Say hello to our super-easy goats cheese tart — a stylish, flavourful tart you can prep in minutes and bake for a quick weeknight meal or a relaxed lunch.
I often reach for a simple cheese tart when I need a fast, satisfying quick meal idea. They come together quickly, look impressive on the table and require very little effort — perfect when you want great flavour without fuss.
MAKING A GOATS CHEESE TART IS A GREAT IDEA — HERE’S WHY
Simple and forgiving — puff pastry tarts are incredibly straightforward; they’re hard to get wrong and ideal for cooks of any level.
Easy to customise — swap toppings to suit your taste. Add caramelised onions, fresh basil or thyme, or thinly sliced vegetables for different textures and flavours. The tart is a great canvas for whatever you have on hand.
EASY GOATS CHEESE TART RECIPE
Serves – 6
Prep Time – 10 minutes
Cook Time – 20 minutes
Total Time – 30 minutes
Try another easy option – Asparagus Tart
EQUIPMENT NEEDED
- Baking tray – large enough for the sheet of puff pastry.
- Greaseproof or parchment paper to line the tray.
- Sharp knife for scoring the pastry edges.
- Tablespoon
- Small bowl to beat the egg for the egg wash.
- Fork
- Pastry brush
- Zester or grater for lemon zest.
- Cooling rack
EASY GOATS CHEESE TART INGREDIENTS
- Ready-rolled puff pastry
- Red pepper pesto (store-bought or homemade)
- Soft goat cheese
- Rocket (arugula)
- Pine nuts
- Zest of a lemon
- Runny honey
- Cress (or fresh thyme)
- 1 beaten egg
HOW TO MAKE GOATS CHEESE TART
This goat cheese tart tastes wonderful and is beautifully simple to make thanks to ready-rolled puff pastry.
Cook’s note: take the puff pastry from the fridge about 15 minutes before using so it’s easier to unroll.
Step 1 – Preheat the oven
- Preheat the oven to 190°C / 375°F / Gas Mark 5.
- Line a baking tray with greaseproof or parchment paper.
Step 2 – Prepare the pastry
- Unroll the puff pastry sheet onto the prepared tray.
- Use a sharp knife to score an indentation about ½ inch from the edge all the way around. Lightly score across the border so the edges puff up separately from the centre.
Step 3 – Add the toppings that will be cooked
- Spoon and spread the red pepper pesto across the centre, keeping it inside the scored border.
- Crumble the goat cheese evenly over the pesto.
- Season lightly with salt and freshly ground black pepper, if desired.
- Brush the scored pastry edges with beaten egg for a golden finish.
Step 4 – Bake
- Bake for 20–25 minutes, until the pastry is fully cooked, puffed and golden and the cheese has melted and taken on a light golden colour.
Step 5 – Rest briefly
- Transfer the tart (on its parchment) to a cooling rack and let it rest for a few minutes so the cheese sets slightly and the tart is easier to slice.
Step 6 – Toast the pine nuts
- Toast the pine nuts gently in a dry frying pan over low heat until they start to brown and smell nutty — watch them closely as they can burn quickly.
Step 7 – Finish and serve
- Scatter the toasted pine nuts, rocket, lemon zest and cress over the tart.
- Finish with a light drizzle of runny honey to balance the tang of the goat cheese. Alternatively, a drizzle of balsamic glaze works beautifully.
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INGREDIENT SWAPS AND ADD-INS
There are many easy ways to vary this goat cheese tart — try these ideas:
- Different pestos – basil or sun-dried tomato pesto both work well.
- Mix cheeses – try combining goat cheese with ricotta, feta or a mild mozzarella for different textures.
- Extra vegetables – roasted peppers, caramelised onions, baby beets, spinach or asparagus make great additions.
- Swap the nuts – use chopped pecans, walnuts or crushed almonds instead of pine nuts.
- Make tartlets – cut the pastry into smaller squares to create individual tartlets for appetizers.
- Herb finishes – fresh rosemary, thyme or basil lift the flavours.
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WHAT TO SERVE WITH GOATS CHEESE TART
This tart pairs beautifully with crusty bread, a crisp green salad, herby chips or steamed vegetables dressed with lemon and olive oil.
- Rocket salad
- Tomato and cucumber salad
- Courgette salad
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Goats Cheese Tart
Serves 6
10 minutes
20 minutes
30 minutes
A delicious, easy goat cheese tart that’s perfect for summertime or any time you want a simple, flavourful meal.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry
- 4 tbsp red pepper pesto
- 100g soft goats cheese
- 50g rocket
- 2 tbsp pine nuts
- Zest of a lemon
- 2 tsp runny honey
- 1 punnet of cress
- 1 egg, beaten
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 190°C / 375°F / Gas Mark 5.
- Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.
- Unroll the puff pastry sheet onto the prepared tray.
- Score an indentation about ½ inch from the edge around the pastry and lightly score the border to encourage puffing.
- Spread the red pepper pesto inside the scored border.
- Crumble the goat cheese over the pesto.
- Season with salt and black pepper if you like.
- Brush the pastry edges with the beaten egg.
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until the pastry is cooked, puffed and golden and the cheese is lightly browned.
- Transfer to a wire rack on the parchment and let it cool for a few minutes.
- Toast the pine nuts in a dry pan over low heat until fragrant and slightly golden.
- Scatter the pine nuts, rocket, lemon zest and cress over the tart.
- Drizzle with honey to taste and serve.
Notes
Serve with seasonal side salads or crusty bread for a complete meal.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 168Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 153mgCarbohydrates: 7gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 6g
Nutritional content will vary depending on the exact ingredients and portion sizes. Use the information as a general guide and calculate values if you have specific dietary needs.
Did You Enjoy This Recipe?
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More Easy Puff Pastry Recipes To Try
- Cheese and ham pie
- Air fryer sausage rolls
- Cheese and bacon turnovers
- Egg and bacon pie