Heirloom Tomato & Boursin Phyllo Tart with Basil Pesto
Crisp, buttery phyllo layered with creamy garlic and herb Boursin and Parmesan, topped with colourful fresh heirloom tomatoes, basil pesto and fresh basil. Simple, fresh and absolutely delicious — serve it for lunch, dinner or as a beautiful appetizer.
Prep time
25 min
Cook time
25–28 min
Serves
Ingredients
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Phyllo Tart
- 10 sheetsphyllo pastry, thawed according to package directions
- 3 tbspunsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbspextra-virgin olive oil
- 2 packages (150 g each)Garlic & Fine Herbs Boursin cheese, softened
- ¼ cupfinely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1½–2 lbsmulticoloured heirloom tomatoes
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- Flaky sea salt, to finish
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Basil Pesto Drizzle
- ¼ cupbasil pesto, homemade or store-bought
- 1 tbspextra-virgin olive oil
- 1–2 tspfresh lemon juice
Ingredients
Phyllo Tart
- 10 sheetsphyllo pastry, thawed according to package directions
- 3 tbspunsalted butter, melted
- 2 tbspextra-virgin olive oil
- 2 packages (150 g each)Garlic & Fine Herbs Boursin cheese, softened
- ¼ cupfinely grated Parmesan cheese
- 1½–2 lbsmulticoloured heirloom tomatoes
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
- Flaky sea salt, to finish
- Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Basil Pesto Drizzle
- ¼ cupbasil pesto, homemade or store-bought
- 1 tbspextra-virgin olive oil
- 1–2 tspfresh lemon juice
Instructions
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the tomatoes. Slice the larger heirloom tomatoes about ¼-inch thick. Smaller tomatoes can be halved or sliced. Arrange them in a single layer over paper towels and lightly sprinkle with salt. Let sit for 20–30 minutes, then gently blot the tops with additional paper towel. This removes excess moisture and helps keep the tart crisp.
- 2
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
- 3
Prepare the phyllo. Combine the melted butter and olive oil in a small bowl. Place one sheet of phyllo onto the prepared baking sheet and lightly brush with the butter mixture. Add another sheet and brush again. Continue until all 10 sheets have been layered. Keep the phyllo you're not currently working with covered with a clean, slightly damp kitchen towel so it doesn't dry out.
- 4
Create the border. Gently fold or tuck the outside edges of the phyllo inward to create a rustic border around the tart. Brush the border lightly with the remaining butter mixture.
- 5
Add the Boursin. In a bowl, stir the softened Boursin and Parmesan together until combined. Gently spread the mixture evenly over the phyllo, leaving approximately a 1-inch border around the outside.
- 6
Bake for 25–28 minutes, or until the phyllo is crisp and beautifully golden around the edges and the cheese is warmed through.
- 7
Remove the tart from the oven and allow it to cool for about 10 minutes before adding the fresh tomatoes.
- 8
Make the pesto drizzle. Stir together the basil pesto, olive oil and 1 teaspoon lemon juice. Add the remaining teaspoon of lemon juice if you'd like a brighter flavour or a slightly thinner consistency.
- 9
Assemble the tart. Arrange the heirloom tomato slices over the Boursin layer, overlapping different colours and sizes to cover most of the tart while allowing a little of the creamy cheese to show through.
- 10
Finish and serve. Spoon or lightly drizzle the pesto over the tomatoes. Finish with fresh basil leaves, freshly cracked black pepper and a small amount of flaky sea salt. Slice into squares and serve.
Melissa's Notes
Phyllo pastry: Store-bought phyllo works perfectly for this recipe. Thaw according to the package directions and keep the unused sheets covered while assembling, as phyllo dries out very quickly.
Basil pesto: Use your favourite store-bought pesto or homemade basil pesto.
Heirloom tomatoes: Use a mixture of colours, shapes and sizes — red, yellow, orange, green and darker heirloom varieties make the tart especially beautiful. Salting and draining the tomatoes before assembling is worth the extra time as the tomatoes are added fresh rather than baked.
Nutrition Information
Per serving
Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary depending on the ingredients and brands used.
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