I once heard waiting for spring described as, “waiting for asparagus.” I’d like to update it to “waiting for Easy Asparagus Tart.”
5 Star Review
“I made this asparagus tart for Easter brunch with my family and it was a hit! It was such a delicious and fresh spring side dish!”
— Beth —
I adore asparagus.
- I shave it into ribbons, then pile it atop homemade Asparagus Pizza.
- I bake it into Asparagus Casserole and Cheesy Chicken Asparagus Casserole.
- I adore it simply prepared in this Roasted Asparagus and Grilled Asparagus.
- When I’m feeling fancy, I serve Bacon Wrapped Asparagus.
One of my favorite aspects of cooking in the spring, in addition to the availability of fresh asparagus, is the easier, breezier tone that spring recipes adopt.
Winter, with its short days and long, cold nights, is a time for savoring time in the kitchen, lovingly poring over Beef Bourguignon and Red Wine Braised Short Ribs. Not spring.
Spring, a precious season, is a time for easy, effortless recipes like this asparagus tart with puff pastry and prosciutto.
Flaky, buttery puff pastry makes a light and lovely base for the tart, and it requires no effort beyond unrolling.
We enjoyed this French asparagus tart with puff pastry for a light dinner, and I think it would be lovely as an appetizer, and for a holiday brunch too.
How to Make an Asparagus Tart
With its simple ingredients list, this asparagus tart is easy to whip up for any occasion (including the start of asparagus season!).
The puff pastry crust is par-baked, ensuring it stays flaky, buttery, and light.
The rest of the toppings—creamy ricotta cheese, nutty Parmesan, and salty prosciutto—complement the asparagus and demand no cooking at all. Simply mix, spread, and bake.
Ingredients and Substitutes
- Asparagus. A delicious spring veggie that’s packed with fiber and folate. It pairs wonderfully with the other flavors in this recipe.
- Prosciutto. Adds an undeniably delicious saltiness and meaty flavor.
- Puff Pastry. Flaky, melt-in-your-mouth puff pastry makes the perfect light and easy base for this tart.
- Egg. An egg wash helps the puff pastry turn a beautiful golden color.
- Ricotta + Parmesan. Creamy, tangy ricotta and nutty, salty Parmesan create a scrumptious, cheesy base for the toppings.
- Lemon Zest + Juice. For brightness and acidity.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prepare the Crust. Roll the puff pastry into a rectangle, then lay it on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Prepare the egg wash, then brush it on the dough. Score a border on the dough, and pierce holes all over it. Bake at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes.
- Top It. Whisk the ricotta mixture together. Spread it onto the baked crust, leaving a 1-inch border. Trim the asparagus and add it to the crust. Brush the asparagus with oil and season with salt and pepper. Add the prosciutto.
- Bake. Bake for 15 minutes. Tent the tart with foil if it is browning too quickly, then bake another 5 to 7 minutes. Let cool and ENJOY!
What to Serve with Asparagus Tart
Easy Asparagus Tart
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Ingredients
- 1 (9×9-inch) sheet frozen puff pastry thawed overnight in the refrigerator
- 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk, divided
- 1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest plus juice of 1/2 lemon
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese plus additional for serving
- 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper divided
- 1 pound asparagus
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 ounces prosciutto
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Unfold the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 10-inch x 14-inch rectangle, then carefully transfer to the prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, beat together the egg yolk with 1 tablespoon water to create an egg wash (save the egg white for a different use). Lightly brush the entire surface of the puff pastry with the egg wash. With a sharp knife, score a border around the pastry dough that is 1 inch from the edges on all sides, so that you mark a rectangle. With a fork, pierce holes in the pastry all over the center of the rectangle you just created (do not pierce the edges). Each fork imprint should be about 1/2-inch apart. Bake the puff pastry for 10 minutes. It will be golden and slightly puffed. If any areas are very puffy, gently press them down with a fork.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl whisk together the ricotta, 1 whole egg, lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, 1/4 cup Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Spread in an even layer over the crust, staying inside the rectangle and leaving the 1-inch border you created uncovered. Trim the bottoms of the asparagus spears to fit crosswise inside the rectangle (about 8-inches in length). Arrange them in a single layer over the ricotta, alternating ends and tips. Brush the asparagus lightly with the olive oil, and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Tear the prosciutto into pieces and scatter it over the top.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then check to make sure the pastry isn't browning too quickly. If it is, lightly tent the tart with foil, then return to the oven and continue baking until the asparagus is tender, about 5 to 7 additional minutes. Remove the tart from the oven and let cool for 2 minutes. Slice and serve, sprinkled with additional Parmesan as desired.
This is really tasty, made as is but added some chives because I had them growing outside and substituted cooked bacon for prosciutto since I didn’t have that. I’ve made this four times now twice for my girlfriends get together to rave reviews! I cut up the asparagus into pieces last time and I think it cooked a little better.
I made this asparagus tart for Easter brunch with my family and it was a hit! While I love prosciutto, we had ham as our main dish so I left the prosciutto off. I also ended up only using about half the ricotta mixture – I felt as though I spread it on liberally and it was still more than enough. Other than that, I followed the recipe exactly and it was such a delicious and fresh spring side dish!