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Ottolenghi's Roasted Vegetable Tart

ottolenghi's roasted vegetable tart

Adapted from Yotam Ottolenghi in Plenty

A roasted Mediterranean feast finished off with a creamy cheesy topping.

Servings 6 to 8 servings
Author Rosemary Stelmach

Ingredients

  • 1 red bell pepper (about 8 ounces)
  • 1 yellow bell pepper (about 6 ounces)
  • olive oil
  • 1 medium eggplant, cut into 2" cubes (about 12 ounces)
  • salt & freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 small sweet potato, peeled & cut into 1" cubes (about 7 ounces)
  • 1 small zucchini, cut into 1" cubes (about 10 ounces)
  • 2 medium onions, thinly sliced vertically (about 5 ounces each)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 11 ounces pie crust dough * (or gluten-free pie crust dough)
  • 8 thyme sprigs, leaves picked
  • 1/3 cup ricotta cheese (about 4 ounces)
  • 4 1/4 ounces feta cheese
  • 7 or 8 cherry tomatoes, halved (about 3 ounces)
  • 2 medium eggs
  • 1 cup heavy cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.  Use a small serrated knife to cut around the stem of the peppers and lift it out along with the seeds.  Shake the peppers to remove all the remaining seeds; discard the stems and seeds.  Place the two peppers in a small ovenproof dish, drizzle with a little oil and put on the top shelf in the oven. 

  2. Mix the eggplant in a bowl with 4 tablespoons of olive oil and some salt and pepper. Spread in a large baking pan and place in the oven on the shelf beneath the peppers. 
  3. After 12 minutes add the sweet potato cubes to the eggplant pan and stir gently.  Return to the oven to roast for another 12 minutes.  Then add the zucchini cubes to the pan, stir and roast for a further 10 to 12 minutes.  At this point, the peppers should be brown and the rest of the vegetables cooked.  Remove all from the oven and reduce the temperature to 325°F. Cover the peppers with foil and cool, then peel and tear roughly into strips. 

  4. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Saute the onions along with the bay leaves and some salt for about 20 to 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they turn brown, soft and sweet. Remove from the heat, discard the bay leaves and set aside. 

  5. Lightly grease a 9-inch loose-bottomed tart pan.  Roll out the pie crust dough to a circle roughly 1/8 inch thick and large enough to line the pan, plus extra to hang over the rim. (See recipe notes)  Carefully line the pan with the dough, pressing it into the corners and leaving the excess hanging over the top edge.  Line the dough with a large sheet of parchment paper and fill it with pie weights or dried beans.  Bake the crust for 30 minutes.  Carefully remove the paper with the weights, then bake for 10 to 15 minutes more, or until it turns golden brown.  Remove and allow to cool a little. 

  6. Scatter the cooked onion over the bottom of the crust and top with the roasted vegetables, arranging them evenly.  Scatter half the thyme leaves over.  Next, dot the vegetables with small chunks of both cheeses and then with the tomato halves, cut-side up.  Place the tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet.

  7. Whisk the eggs and cream in a small bowl with some salt and pepper. Carefully pour this mix into the tart; the top layer of tomatoes and cheese should remain exposed.  Scatter the remaining thyme over the top.  Place in the oven, on the baking sheet, and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the filling sets and turns golden.  Remove and allow to rest for at least 10 minutes before releasing the tart from the pan and serving.

Recipe Notes

 * I use Pillsbury refrigerated prepared crust.  Ottolenghi calls for 11 ounces of pie crust dough …the Pillsbury package contains two 7-ounce crusts.  So that the base of the tart is substantial, I use the entire package and simply double up on the crust.  Once it is molded in the tart pan, I trim away some of the excessive dough and it works perfectly.