A delicious asparagus tart with pesto recipe. The perfect way to cook asparagus, and this tasty tart makes the perfect brunch potluck idea.
Don't be thrown off by the use of homemade shortcrust pastry in this recipe. It's very easy to make, and will always taste a treat. But you don't have to. Instead you can use store bought if you prefer.
Though there is a bonus if using pre-made shortcrust pastry. Making this asparagus tart will be an absolute walk in the park.
Part of a brunch buffet
I am a lover of all things easy and this is an easy asparagus tart to make. It could be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but I think it is perfect for a spring Sunday brunch.
Simply serve with a fresh green salad, and I like to sprinkle with a few freshly chopped chives for a subtle onion hit.
The following dishes would make great accompaniments to the tart for a lazy brunch buffet.
- Tomato, mozzarella & basil salad
- Ham & egg hash brown nests
- Burrata salsa tartufata
- Honey almond chicken fingers
- Zucchini mushroom croquettes
Shortcrust pastry food processor method
Making pastry in a food processor is really easy, not quite sure why I don’t do it more often!
It is as simple as placing flour and butter in the food processor. Blitz until a crumbly mix is achieved. It will resemble breadcrumbs.
Then pulse through the egg yolk and water. Turn mix out on to a clean working surface and knead until the dough comes together. Don't overwork your dough or it will become tough.
Shortcrust pastry by hand
You don't need a food processor to make the pastry for the asparagus tart. People have been making pastry by hand of centuries. Sure, the food processor speeds things up.
The trick to making shortcrust by hand is not not over heat your ingredients. Place cubes of butter and flour in a bowl. Using your fingertips rub the butter into the flour until it resembles breadcrumbs.
It is important to only use your fingertips, if you use fingers and the palms of your hands you risk melting the butter into the flour. We don't want this.
Mix through egg yolk and water. Then continue as with the food processor method.
Sara xxx
Belly Rumbles received the shown asparagus spears with much thanks from the Australian Asparagus Council.
Printable Recipe
Asparagus & Pesto Tart
Ingredients
Pastry
- 265 grams plain flour
- 125 grams chilled butter large diced (I used salted butter)
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 teaspoons iced water
Filling
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ cup milk
- 80 grams pesto
- 40 grams parmesan finely grated
- 2 bunches mini asparagus
Instructions
- Preheat oven 180 deg C (360 deg F). Line the base of a 12.5cm x 35cm (7 x 14 inch) rectangular loose base tart tin with baking paper and grease the sides with a little spray oil.
- Place flour and butter in food processor. Blitz until a crumbly mix is achieved, like breadcrumbs. Pulse through egg yolk and water.
- Turn mix out on to a clean working surface and knead until the dough comes together. Do not over work your mixture. Roll out between two pieces of baking paper, creating a rectangular shape, which is 5mm thick. Line your tart tin with the pastry and then place a piece of baking paper on top. Fill with pastry weights and blind bake for 20 minutes. Remove baking paper and weights, bake for a further 5 minutes.
- While your tart is blind baking, wash and remove any woody ends from your asparagus. Then trim in order for the spears to fit your tart tin.
- In a small bowl beat eggs with milk, season with a little pepper and salt.
- Once tart case is out of the oven, spread the base with pesto and then sprinkle two thirds of the parmesan cheese on top of this. Lay your spears in the tart case, then pour over the egg and milk mixture. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan on top of the tart.
- Place tart in oven and bake for 25 minutes or until golden.
- Sprinkle with chopped chives and serve with a garden salad.
Measurement Notes
All measurements are Australian metric standard. All measures are level, and cups are lightly packed unless specified. 1 teaspoon = 5ml / 1 tablespoon = 20mls / 1 cup = 250ml /4 teaspoons = 1 tablespoon.
Recipe Notes
NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION
The recipe's nutritional information is an approximation based on an online calculator. It is meant solely for reference purposes. If you're looking for precise details, be sure to double-check with your own research.
Meghan
Stopping in from the Say G'Day link party. This looks fantastic!! I've pinned it and I look forward to making it at our annual Christmas brunch. I've also followed you on twitter!
@ChristineSalins (FoodWineTravel)
Looks delicious, Sara. Beautiful photos too.
Amanda@ChewTown
Great minds! What a gorgeous looking asparagus tart. xx
Sara
What is it with this freaky, let's make similar recipes, mind thing we have going on?!
Helen | Grab Your Fork
Seriously the prettiest asparagus tart I've seen!
Sara
Thanks Helen xx
ahu
Beautiful tart!!! I adore asparagus. Enjoy the opposite seasons!
Sara
Thanks Ahu, I adore asparagus too.
ChopinandMysaucepan
Dear Sara,
I've seen a few recipes for this but I love your beautiful photography and styling and it certainly takes the tart !
Sara
Oh wow, thank you so much for your really lovely comment.
Rosemarie
Love asparagus any time and particularly when Australian is in season - your tart looks delicious and like the addition of pesto spread over the base - would be great for a light lunch.
Sara
Thank you, was a pretty tasty tart and yes, perfect for a light lunch.