Name: Asparagus and ricotta tart with miso and black garlic
Ingredients: 150g ricotta; 25g parmesan, finely grated, plus extra finely grated to serve; 2 egg yolks; 1 tbsp white miso; salt and black pepper; 6 cloves black garlic, roughly chopped; 1½ tbsp balsamic vinegar; 2½ tbsp olive oil; 1 35cm x 22cm sheet all-butter puff pastry (about 320g), rolled out; 250g fine asparagus, ends trimmed and discarded; ¼ tsp chilli flakes

Asparagus and ricotta tart with miso and black garlic

Main Easy

Serves 4

Prep 10 min

Cook 50 min

This easy tart gets its oomph from the combination of sweet black garlic and salty miso. Serve it with a big green salad as a light lunch.

Ingredients

150g	ricotta
25g	parmesan, finely grated, plus extra finely grated to serve
2	egg yolks
1 tbsp	white miso
	salt and black pepper
6	cloves black garlic, roughly chopped
1½ tbsp	balsamic vinegar
2½ tbsp	olive oil
1	35cm x 22cm sheet all-butter puff pastry (about 320g), rolled out
250g	fine asparagus, ends trimmed and discarded
¼ tsp	chilli flakes

Method

Heat the oven to 190C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6. In a small bowl, combine the ricotta, parmesan, one of the egg yolks, the miso and a good grind of pepper, and set aside.
Put the black garlic, vinegar, two tablespoons of oil and a teaspoon of water in the small bowl of a food processor and blitz smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl a few times as you go.
Line a large baking tray with greaseproof paper and lay the puff pastry sheet on top, with the longer side facing you. Create a rim on the pastry by lightly scoring it about 1cm from the edge all the way around. Gently poke the centre randomly with a fork about 12 times in all. Spread the ricotta mixture evenly over the centre, then top with the asparagus tips, all pointing in the same direction and away from you, with some tips slightly overlapping the others. Drizzle over the remaining teaspoon and a half of oil, and lightly sprinkle the asparagus with salt and pepper. Add a small splash of water to the remaining egg yolk, beating to combine, and use this to brush all around the rim.
Bake for 25-28 minutes, or until the pastry is golden around the edges and cooked through. Transfer the tart to a large board, spoon over the black garlic dressing, sprinkle with the chilli and extra parmesan, then cut into eight pieces. Serve warm or at room temperature.