Recipe: Butternut Squash Rose Tart
This savory tart is a stunner — there’s no denying that. Blossoms made of butternut squash ribbons, sage- and garlic-flecked ricotta, and a tender olive oil crust make for a dish that’s 100 percent worthy of any and all Thanksgiving dinners. But the best part? Your guests will appreciate just how fancy it looks, but they’ll never know just how easy it is to make.
A Fancy-Looking Tart That’s Hardly Fancy to Make
What makes this savory tart so simple is that is relies on a press-in dough that takes no more than five minutes to assemble. The olive oil in the dough lends a nutty flavor, while a touch of apple cider vinegar ensures that it will be extra tender.
Once pressed into a tart pan and blind baked, it’s ready to be lined with a creamy ricotta filling that’s enhanced with sage, garlic, and sharp Pecorino cheese. Then it’s simply a matter of rolling up ribbons of butternut squash to create the small “roses” that dot the cheesy filling. Be sure to tightly pack them onto the tart for the most stunning effect.
Vegetarian guests can enjoy this tart as the main attraction, but it’s guaranteed that almost everyone’s going to want at least a little sliver.
Butternut Squash Rose Tart
Makes 1 (9-inch) tart
Serves 6 to 8
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups
all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon
kosher salt, divided
- 1/2 cup
plus 2 teaspoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons
ice water
- 1 tablespoon
apple cider vinegar
- 1
medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds)
- 1 cup
ricotta cheese
- 1/4 cup
grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- 2 tablespoons
finely chopped fresh sage leaves
- 2 cloves
garlic, minced
- 1
large egg
Freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 425°F.
Stir together the flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add the 1/2 cup of the oil, water, and vinegar and mix gently with a fork, just enough to combine everything into a rough, crumbly dough.
Transfer the dough to a 9-inch tart pan and press it evenly over the entire bottom and up the sides of the pan. Prick it all over with a fork, line it with parchment paper or aluminum foil, and fill with pie weights.
Bake until the edges just start to brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the weights and lining, and bake for another 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
Cut the top neck off the butternut squash. Wrap up the bottom tightly in plastic wrap and reserve in the refrigerator for up to 3 days for another use. Cut off the stem, peel the neck, and use a vegetable peeler to shave the flesh into long ribbons that are about 1-inch wide.
Mix the ricotta, Pecorino, sage, garlic, and egg in a medium bowl. Season with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and a few grinds of pepper. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the bottom of the tart crust.
Roll each squash ribbon up tightly to form "roses" and place on top of the ricotta filling so that you see the coils, pressing down gently so that they stick. Continue with all of the ribbons or until you've completely covered the filling, whichever comes first.
Brush the tops of the roses with the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil. Bake, loosely covered with aluminum foil, for 30 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat to 425°F, and bake until the roses are lightly browned on top, 20 to 30 minutes more.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be wrapped tightly and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.