Pastry and tomatoes are a great combination. I’ve added some spinach, anchovy and green olives for extra punch.This dish is perfect for a pre-dinner nibble or to make a large tart for a summer picnic.
Ingredients
| 15 | Medium tomatoes, halved (Main) |
| ½ tsp | Salt |
| 2 Tbsp | Olive oil |
Filling
| 2 cups | Frozen spinach, thawed |
| 2 cloves | Garlic |
| ½ cup | Basil leaves |
| 6 | Anchovies, roughly chopped |
| ½ cup | Green olives, stones removed |
| 1 Tbsp | Lemon zest |
| 2 Tbsp | Lemon juice |
| 500 g | Puff pastry |
| 2 Tbsp | Oil, for drizzling |
| 1 | Egg, whisked |
| 1 handful | Basil leaves, to garnish |
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Directions
- Preheat an oven to 140C. Line a baking tray with paper.
- Place the tomatoes cut side up on the tray. Sprinkle with the salt and olive oil. Place into the oven for 3 hours until semidried. Remove and set aside. Turn the oven up to 180C.
- Squeeze any excess water from the spinach and place into a kitchen processor. Add the garlic, basil, anchovies, olives, zest and juice, blitzing until combined but not mushy.
- Roll the pastry to 5mm thick then cut 12 x 9cm circles. Place on to a baking tray. Cut a circle within the circle ½cm from the border halfway through the pastry.
- Even the spinach filling out on to each circle. Top with two or three tomatoes. Drizzle with a little extra olive oil.
- Brush the edges with egg. Bake for 20 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden. Serve with a garnish of basil leaves.
