Ricotta, Zucchini, and Lemon Tart

A sheet of store-bought puff pastry makes this tart easy to assemble, while thin zucchini ribbons soften quickly over the ricotta. Blot the zucchini before topping so excess moisture does not weigh down the pastry. Serve warm or at room temperature with a simple green salad.

Serves: 4
Prep: 18 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed according to package directions
• 1 medium zucchini, cut into thin ribbons with a peeler
• 1/2 teaspoon fine salt, divided
• 3/4 cup ricotta
• 1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan
• 1 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme or parsley
• 1 egg, beaten with 1 teaspoon water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Method

1. Heat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment. Lay zucchini ribbons on a towel, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and leave for 10 minutes.
2. Stir ricotta, Parmesan, lemon zest, lemon juice, pepper, and herbs together in a bowl.
3. Unfold puff pastry on the lined sheet. Score a 1-inch border with a knife, taking care not to cut all the way through.
4. Spread ricotta mixture inside the scored border. Blot the zucchini dry and arrange ribbons in loose folds over the filling.
5. Brush the pastry border with egg wash and drizzle zucchini with olive oil. Bake for 22 to 26 minutes, until pastry is puffed and deep golden.
6. Cool for 10 minutes, then cut into four portions. Add a little more lemon zest before serving if desired.

Variations

Use yellow summer squash or thin asparagus in place of zucchini. Add a handful of chopped roasted peppers over the ricotta, or replace thyme with basil after baking. If the pastry warms and becomes sticky, chill the assembled tart for 10 minutes before baking.

Storage and reheating

Refrigerate cooled slices in a covered container for up to 3 days. Reheat on a baking sheet at 350°F until warm to bring back some crispness; a microwave will soften the pastry. Pack cooled slices chilled and keep them cold until lunch.

Read the meal planning for work-from-home lunches and seasonal meal planning without overbuying for more ways to plan lunch. Add this recipe to the Lucru Home grocery list and list any missing ingredients before shopping.