When I said that Ina Garten rekindled my passion for cooking in this first Ina Friday Post I didn’t mention that a teeny tiny reason was that she showed me recipes that were quick and easy and yet so delicious. Take this Tomato and Goat cheese tart for instance. It’s simple easy and way too delicious. I have made it a number of times. Here is Ina’s recipe and it is a hit each time I make it for guests. But for today, my daughter made one that she likes. She wanted to bake something ( blame it on dog days of summer ) and I asked her if she would like to bake this. So out went the onions and the wine and in came the easier method of cutting rounds with a cookie cutter. We used fresh herbs from our kitchen garden and this beautiful tart was our picnic snack.
I love being part of this fantastic group of bloggers who love Ina as much I do. To see what rest of the Ina fans are cooking in August , do visit these great blogs –
More Time at the Table , Moveable Feasts , My Picadillo, My Catholic Kitchen , There and Back Again
Bizzy Bakes, Therockymountainwoman, Simple Nourished Living , Lady8Home , Just A Girl from aamchi Mumbai, Pantry Revisited, Ria’s Collection

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart – Ina Garten Fridays
Ingredients
- 1 puff pastry sheet
- olive oil
- a pinch of garlic salt
- Salt to taste
- ground pepper to taste
- 1 tsp oregano leaves
- 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
- 2 ounces garlic-and-herb goat cheese
- 1 large tomato cut into 4 (1/4-inch-thick) slices
Instructions
- Unfold a sheet of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll it lightly to an 11 by 11-inch square.
- Using a cookie cutter, cut out circles of pastry dough.
- Place the pastry circles on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Using a sharp paring knife, score a 1/4-inch-wide border around each pastry circle. Prick the pastry inside the score lines with the tines of a fork and sprinkle a tablespoon of grated Parmesan on each round, staying inside the scored border.
- Crumble a little goat cheese on top of the Parmesan. Add in a bit of oregano
- Place a slice of tomato in the center of each tart. Brush the tomato lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with garlic salt, salt, and pepper.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown.
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Comments 13
I love Ina and how she exudes simplicity in the food world. This recipe shines through. Love 🙂
I also like Ina’s recipes because they are so quick and easy to make and they taste so good. Individual tarts are so cute, too!
Another Ina fan here. To me she is simply the dessert godess, and love trying her recipes. As she makes everything sounds so simple,. Tarts are so adorable and marries so well with the goat cheese. Loved your post.
I love Ina. In fact, if I am flipping through the channels and I see her show, I watch. These tarts look wonderful.
I am pinning your post to keep in mind for easy appetizers– I never know what to make to start off a party and these look perfect. Puff pastry plus cheese and tomatoes are something I could make for a crowd…or at least for a few friends, right? Thanks for sharing this idea!
I don’t get the Food Network on cable anymore but I used to enjoy watching Ina. I do have a couple of her books though and have always thought just as you do; she makes delicious food that is easy to prepare. Of course I want THIS delicious food right now!
Author
I will bring it over to have with those Blue berry Mojitos. You need to move here :))
I have not watched Ina’s show from last two years. Don’t even know if it still comes. She does make it look everything easy, when she says “How easy was that? You did a wonderful job with her recipe.
Author
I haven’t either. With the kid now in teens, we don’t have cable at home. But I enjoy cooking from her books and follow her blog.
I agree that Ina has the power to rekindle culinary passion! Love your simplified version of her tomato tarts. Lovely photos!!
Author
Thanks Martha. I give the teen the creative freedom to choose ingredients when she cooks.
I love watching the Barefoot Contessa work her culinary magic! She makes it look so easy and delicious!
Author
I agree, Debbie. She is so calm and composed and happy while cooking.