asparagus & gruyere tart

So Dan comandeered the menu for this past Sunday's dinner (thanks Dan!) and he found a delicious and simple recipe for an asparagus and gruyere tart.  Here's what you'll need:

• 1 bunch of asparagus
• 1/2 cup of gruyere cheese
• 1 sheet of puff pastry
• Olive oil
• Salt/pepper

I thought the puff pastry part would be hard to find, but it turns out my local market had several varieties. You need to find it in sheet form (the one I bough came in squares). Arrange the pastry in a rectangle on a cookie sheet, make sure to grease the pan first so it doesn't stick. Use a knife to make a score all the way around, about 1/4" in from the outside border. The, take a fork and randomly poke holes all over the interior. This way, the outside crust will rise and the inside will not, kind of like a pizza.

Bake at 400 degrees, or until the pastry begins to turn golden. Then, spread the gruyere all over the middle section. Lay the asparagus on top of the cheese, being sure to trim the ends so that it fits inside (see pic). Brush the asparagus with some olive oil and sprinkle with some salt and pepper. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the asparagus turns bright green. Let cool and serve!

This was totally delicious. It would probably work amazingly well as an appetizer or hor d'oeuvre. Definitely give it a try.

Bon chappétit!