Tomato Tarte Tatin, Delicious for First Course or Light Lunch

A few weeks ago, we ate lunch at a lovely restaurant which offered an unusual, at least for France unusual, three-course vegetarian menu option. The choices looked so yummy, that most of us chose the vegetarian option. I will soon write a post about our visit to Venasque and lunch at Les Remparts. For now, I will say our starter of "Tarte Tatin aux Tomates" was to die for. It was so good!

When we got back to California, I was happy to see that there were lots of Roma tomatoes in the garden along with an abundant crop of Oregano. So I began a quest to duplicate that yummy tart by searching my collection of cookbooks, as well as online at Google and Pinterest. The recipe which follows draws from multiple sources. I hope you like it.

Michel's Tarte Tatin Aux Tomates with Arugula

In a large skillet, large enough to hold 2 3/4 pounds of Roma tomatoes, melt butter and sugar over medium heat until they caramelize like shown below. Just before you take it off the stove, add 2 finely diced garlic cloves. Don't let them burn.

Caramelized butter and sugar

Arrange the halved and seeded Roma tomatoes, cut sides up in your large skillet as shown below. Lower the heat and cook for 10 minutes until the tomatoes release most of their juice.

Halved and seeded Roma tomatoes arranged on top of caramelized butter, sugar and garlic

Add balsamic vinegar and cook 2 minutes more. Arrange the tomatoes in an 11 or 12-inch tart pan with removable base, cut sides up. Spoon some of the juices from the pan over the tomatoes, there is a lot of flavor in the juices.

Cooked tomatoes in tart pan

Oregano from the garden

Sprinkle with Oregano, salt and pepper to taste.

Cooked tomatoes with fresh Oregano, salt and pepper, ready for pie pastry

Roll the pie pastry and with sharp knife or scissors, cut it into a 12-inch round. Place it on top of the tomatoes, tucking it in at the edges. With a fork, make small holes in the pastry.

Set the tart on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to a preheated oven. Immediately reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees. Bake the tart for 30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown.

Let the tart sit for 5 minutes after you take it out of the oven. Run a knife around the pastry to loosen it from the pan. Now if you have a fluted tart pan like me, don't worry about running a knife around the edge of the pan. It pulled away on its own while it was resting.

Set a large plate upside down on the tart and using pot holders, turn the plate right side up so the tart comes out. Garnish with oregano.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 finely diced garlic cloves
2 3/4 pounds Roma tomatoes, halved and seeded
2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Pie pastry for a 12-inch tart
Extra fresh Oregano for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the over to 400 degrees. Have on hand an 11 or 12-inch tart pan with removable base and a rimmed baking sheet.

2. In a large skillet of sufficient size to hold all the tomatoes, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the brown sugar and cook it until it is fully dissolved. When it starts to caramelize, add the diced garlic. Take it off the heat.

3. Add the tomatoes and arrange them cut sides up in the skillet. Put back on the heat and lower the temperature and cook for 10 minutes or until the tomatoes release most of their juice.

4. Add the Balsamic vinegar and cook for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.

5. Arrange the tomatoes in an 11 or 12-inch tart pan with removable base, cut sides up. Spoon some of the juices from the pan over the tomatoes.

6. Sprinkle with the Oregano and salt and pepper to taste.

7. Roll the pie pastry and with sharp knife or scissors, cut it into a 12-inch round. Place it on top of the cooked tomatoes, tucking it in at the edges. With a fork, make small holes in the pastry.

8. Set the tart on a rimmed baking sheet and transfer to a preheated oven. Immediately reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees. Bake the tart for 30 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Remove from oven.

9. Let the tart sit for 5 minutes after you take it out of the oven. Run a knife around the pastry to loosen it from the pan.

10. Set a large plate upside down on the tart and using pot holders, turn the plate right side up so the tart comes out. Garnish with oregano.

11. Cut the tart into wedges and garnish with oregano. Serve with dressed greens.

Bon appétit.