. Using oven gloves, press the plate down hard and then quickly flip the whole thing so the frying pan is upside down and the plate is on the bottom. (I do this over the sink because there is usually some leakage!)
Remove the frying pan. Once the tart is cold, rip up some mint or basil leaves and drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
To serve, arrange the tarte on a plate or large platter with cold meats, cheeses, olives or salads.
You’ll need a 20cm/8in ovenproof frying pan. If you don’t have one, cook the tomatoes in a frying pan, and then transfer to a 20cm/8in cake tin for baking.
