Asparagus Puff Pastry Tart

This asparagus puff pastry tart is ideal as a party appetizer, but it can also be served as an entree or light main course for lunch. One of my savory puff pastry recipes that's made with white cheddar cheese, marinated asparagus before baking to perfection!

This is a great recipe to serve in the springtime when asparagus is fresh.

Asparagus and Cheese Puff Pastry Tart is a pretty fancy looking recipe, but it's also very easy to put together and bake.

If you've never worked with puff pastry, you're in for a real surprise on how easy it is to create delicious recipes.

Where is Puff Pastry in the Grocery Store?

Puff pastry is sold in the freezer section of your grocery store. You need to let the sheets come to room temperature in order to work with them, but be careful they don't get too warm. 

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Main Ingredients Needed

Make sure you print out the recipe below and save it for later!

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry thawed
• Grated white cheddar cheese
• Asparagus
• 1 red bell pepper
• Salt and pepper
• Italian salad dressing

Directions

Step 1: How to Cut Asparagus

• Take the end of one stalk of asparagus and hold it between your thumb and forefinger. Now gently bend it until it breaks. 
• The asparagus will break just where the woody part ends and the fresh edible part begins.
• Then place the broken one down on a cutting board and use it as a guide to cutting the rest of the bunch. 
• Add the asparagus to a bowl and toss with the Italian salad dressing, salt and pepper; set aside while you prepare the sheet of puff pastry dough. 

Step 2: How to Defrost Puff Pastry Dough

• Remove the puff pastry from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator the night before you want to prepare this recipe.
• Puff pastry sheets are perfectly okay to thaw at room temperature. Take the sheet of puff pastry out of the box and set it on top of a cutting board or a parchment baking sheet on the counter. 
• Allow it to come to become pliable enough that you can unfold and roll it out. This could take 30 to 90 minutes. 
• Once it's pliable enough to unfold easily, place it on a floured surface and using a rolling pin, press the lines out of the puff pastry and place on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.

Step 3: How to Bake Puff Pastry

• Make a slight indent around the entire square of puff pastry about 1" away from the edge using a sharp knife. This will form the crust after the pastry has baked.
• Using a fork, prick the dough of the puff pastry so while cooking it doesn't puff up too much. 
• Place the baking tray in a pre-heated 400°F oven for about 10 to 12 minutes or just until you see the sheet begin to puff up and start to brown. Remember, the tart is going to bake again with the cheese, asparagus and red pepper slices. 

How to arrange the asparagus on top of the puff pastry

• While the puff pastry is pre-baking, grate the cheese using a box grater or plank grater. Slice the red pepper as seen in the photo below. I thought it was fun to do it in the shape of a clover. 
• Once the puff pastry is slightly browned, remove from the oven. Sprinkle the top of the puff pastry with the cheese being careful to stay within the "frame" that you created.
• Arrange the asparagus in a pretty design on top of the cheese and place the red pepper slices on top of the asparagus. Brush the top of the red peppers with a little of the salad dressing.
• Return the tray to the oven and continue to cook for another 12 - 15 minutes; watching carefully again.

Serving Tips

• Let cool slightly, then slice and serve.
• This asparagus tart goes nicely with a tossed green salad or even a pasta salad. It's perfect for a light lunch with friends or even to serve for a brunch with scrambled eggs and bacon. 

Ready for more Puff Pastry Recipes?

• Puff Pastry Hearts filled with homemade chocolate mousse make an easy dessert for company or your family. 
• Apple Caramel Puff Pastry Braid - oh my word, this recipe is amazing. It makes an incredible presentation as well. 
• If baking a homemade apple pie makes you break out in hives, try this easy Puff Pastry Apple Tart Recipe. Don't forget to drizzle caramel sauce on top right before serving. 

📖 Recipe Card

Lois

Asparagus and Cheese Puff Pastry Tart

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Asparagus and Cheese Puff Pastry Tart is so easy to make and the perfect appetizer or light lunch to serve to family and friends.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Servings: 1 tart

Course: Appetizers

Cuisine: American

Calories: 205

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x?

• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry thawed
• 2 cups grated white cheddar cheese
• Asparagus
• 1 red bell pepper
• Salt and pepper
• Italian salad dressing

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Equipment

• Reynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking Parchment Paper Sheets
• Half Sheet (2 Pack), Silver
• Stainless Steel Wire Cooling Rack for Baking

Method

 

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Unfold the defrosted puff pastry and place on a floured surface.
3. Using a rolling pin, press the lines out of the puff pastry and place on a baking sheet that has been lined with parchment paper.
4. Using a sharp knife, make a slight indent around the entire square of puff pastry about 1" away from the edge. This will form the crust after the pastry has baked. Using a fork, prick the dough of the puff pastry so while cooking it doesn't puff up too much.
5. Bake for about 10 - 12 minutes; watching it closely. You do not want the dough to get too brown as you will be baking it again with the cheese and asparagus.
6. Trim away the woody parts of the asparagus and toss with the Italian salad dressing, salt and pepper; set aside.
7. Grate the cheese.
8. Slice the red peppers making sure you get the pretty ring shapes as seen in the finished photo.
9. Once the puff pastry is slightly browned, remove from the oven.
10. Sprinkle the top of the puff pastry with the cheese being careful to stay within the "frame" that you created.
11. Arrange the asparagus in a pretty design on top of the cheese and place the red pepper slices on top of the asparagus.
12. Brush the top of the red peppers with a little of the salad dressing.
13. Return the tray to the oven and continue to cook for another 12 - 15 minutes; watching carefully again.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 205kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 10gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 354mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1g

Notes

1. The asparagus I purchased were not in season and were quite thick.
2. I trimmed them down, cutting off the woody stems before tossing them with the Italian salad dressing.
3. Then I pre-cooked them in a hot 425 degree oven for about 10 to 12 minutes until they were just fork tender.
4. Then I proceeded with the recipe as directed above.
5. If you're able to get asparagus that are thin and in season, you can skip the step of pre-baking them. You want the asparagus to be soft and tender after the entire tart is baked. I achieved that by pre-baking them.

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This recipe has been updated since it first appeared in 2014 with new photos and a new printable recipe card that includes nutritional information. I hope you enjoy the updates as much as I enjoyed working on them!