Tomato, Bacon, and Cheese Tarts

Flaky Good Eats!

I love a savory tart, actually I just love tarts, sweet or savory! When you take some crispy bacon, combine that with vine-ripen tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese, you already have a winner on your hands.

I took my basic tart dough and decided to add some black pepper and crushed oregano to it. It was not only a way to flavor the tart, it was also a way to bring a little drama to the tart dough.

After rolling out my tart dough on a lightly floured surface, I used a container lid to cut round tart circles. I know real fancy, but hey it works!

Place a nice thick piece of mozzarella in the center of the tart dough, top that with a fresh slice of tomato, a little shallot and the BACON!

I sprinkled a pinch of creole seasoning and oregano on top of all that goodness, then I drizzled a little olive oil on top.

Don't forget to fold the tart edges up similar to a pie crust, but a lot more rustic looking. Then baste each tart with a little butter, just for the fun of it.

You can put these in the refrigerator covered for about 30 minutes to set up. I went straight to the oven for about 20-25 minutes, until nice and golden brown.

Top with a nice piece of fresh basil as soon as they come out the oven.

Look at what we created people, the cheese, the cheese, I just love all this cheese!


I am ready to eat, and all I can say is this tart taste like part flaky biscuit and part savory pie dough, just pure divine!

Tomato, Bacon, and Cheese Tarts

Ingredients:

2 Tomatoes, sliced
1/2 pack of bacon, fried crispy
1 ball mozzarella cheese, sliced
tart dough (recipe below)
pinch of oregano, dried crushed
pinch of creole seasoning
olive oil for drizzle
butter to baste tarts prior to baking
basil, fresh
1 shallot

For the Tart Dough:

2 cups all purpose flour
3 sticks of unsalted butter, chilled, diced into 1 inch chunks
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1 teaspoon black pepper
4 tablespoon ice cold water

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Prepare pastry tart dough by adding all ingredients except water to a food processor and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.

Add water to processor and pulse a few more times until mixture comes together. Gather dough into a ball and cover with plastic wrap. Chill until ready to use.

Roll out pastry dough on a lightly floured surface into about 1 inch thickness. Use a floured lid to cut out tart rounds. Place rounds on a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

Dice bacon and fry until crispy.

Assemble tarts by placing mozzarella cheese, topped with a tomato, garnish with a little shallot and top with bacon. Add a pinch of oregano and creole seasoning on top. Drizzle with olive oil. Fold up edges of tart dough and baste dough with a little melted butter. Repeat.

Place tarts in oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until nice and golden brown. Remove from oven and top with a basil leaf.