Savory Zucchini Tart

Our savory Zucchini Tart is scratch made with garden fresh veggies, ham, fresh cream and mozzarella with plenty of seasonings and greens. Baked into a fresh, yeasted pastry dough this recipe makes the perfect light summer dinner or a welcomed addition to a scrumptious brunch table.

In this post we share all of our tips for making delicious, balanced quiche-like zucchini tarts that are not watery or dry and crumbly. You can make one large tart using a pie dish, or a selection of mini tarts with this recipe.

Once our garden harvest begins we love to make all sorts of fresh meals using the veggies as quickly and efficiently as possible. This recipe is perfect if you have extra greens, zucchini, peppers or other veggies lying about that you need to use up. It’s also a great meal to make after you have visited your local farmers market or food co-op.

The beauty of a recipe like this is that it can be very versatile depending on your tastes, dietary needs, or what extras you are needing to get through in your kitchen pantry. We love a ‘loaded’ tart with veggies, fresh dairy and meat but you could easily keep this vegetarian if you prefer.

This recipe makes a delicious and very filling breakfast option and could be prepped the day before if you needed to save time the morning that you plan to enjoy it. Okay, let’s get into this scrumptious tart!

Why is my zucchini watery?

Zucchini is a squash vegetable that naturally contains a lot of water. When you shred zucchini to make ‘zoodles’ or incorporate it into a quiche or tart, you may discover that it creates too much liquid as it cooks down.

The best solution to a watery zucchini recipe is to shred or grate your zucchini on a paper towel and then gently press the zucchini with the paper towel so that it absorbs and extracts the excess liquid. You can also sprinkle salt on your zucchini and let it sit for a while before you press with the paper towel. Salt will help extract even more liquid; but be careful not to add too much salt as it can alter the taste of your recipe.

Is a tart crust the same as pie crust?

Although they are used in similar ways and baked in the same pans, there are very distinct differences between tart pastry crusts and traditional pie crusts. Pie crusts are very flaky, light and crumbly; they are made with flour and butter to achieve this well loved flaky texture.

Tart crusts are made using flour, sugar, salt and egg giving it a denser more dough like consistency. Our tart crust also incorporates yeast to add depth of flavor as well as a stronger base for the filling.

Do I need to pre bake my tart crust?

Most recipes will call for pre baking or blind baking your crust. This will prevent the dreaded ‘soggy bottom’ that occurs when the filling and liquids prevent the crust from fully cooking. You want a strong crust with a baked bottom that will not fall apart and will have a pleasant texture in your mouth.

Our recipe does not require you to pre bake. It is a strong tart crust that cooks fully and does not fall apart when you cut and serve it.

What cheese is best in savory tarts?

For this recipe we are using mozzarella and parmesan. We find that these cheese create a pleasant flavor profile with the seasonings that this recipe calls for. You can most definitely play around with the cheeses in this tart and change them out to suite your preferences. Some popular substitutes would be feta or goat cheese, Swiss or sharp cheddars, and gruyere.

What sides go good with savory tarts?

Tarts and quiches make excellent additions to brunch tables and event gatherings. They are light but filling, easy to eat and pair well with an assortment of other foods. Some of our favorites to enjoy with savory tarts include

• Honey balsamic roasted carrots
• Fresh seasonal fruit
• A fresh green salad with a vinaigrette dressing
• Roasted parmesan artichoke hearts
• Baked brie with cranberries and walnuts
• Bacon wrapped sweet potato bites
• Loaded scalloped potatoes
• Cinnamon fried apples
• Steakhouse creamed spinach
• Baked butternut squash fries

 Savory Zucchini Tart Recipe Notes:

• The tart pastry will need about 1 hour to rise so be sure to plan for that
• You can prep your veggies ahead of time by cutting or shredding them if needed
• Pre baked meats like ham or sausage are best for this recipe
• Oiling and dusting your tart pan(s) with cornmeal will help the crust release easily
• You can substitute the zucchini for yellow squash if desired