Tomatoes were originally called love apples and are therefore particularly appropriate for Valentine’s day.
Ingredients
For the tart
- 175g puff pastry
- 3 shallots
- 1 clove garlic
- 25g butter or margarine
- 100g oyster mushrooms
- 50g button mushrooms
- 2 tbsp brandy
- 100g sunblush tomatoes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
To garnish
- Sprigs of basil
To serve
- Rocket and baby spinach or a mixed herb salad
Method
- Preheat the oven to 200°C/gas mark 6.
- Roll out the pastry and use to line two 10cm loose bottomed flan rings. Place on a baking sheet and bake blind for 10-15 minutes, until the pastry is golden.
- Sauté the shallots and one clove of garlic in butter or vegan margarine, until golden, for about 10 minutes on a low heat. Add the mushrooms and continue cooking for another 5 minutes. Add the brandy and cook for a further 2 minutes. Slice four pieces of sun-blush tomato and stir into the mushrooms. Season to taste.
- To make the purée: Sauté half the remaining tomatoes and the clove of garlic in olive oil until very soft, then add 2 tbsp of water and continue cooking gently for a further 5-10 minutes. Season to taste and then purée. Chop the rest of the tomatoes finely and stir into the puree.
- Divide the shallot and mushroom filling between the two tart bases, place on a baking sheet and warm through in the oven for 5 minutes.
- Place each one on a warm plate. Gently heat the purée through in a saucepan and drizzle some around the tarts. Garnish with sprigs of basil. Serve with salad leaves. Extra purée can be served in a jug on the side.
