Prepare the ingredients for the shortcrust pastry. Take the butter straight from the fridge and cut it into small pieces. Sift the flour into a large bowl. Add 5 g of salt (1/2 teaspoon) and mix with a dry spoon to combine the ingredients.
Description
A delicate, summery tart in the Masurian style, combining the freshness of young zucchini with the creamy acidity of goat cheese and a refreshing hint of mint. The shortcrust pastry provides a golden, buttery base, while lightly sautéed zucchini with onion builds substance and texture. The tart is perfect as a main dish for a light lunch, a snack for a picnic by the lake, or an elegant addition to a feast; it can be served warm or at room temperature. Flavor notes: a contrast of salty, baked pastry, creamy cheese, and fresh herbs; visually – green slices of zucchini arranged in a fan, white-cream accents of cheese, and mint leaves on top. The recipe uses seasonal, easily accessible ingredients typical of Polish summer and adds a Masurian touch of simplicity and naturalness.
Ingredients Used
Ingredients (14)
- Wheat flour 300 g
- Butter 150 g
- Chicken egg 3 pcs (~180 g)
- Water 30 ml
- Goat cheese 250 g
- Sour cream 150 g
- Zucchini 1.6 pcs (~400 g)
- Onion 1 pcs (~150 g)
- Mint 30 g
- Rapeseed oil 30 g
- 🌿 Spices
- Salt 10 g
- Black pepper 2 pinch (~1 g)
- ✨ Optional
- Walnuts 50 g
- Honey 15 ml
💡 Click an ingredient to mark it as used
Preparation steps
Cake
Rub the cold pieces of butter into the flour with your fingertips or use a chef's knife until the mixture resembles a crumble with small pieces of fat the size of peas. Stop rubbing when the mixture is crumbly but starts to hold together on your fingers.
Add one egg (60 g) and 30 ml of cold water. Quickly mix with a fork or spatula just until the dough starts to come together in clumps. Do not knead for long — a cohesive mass should form, but it should not be overly sticky.
Shape the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disk about 2–3 cm thick, wrap it in plastic wrap, and place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (up to 1 hour). Chilling stabilizes the fat and makes rolling easier.
Preparing zucchini
Wash the zucchini and cut it into thin slices (about 3 mm). Peel the onion and slice it into thin half-rings. Heat a 26 cm skillet with 30 g of rapeseed oil over medium heat.
In heated oil, sauté the onion for 3–4 minutes until it becomes translucent and golden. Add the zucchini slices and fry for 4–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini is slightly softened and takes on a golden color. Set aside to cool.
Filling
In a large bowl, crumble the goat cheese with a fork into small pieces. Add 150 ml of cream and 120 g of remaining eggs (2 eggs = 120 g). Mix with a whisk or fork until smooth. Season with 5 g of salt (1/2 teaspoon) and 1 g of black pepper. Add 2/3 of the chopped mint (leave the rest for decoration) and stir again.
Assembly and baking
Take the chilled dough out of the fridge. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a round shape with a diameter of about 28–30 cm. Gently slide the rolling pin underneath, turning the dough to achieve an even thickness of about 3–4 mm.
Line the springform pan with dough, pressing down on the bottom and sides. Trim off the excess dough. Prick the bottom with a fork several times, line with parchment paper, and fill with ceramic baking beads or dry peas as a weight. Place in an oven preheated to 200°C and bake for 12 minutes (blind baking).
Remove the mold, take out the weights and paper. Spread the cooled zucchini and onion evenly on the bottom of the crust, arranging the slices in a slight fan shape. Pour the mixture of goat cheese and cream over it. On top, lightly crumble the remaining pieces of goat cheese so that small lumps remain visible after baking.
Place the tart in a preheated oven at 180°C and bake for 30–35 minutes, until the top is golden and the filling is set (a slight jiggle in the center is fine). After baking, remove the tart and let it cool on a rack for 10–15 minutes.
Decoration
Sprinkle the tart with the remaining fresh, chopped mint. Optionally, sprinkle with chopped walnuts and gently drizzle with 15 g of honey for a sweet-salty contrast. Cut into 6 equal pieces and serve warm or at room temperature.
Fun Fact
In the Masurian region, simple dishes made from local ingredients have always been valued — fresh produce from the garden went straight to the table. The combination of goat cheese with mint has a tradition in rural kitchens, where mint was used to refresh richer flavors.
Best for
Tips
Serve the tart slightly warm (about 10–15 minutes after taking it out of the oven) – this is when the flavors are most pronounced. It pairs wonderfully with young lettuce drizzled with a simple vinaigrette or with cool kefir. Before serving, add fresh mint and possibly a few drops of good olive oil.
Store in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours wrapped in foil or in a closed container. Reheat in the oven for 10–12 minutes at 160°C to keep the bottom crispy. Freezing is not recommended due to changes in the texture of fresh vegetables and cheese.
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