Sunday, September 25, 2011

Tomato and Black Olive Tart

Last weekend was my brother-in-law's birthday, and together with my other sisters and their family, went over to my sister's house to celebrate with them. It was a fun family gathering with delicious food and reminiscence of childhood stories that brings out smiles and laughter, no matter how many times they are repeated and retold all over again, we never get tired of hearing them again and again! :o)


The Birthday Cake
This beautiful Birthday Cake was baked by my youngest sister. It is beautiful and delicious, a lovely butter pound cake with scatters of dried cranberries.



I baked this Cheese and Onion Quiche, a hit with everyone. Everyone loved this, but since I baked only one, everyone got a small piece! Promised to bake more the next time round! I have posted this recipe before, click here. Well, I did bake another quiche, Tomato and Black Olive Tart, but the Cheese and Onion Quiche takes the limelight, it has bacon in it, what's not to love?  :) Seriously, this is a delicious quiche, even one of my nephews who doesn't like onions, asked for more, but alas, there's no more!  I promised to bake one for him! :)




The other quiche that I baked, is Tomato and Black Olive Tart. Now, this is vegetarian and would be more suitable for adults. If you love tomatoes and olive,  then I'm sure you will like this. I love the look of this tart, it looks simply lovely with the tomatoes and olives scattered all over. 



This would make a great lunch with a plate of fresh green salad.



As described by Catherine Atkinson, "This delicious tart has a fresh, rich Mediterranean flavour and is perfect for picnics. If you are taking this tart on a picnic, keep in the tin for easy transporting".


Tomato and Black Olive Tart
(adapted from "Pastry Cook" by Catherine Atkinson)
Serves 8
Ingredients
6 firm plum tomatoes
75gm/3oz ripe Brie cheese (I use grated cheddar cheese)
about 16 pitted black olives
3 eggs, beaten
300ml/1/2 pint/1-1/4 cups milk
300ml/2 tbsp chopped fresh herbs (I use fresh basil and coriander from my garden)
salt and ground black pepper


For The Pastry :
225gm/8oz/2 cups plain (all-purpose) flour
115gmoz/1/2 cup butter, diced
45-60ml/3-4 tbsp chilled water
pinch of salt (my addition)


  1. To make the pastry, sift the flour into a mixing bowl and rub or cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over the water and mix to a dough. Knead lightly on a floured surface for a few seconds until smooth. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5. Roll out the pastry thinly and use to line a greased 28x18cm/11x7in loose-based rectangular flan tin (quiche pan). Trim the edges.
  3. Line the pastry case with some foil and baking beans, and bake blind for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and beans and bake for a further 5 minutes until the base is crisp.
  4. Slice the tomatoes, cube the cheese and finely slice the olives. Place the flan case on a baking sheet and arrange the tomatoes, cheese and olives in it. Mix together the eggs, milk, seasoning and chopped herbs.
  5. Pour the egg mixture into the case. Bake for about 40 minutes until just firm and turning golden. Slice hot or cool in the tin, then serve.
(my notes : to check whether the filling is well seasoned, I just pour a tablespoon of the egg and milk mixture into a corner of the frying pan (hold frying pan and tilt it) and cook until set, then taste it, add more salt and pepper if necessary before pouring it all on the filling. You would not enjoy a quiche which is not well seasoned! 
You could however try it without cooking it, but I do not like to do that when there are raw eggs!)




28 comments:

  1. That cake looks absolutely GORGEOUS! Love the colour and style and I am sure it is delicious as well!

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  2. Wow! Baking cakes run in the family? They all look delicious. I didn't know cheese goes well with onion. Shall put them together the next time.

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  3. they both look delicious, i love baking quiche, i'll have to try them.

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  4. That tart looks simply mouthwatering. Excellent preparation.

    Deepa
    Hamaree Rasoi

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  5. They both sound wonderful! I often make a tomato and spinach quiche, so I am making this one next time, it sounds interesting with the brie. Oh and I have to try the onion and cheese quiche too! Mmmm...

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  6. What a great looking tart! And kudos to your sister making that great cake!

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  7. wow joyce, you also have a sister that can bake and decorate so well! is that fondant ribbon? That's a very tempting looking tomato tart, the combination and the photo here looks really delicious..any milk in your recipe? becos i see milk in your notes..

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  8. Joyce, your sister really decorate the cake so well! The fondant ribbons on top of the cake is so beautiful!

    I love to have both your quiche and tart, at this hour looking at them make me hungry!

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  9. Just mouthwatering...looks so easy to prepare and delicious!

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  10. They both sound delicious but the tomato and black olive tart really appeals to me!

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  11. Hi Lena, Yes, there is milk in the recipe! I missed that one out! Oops... thank you! :)

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  12. Everything looks so good! The tomato and olive tart looks like it would be a great suppertime dish for hubby and me. I love the flavors in it! :)

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  13. the birthday cake made by your sister look so nice...and your tarts are tempting too.

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  14. Wow tremendous birthday cake, well executed..Tart looks super delicious and stunning..

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  15. Wow, that tart looks amazing. I love adding olives to my eggs, pizza's and along with tomatoes it blends to be the perfect most incredible flavor. I love this recipe and will be doing it soon!

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  16. The cake looks so professional! The tart is scrummy with all my fav flavors screaming my name ~ lovely!
    USMasala

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  17. The cake is very beautiful and the tart looks yummy too.

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  18. Original preparación me ha encatado ,luce absolutamente bella,abrazos,hugs,hugs.

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  19. wow, kitchen flavours, i can see the talent runs in the fmly (wink!wink!). the quiches r delicious lah! the bacon one has fragrant smokey flavour and the tomato one is very moist. both sedap!!!!

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  20. What great looking tarts! And that cake is beautiful.

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  21. This tart looks and sounds divine - tomato and black olives were born to go together, and I think this tart is the perfect place for them to end up. Great offering for a get together.
    Sue xo

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  22. by drools over the cake and pies - looks like your younger sister is very talented like you lubna :)

    also dear please like my facebook page - as part of the giveaways entry - thanks and cheers :)
    Here is the link
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Priyas-Now-Serving/159799020739157

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  23. It's great that you can gather with your sisters to celebrate birthdays. My sisters are too far away! Your tarts look yummy! The cheese and onion one with bacon sounds delicious!! Have a great week!!

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  24. Se ve todo fenomenal :)
    Un saludito

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  25. Your sister did such a gorgeous job on that cake...beautiful! And speaking of, your tart looks amazing! That is a gathering I would have loved to attend :)

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  26. Both tart and cake look very impressive. Your brother-in-law is very lucky to have such great food for his birthday celebration.

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  27. Yes, I can certainly vouch that these are yummy for my tummy!

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