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Caramelized Tomato Tart

17/11/2023

The Caramelized Tomato Tarte Tatin is a savory take on the classic French Tarte Tatin, usually made with apples. The tomato version is a summer delight that balances the acidity of the tomatoes with the sweetness of the caramel, all supported by a crispy base of shortcrust pastry or puff pastry.

Ingredients

  • 1 roll of shortcrust pastry or puff pastry
  • 600 g cherry or datterini tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 30 g butter
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • A few sprigs of fresh thyme or oregano (optional)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 190 °C.
  2. In an oven-safe skillet, melt the sugar over medium heat until it turns into a golden caramel. Be careful not to burn it.
  3. Add the balsamic vinegar and butter. Let the butter melt and stir well to combine with the caramel.
  4. Place the tomatoes in the skillet with the caramel, cut side up. Cook for a few minutes until the tomatoes begin to soften slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Roll out the shortcrust pastry or puff pastry and cut a disk slightly larger than the skillet.
  6. Cover the tomatoes with the pastry, tucking the edges inside the skillet.
  7. Bake for about 25-30 minutes, until the pastry is golden and crispy.
  8. Let rest for 5 minutes, then invert the tart onto a serving plate.
  9. Garnish with fresh herbs if using and serve immediately.

I could add an Italian touch; you might consider sprinkling some Parmesan shavings on the tart before serving or adding some Taggiasca olives along with the tomatoes for a savoriness that pairs well with the sweetness of the caramel.

Fun Fact

The original Tarte Tatin takes its name from the Tatin sisters, who created it by mistake in their hotel in France at the end of the 1800s. The story goes that one of the sisters cooked the apples in caramel for too long and, to fix the mistake, covered everything with pastry and baked it, then served the dessert upside down. This gave rise to the famous recipe that today is reinterpreted in many savory and sweet variations.