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    Home / Recipes / Pies & Tarts

    Ricotta and Roasted Beet Tart with Beet Greens Pesto {gluten-free}

    Published Jun 1, 2016

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This savory, rustic tart makes use of the whole beet – from leaf to root – all tucked into flaky gluten-free pastry with ricotta goat cheese custard and slathered in brilliant green pesto. A collaboration with Imperfect Produce.

    delicious Ricotta Beet Tart with Beet Green Pesto

    Are you a beet lover or hater? I'm a lover, most of the time. With their intense color and earthy-sweet flavor, beets can be a polarizing ingredient. I never thought much about beets until I met Jay, who simmers the little roots, then slices them into green salads tossed with shallot vinaigrette and crumbles of feta. Beets pair beautifully with cheese, whose creamy salinity helps to temper the roots.

    halved beets

    sliced beets

    So when my friend Aleks delivered a giant box of Imperfect Produce to me the other day, including three varieties of beets, I set to work to feature them in this savory tart.

    table of Imperfect Produce

    You've likely seen Imperfect in the news lately. Their concept is so elegant, it amazes me that no one's done it yet: Imperfect collects produce from local farms that is deemed "flawed" and would normally go straight to the compost pile – artichokes that are a tad too small, crooked carrots, nicked zucchini, pithy citrus, malformed apples – and resells them in CSA boxes at a low cost – about 50% of normal retail. If you've ever tried to grow produce yourself, you know how much time, energy, and resources go into the process. I would personally be thrilled if my brown thumb could produce even one carrot, crooked or no. So knowing that 1 in 5 perfectly delicious fruits and vegetables goes to waste makes me sad, especially given the large numbers of hungry people in the world, families who lack access to fresh produce, and scarcity of water and other resources. Imperfect produce to the rescue!

    holding Imperfect Produce Imperfect citrus Imperfect Produce

    I was expecting my Imperfect box to contain hideous freaks of vegetable nature, and was surprised (and even a little disappointed) that the specimen looked similar to those sold at any co-op or farmer's market. A bag of gorgeous purple-green artichokes cooked up meltingly tender and sweet ("too small," Aleks said). A squat yellow bell pepper was one of the most flavorful I've ever tasted ("too short"). Grapefruits the size of pomelos were perfectly juicy ("too big"). Plump, green zucchini cooked into a silky soup kissed with leeks and basil ("too fat"). Blood oranges, beets, and apricots had no discernible flaws (*shrug*).

    artichokes citrus pepper carrots

    I don't think our Imperfect box could have found a better home – no one hates wasting food more than Jay, who has been known to scrape mold off of old cheese, fry up chard stems with onions and garlic, and fold tender radish greens into omelettes (they're delicious!).

    mixing cheese and eggs

    Ricotta Beet Tart with Beet Green Pesto pre cooking

    Ricotta Beet Tart with Beet Green Pesto on tray

    In the spirit of vegetable salvation, I decided to use the nutritious beet greens in a pesto to serve with the tart. Beet greens are closely related to chard, and nearly as tasty, though they are primarily grown for their roots. When blanched and pureed with olive oil, parm, nuts, and garlic, they make a creamy, mild pesto that works as well on this tart as it does on toast or tossed with gnocchi. Greens from red beets will turn out a brown sauce, so I recommend using the pure green leaves from yellow beets, lest you end up with imperfect (though still delicious) pesto.

    Ricotta Beet Tart with Beet Green Pesto on parchment

    As for the tart, I employed a favorite treatment for my gluten-free, whole-grain, all-butter pie dough: roll it out into a large rectangle, slather it with goodies, and fold the edges over. The filling is a simple mixture of whole-milk ricotta and goat cheese, egg, and fresh oregano which bakes into a tender foil for thick slabs of roasted baby beets. The crust turns bronzed and crisp, just the thing to slice into wedges, smear with pesto, and serve with a glass of cool rosé.

    Ricotta Beet Tart with Beet Green Pesto on table

    Beets are extra sweet during the spring, though they stay in season pretty much year round in California. That said, I can imagine this tart with roasted zucchini, tomatoes, or eggplant traded in for the beets.

    fork cutting into Ricotta Beet Tart with Beet Green Pesto

    If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area and want to score some Imperfect produce of your own, you can have boxes delivered right to your home or office. And best of all, Imperfect is offering Bojon Gourmet readers 50% off their first box with the code BOJONGOURMET.

    slice of Ricotta Beet Tart with Beet Green Pesto

    Many thanks to Imperfect Produce for the beautiful produce, and Mariella Luz for the hand made ceramic plates, pictured in this post.

    More Beet Recipes:

    • Roasted Beet & Carrot Lentil Salad with Feta, Yogurt & Dill
    • Vegan Poke Bowls with Marinated Beets
    • Quinoa, Beet and Chickpea Burgers
    • Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake (all-natural with beets!)

    *Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram,  Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this ricotta and beet tart recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet  and  #bojongourmet.*

    Ricotta Beet Tart with Beet Green Pesto
    5 from 3 votes

    Ricotta and Roasted Beet Tart with Beet Greens Pesto

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    This savory, rustic tart makes use of the whole beet – from leaf to root – all tucked into flaky gluten-free pastry with ricotta goat cheese custard and slathered in brilliant green pesto.
    Alanna Taylor-Tobin
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Chilling time: 20 minutes
    Total: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Servings: 12 small servings

    Ingredients

    Tart:

    • 1 recipeGluten-Free All-Butter Pie Dough, fraisaged and roll-fold-rolled, and chilled
    • oat flour for rolling the dough
    • 6 small beets (preferably a mix of gold, red, and/or chiogga)
    • 12 ounces whole-milk ricotta (such as Bellwether Basket Dipped) (340 g / 1 ½ cups)
    • 4 ounces fresh chèvre, crumbled (113 g)
    • 1 large egg
    • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano (or marjoram), chopped, plus whole leaves for garnish
    • ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    • olive oil, for drizzling
    • 1 egg, beaten, for brushing the crust

    Pesto:

    • Leaves from 1 bunch yellow beets, stripped from stems and washed well (2 cups packed)
    • ¼ cup raw walnut halves (25 g)
    • 2 medium garlic cloves, peeled
    • 1/3 cup olive oil (80 ml)
    • 1/3 cup packed grated parmesan (30 g)
    • salt, to taste

    Instructions

    Make the tart:

    • Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400ºF.
    • Trim the beets and place them in a smallish baking dish with a lid. Add ¼ inch of water to the pan, cover, and roast in the oven until the beets are tender when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 45-60 minutes. Remove and let cool, then peel the beets and slice each lengthwise into 4 pieces, each slice about ¼- to ½ - inch thick.
    • To make the filling, combine the ricotta, chèvre, egg, oregano, salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl and stir until mostly smooth (some chèvre lumps are fine). Chill until needed.
    • Meanwhile, shape the dough. If the dough is cold, let it stand at room temperature until slightly softened, 5 minutes in a warm kitchen or 15 minutes in a cool kitchen. Sandwich the dough between two pieces of parchment paper dusted lightly with oat flour, and gently begin pressing it flat, then rolling it into a 12×16″ rectangle. As you work, periodically peel back the top piece of parchment, dust the dough lightly with flour, replace the parchment, grasp the dough sandwich with both hands, and flip the whole thing over. Peel off the new top piece of parchment, dust with flour, and continue to roll. If the dough is uneven, cut off the long bits and press them onto the short bits, rolling to adhere. When your rectangle is 12×16″, trim the sides so that they’re even and straight. (If your dough becomes soft or sticky at any point, slip it onto a baking sheet, parchment and all, and chill it for 10-20 minutes to firm the butter.)
    • Slide the dough onto a (preferably rimless) sheet pan, still on the parchment. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a 1″ border all the way around. Gently fold over the edges to make a crust. Nestle the beet slices evenly into the filling, and brush the crust with the beaten egg.
    • Bake the tart at 400ºF until the crust and cheese are golden, 30-40 minutes.

    Meanwhile, make the pesto:

    • Bring a medium pot of water to a boil. Prepare an ice water bath in a medium bowl. When the water boils, add the beet greens and cook until bright green, 1 minute. Immediately drain and place in the ice bath until chilled. Drain the greens again, squeeze out as much water as possible, and chop roughly. Place the blanched, shocked, and chopped greens in a small blender or food processor with the walnuts, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan and puree smooth. Taste, adding salt if needed.

    Finish the tart:

    • Drizzle the finished tart with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and top with fresh oregano leaves. Cut the tart into 12 squares. Serve tart squares with a dollop of pesto.
    • The tart is best when freshly baked, but extras reheat well in a hot oven in 5-10 minutes. The pesto keeps well, refrigerated airtight, for up to 1 week.

    Notes

    Make the crust, pesto, and roast the beets the day before, and this savory tart comes together quickly.
    If gluten isn't an issue, try a half recipe of this flaky wheat dough instead.
    If your beets are green-less, feel free to substitute arugula or basil in the pesto.
    Nutritional values are based on one of twelve servings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 285kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 8gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 49mgSodium: 336mgPotassium: 241mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 710IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 131mgIron: 1.2mg
    Making this? I'd love to see!Tag your snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet!

    3 plates of Ricotta Beet Tart with Beet Green Pesto

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    the cover of the award-winning cookbook, Alternative Baker

    Hungry for more?

    Alternative Baker celebrates the unique tastes and textures of 14 gluten-free flours, from buckwheat flour to almond flour to sorghum and coconut! This cookbook will fill your kitchen with sweet treats that burst with flavor every month of the year.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. valentina | sweet kabocha says

      June 01, 2016 at 11:18 pm

      I didn't know this delivery service, seems so cool! Can't wait to move in town and try it :D (It doesn't delivery in Mountain View)

      Reply
      • Ben Chesler says

        June 02, 2016 at 3:56 pm

        Valentina,

        We will be starting deliveries in Mountain View this summer, so stay tuned!

        -Benjamin Chesler
        Co-Founder, Imperfect

        Reply
    2. Angela - Patisserie Makes Perfect says

      June 02, 2016 at 2:34 am

      This is just gorgeous! The colours of the beetroot and then the finished tart is amazing.

      The pesto is really inventive as well - I just love this.

      Reply
    3. Morgan says

      June 02, 2016 at 5:06 am

      So beautiful!! Have you ever tried salt roasting beets? If not, I highly suggest it!!

      Reply
    4. Amanda says

      June 02, 2016 at 7:54 am

      What a great way to use these veggies. This post was hilarious. I love how you embrace the imperfection of nature and all the things you gain from that. What a great idea. I too enjoy beet greens and stems. So great that you're highlighting using the whole thing!

      Reply
    5. Christine // my natural kitchen says

      June 02, 2016 at 9:22 am

      It was only recently that I learned that produce considered "imperfect" was discarded and it seems so crazy to me! So I really, really love the concept of the imperfect veggie CSA. Those veggies you received still look pretty wonderful to me :) I love beets, and your tart (with that perfect pastry and creamy pesto!!!) look delicious. I keep meaning to try the fraisage technique!

      Reply
    6. Caterina says

      June 02, 2016 at 12:49 pm

      This looks heavenly and your gorgeous photos of 'imperfect' produce show their true beauty.

      Reply
    7. Lili @ Travelling oven says

      June 03, 2016 at 6:00 am

      This was so interesting to read, never even crossed my mind that so much of those "imperfect" fruit and veggies gets discarded, what a waste! And they look pretty perfect to me! Anyway, at lest there are companies like these that use some of those poor fruit and vegetables.. :(
      By the way, I love this tart, it's so pretty and I'm a beets fan so would love to try it!

      Reply
    8. Claudia | The Brick Kitchen says

      June 06, 2016 at 11:08 pm

      I am definitely a beet lover! My favourite way is to roast them in balsamic, olive oil & a bit of brown sugar, along with roasted pears and red onion, with a pesto dressing, walnuts and goats cheese. Something about goats cheese and beets is just amazing, so I can just imagine how good this tart would be. Your fruit & veg delivery sounds like such a great idea too - might have to investigate options here in Australia. x

      Reply
    9. Nicole ~ Cooking for Keeps says

      June 07, 2016 at 7:47 am

      Always a beet lover. Beautiful!

      Reply
    10. Matt says

      June 07, 2016 at 9:13 pm

      Absolutely beautiful and what a great idea!

      Reply
    11. Sarah @ SnixyKitchen says

      June 08, 2016 at 12:38 am

      This is one of the most delicious things I've eaten in a long time. The crust just flaked apart - so buttery, almost like puff pastry - and the beets paired with all of that creamy cheese. It was savory and rich and sweet and earthy all at once. OBSESSED.

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        June 09, 2016 at 3:57 pm

        I'm obsessed... with your face. ;)

        Reply
    12. Christiann Koepke says

      June 08, 2016 at 11:37 am

      This looks so tasty!!! xx

      Reply
    13. gerry @ foodness gracious says

      June 09, 2016 at 9:07 am

      I am a total beet lover! These look spectacular..as usual ;)

      Reply
    14. Megan {Country Cleaver} says

      June 11, 2016 at 9:29 pm

      Beet greens are so under rated! I'm so glad someone is putting them to use! BEAUTIFUL!

      Reply
    15. Brandon says

      June 13, 2016 at 8:36 am

      What a gorgeous use of the entire beet! I've sauteed beet greens before, and tossed them with warm pasta, but I've never made a pesto. Great idea!

      Reply
    16. Tessa | Salted Plains says

      June 19, 2016 at 7:18 pm

      Total beet lover here. Lover of this tart also - gorgeousness!!!

      Reply
    17. Amy says

      August 02, 2016 at 10:46 am

      I made this using puff pastry as a short cut. The filling has the perfect consistency and the colors are STUNNING. I will definitely make this again!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        August 03, 2016 at 10:38 am

        Aw, right on! I bet puff pastry is sublime here. :)

        Reply
    18. GypsyGray says

      September 17, 2016 at 6:02 pm

      Can this crust be used for a savory toaster tart? Or would you recommend a different recipe? Thanks

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        September 20, 2016 at 10:49 pm

        This is probably a safe bet, just take care not to burn it if you heat it in a toaster!

        Reply
    19. Laurel says

      April 13, 2017 at 2:12 pm

      This tart was delicious. I'm in love with the beet green pesto, so tasty and felt great to waste less food! I used the original (gluten-filled) crust and it was perfect, so glad I made a double batch!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        April 16, 2017 at 2:30 pm

        Yay, I'm so glad you liked this!! Thanks for trying my recipe. :D

        Reply
    20. etienne says

      February 22, 2018 at 9:06 pm

      good for inspiration

      Reply
    21. Katia says

      January 24, 2019 at 4:35 pm

      This is one of the best recipe to impress your guests with a tiny effort! I made it twice and every time the tart was gone in a minute. I used the pie dough from the store, and used feta instead of chèvre as one of my guest was allergic to chèvre. Still good! And I love the beets cooked this way; and I love how they look on ricotta! Beautiful and delicious!

      Reply
      • The Bojon Gourmet says

        January 25, 2019 at 12:17 pm

        I'm happy it turned into a beautiful success for you, Katia! <3

        Reply
    22. Judy Hammack says

      November 30, 2019 at 2:40 pm

      Hi Alanna! I'm Jaime Hammack's mom :D
      I wanted to let you know that this is the most delicious savory and slightly sweet beet tart that has ever passed my lips. (yes, it's the only one but that doesn't matter). It has become a favorite of mine, never to be forgotten and often to be repeated in the future.
      Thank you for the love and inspiration that you infuse into your creations!

      Reply
      • Alanna says

        November 30, 2019 at 2:50 pm

        Awwww this completely makes my day! Thanks so much for trying my recipe and for the kind words and review. And thank YOU for creating Jaime who makes my websites so beautiful and functional! They're the best!

        Reply
        • Jaime says

          August 12, 2020 at 5:10 pm

          <3!!

          Reply
    23. Jaime says

      August 12, 2020 at 5:06 pm

      alanna, this tart tastes so amazing! a friend made it for us a dinner party once, and our eyes were all rolling in the back of our heads.

      Reply
      • Jaime says

        August 12, 2020 at 5:10 pm

        oh my god, and i just saw that my comment is right below my mom's, HOW CUTE!

        Reply
        • Alanna says

          August 17, 2020 at 9:49 pm

          How adorable and sweet is that?! Love of beet tarts must run in the family. ;)

          Reply

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