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Words by Viola Buitoni. Photo by Molly Decoudreaux.
I love premade doughs for tarts and pies. There, I said it—what a weight off my chest. They are a shortcut no one ever detects, and they are infinitely versatile. For this tart, I like to use puff pastry because the simplicity of the topping benefits from the additional layers of texture and flavor. You can cheat even further by using red peppers roasted, packed in water in a jar, and placed on a market shelf by someone else, though your more exacting diners might catch you.
Purchase Italy by Ingredient by Viola Buitoni here.
Sfogliata di mozzarella e peperoni Peppers and mozzarella flaky tart
Ingredients
- 1 pound / 450 g puff pastry
- 2 red bell peppers
- 1 orange or yellow bell pepper
- 1 8 ounces ball / 225 g fresh mozzarella
- 1 oregano sprig, or 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 egg
- salt
- 2 tablespoons grated parmigiano reggiano
- pinch of pepper
Instructions
- If the puff pastry is frozen, thaw according to the package directions.
- Heat the oven to 350˚F / 190°C / gas mark 4. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place the bell peppers on it. Slide into the oven. Roast for about 25 minutes, until the skin has burnt spots and the peppers have collapsed and wrinkled. Grab them with tongs, drop them into a brown paper bag, roll the top of the bag closed, and let sit for 10 minutes. This technique makes the peppers easy to peel. Leave the oven on.
- Meanwhile, line a plate with a paper towel. Drain the mozzarella and chop it roughly, then place it on the paper towel to lose moisture. If using fresh oregano, strip the leaves off the sprig and finely chop them. Break the egg into a small bowl and lightly whisk it. Peel the peppers, cut them in half, and remove the core, filaments, and seeds. Pat them dry and slice into strips 1⁄4 inch / 6 mm wide along the ribbing.
- Line the sheet pan with fresh parchment paper. Lay the puff pastry sheet on the parchment and prick it in 8 to 10 spots with a fork. Sprinkle the pastry with a pinch of salt and scatter the mozzarella over it, leaving a 1 1⁄2-inch / 4-cm clear border around the edges. Dust the mozzarella with the parmigiano and oregano, then season it with 1 teaspoon salt and the pepper.
- Arrange the roasted pepper strips over the tart in whatever pattern you fancy, staying clear of the empty edges. On the day Molly and I shot the tart’s portrait, my fancy was an attempt at a corn stalk. Loosely roll the uncovered pastry edge onto itself until it borders the peppers.
- Slide the tart into the oven and set a timer for 30 minutes. When the timer goes off, brush the edges of the tart with the beaten egg and slide it back into the oven. Set the timer for another 15 minutes. When the timer goes off, your tart is done. Let it rest and cool a little before eating.
Italy by Ingredient by Viola Buitoni. (Rizzoli New York. September 5,2023) Photography by Molly DeCoudreaux