Artichoke Tart with Puff Pastry and Herby Cheese

artichoke tart

Calling all artichoke lovers!

You must make this savory puff pastry, layered with a filling of creamy, herby cheese and topped with artichoke hearts. It’s simple, elegant and full of flavor.

This artichoke tart can easily be served as a main, for brunch, a side or an appetizer. Easy enough for a week day meal as well as the weekend.

artichoke hearts on puff pastry

 

I want to stress how simple this is to make because you’re going to be using good old fashioned frozen store-bought puff pastry, some Boursin cheese and canned artichoke hearts.

 

tart ingredients

There’s also shredded mozzarella into the mix along with some fresh herbs to bump up the flavor even more, just make sure you drain those artichokes well!

I place the artichoke halves onto a paper towel and typically change out the towel a couple of times just to make sure no moisture is clinging unto them.

artichokes and puff pastry

Serve this warm or at room temperature with a fresh salad of your choice.

flowers and a tart

A crunchy, buttery crust with a delicious cheese center topped with tender, melt in your mouth artichokes, you can’t get better than that!

Artichoke Tart With Puff Pastry And Herby Cheese
 
An elegant, easy to make savory artichoke tart.
Author:
Ingredients
sheet of frozen puff pastry, defrosted
  • 1 and a half containers of Boursin garlic and herb cheese
  • 1 cup of shredded mozzarella
  • 1 tablespoon each of chopped parsley and basil
  • a little milk or cream to smooth out the Boursin
  • 1 can of artichoke halves, very well drained
  • 1 egg for egg wash
  • Italian herb seasoning to sprinkle on the outer crust border
  • olive oil
  • small basil leaves or chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
  1. Pre-heat oven to 425
  2. On a sheet of parchment paper, roll out the pastry slightly to get rid of the seams and to even it out into a rectangle.
  3. Score a border with a knife then egg wash the border and sprinkle the Italian seasoning all around.
  4. Place the parchment with the pastry onto a baking sheet now and prick the inner pastry with a fork all over.
  5. In a bowl add the Boursin cheese and because it's typically crumbly take some cream or milk and stir it in until it's nice and smooth.
  6. Toss in the shredded mozzarella and the fresh herbs, stir until well combined.
  7. Spread the cheese mixture all over inside the border.
  8. Top with the artichoke halves and drizzle lightly all over with olive oil.
  9. Bake 25-30 minutes or until deep golden.
  10. Garnish with small basil leaves or chopped parsley.
  11. Serve warm or at room temperature.
  12. (This recipe was inspired than adapted from Chef Sofia)

 

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BLT Pasta Salad With A Spin On The Classic

BLT salad

This BLT pasta salad has the familiar flavors of crispy bacon, crisp lettuce and tomatoes that are the key ingredients of the famous sandwich, but now those same flavors and then some are fused into a delicious pasta salad, it’s sharable and party friendly.

This pasta salad is ideal for upcoming cookouts, and any summer gatherings you might be having.

The pasta shape I used was rotelle otherwise know as wagon wheels. It’s a fun pasta to use if you can get your hands on some. I like how the ingredients settle into ” the spokes” of the pasta wheel giving you a complete taste in every bite, but feel free to use any shape you wish.

ingredients

Some additional flavors I added were corn, peas and sliced green onions.

pasta salad ingredients

As far as the lettuce choice you can use chopped romaine or chopped iceberg or a mix of both. This salad can be made ahead of time but don’t add the lettuce until you’re ready to serve it up so it can be as crisp as possible in the salad.

wagon wheel pasta salad

Memorial Day is right around the corner, make this for your party!

BLT Pasta Salad With A Spin On The Classic
 
BLT pasta salad with a sharable twist on the classic.
Author:
Ingredients
  • These are just approximate measurements feel free to add more or less depending on how much you're making.
  • 12 oz. to 1-lb. of cooked pasta according to the package, then cooled down with cold water, drain and pat dry
  • 6 or 8 slices of bacon, cooked crispy, drained on paper towel and then crumbled
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in half
  • 2 heaping cups of chopped romaine or iceberg or both (Note) make sure it's crispy and cold
  • 1-1/2 cups of corn, defrosted frozen is fine
  • 1-1/2 cups of frozen peas, defrosted
  • chopped green onion, amount according to your liking
  • DRESSING
  • Again you can make more if needed.
  • ½ cup mayo
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 2 TBl lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon, granulated garlic
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Note; if making this a day ahead add everything but the lettuce and dressing until ready to serve.
  2. Whisk up the dressing and adjust for seasoning.
  3. In a large bowl add the pasta, tomatoes, bacon, corn, peas, green onions, add the lettuce and dressing spoon by spoonful gently tossing everything together.
  4. Serve it up on a pretty platter!

 

Signature

Pasta al Limone With Basil And Burrata

lemon burrata pasta

Pasta al Limone is the perfect spring and summer pasta dish to serve, it’s light and refreshing and so easy to make. You can make this for a weeknight meal or for a special dinner. I recently made it for Easter and served it as a side along with chicken Milanese and everyone loved it, but you can also serve it as a main as well.

I included basil and burrata for mine but you can also add in arugula, asparagus, spinach, peas and other fresh herbs.

 

lemon linguine ingredients

This is simplicity at it’s best, some of the basic ingredients you might even have in your own kitchen already. You might think lemon and pasta is an unusual combination but actually it originated in southern Italy in the regions of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast where lemons are famous and used in many dishes including this pasta dish.

lemon cream sauce

The sauce is silky and balanced and not heavy tasting at all. In my opinion the cream makes it a little more luxurious but you can certainly omit the heavy cream and just emulsify the sauce with the grated Parmigiano and some pasta water.

Use fresh organic lemons, finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano and don’t forget that creamy burrata, quality ingredients are a must!

lemon linguine and burrata

Simple and elegant Pasta al Limone!

Pasta al Limone With Basil And burrata
 
A bright and lemony cream sauce coats your pasta like silk, the perfect dish to serve all spring and summer.
Author:
Ingredients
  • ½ lb. of pasta, preferably a long pasta like linguine or spaghetti
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice made from organic lemons as well as 2 tablespoons of zest, plus more for garnish
  • ½ cup of heavy cream
  • ½ heaping cup of finely grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, more for garnish
  • 1 large garlic clove finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
  • a drizzle of olive oil in the pan
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • a small bunch of basil
  • 1 lemon seeded and cut into thin slices, basically for garnish
  • 1-4 oz. ball of burrata
Instructions
  1. Put the water on for the pasta, make sure you salt the water. When pasta is done cooking reserve some of the pasta water, about a half a cup.
  2. As the pasta is cooking grab a deep skillet, drizzle the bottom with olive oil and melt the butter.
  3. Add the garlic but make sure it doesn't burn! You just want it fragrant and slightly soft.
  4. Add the heavy cream and simmer, it will start to thicken fast.
  5. Toss in the lemon juice and half of the zest.
  6. Toss in some torn basil leaves and 2 thin lemon slices.
  7. The sauce doesn't take long, just a few minutes, shut the heat off and place the cooked al dente pasta in in the cream sauce.
  8. Toss in the grated Parmigiano turning to coat all the pasta, use the pasta water to loosen up the sauce if need be, just a little at a time.
  9. Taste and adjust as needed.
  10. Place your pasta onto a nice platter and tear open your creamy burrata ball and place all over.
  11. Garnish with additional zest, some basil and more Parmigiano.
  12. This recipe can easily be doubled, in fact I would encourage you to do so.

 

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