Easy Recipe for Asparagus Tart with Gruyere (Puff Pastry Crust)

This easy Asparagus Tart has a light buttery puff pastry crust and cheesy filling. Serve this savory tart as an appetizer, side dish, a light meal, or part of a brunch spread. Savory Asparagus Tarts are the perfect way to show off fresh asparagus this spring.

This recipe for Asparagus Tart was shared by Shaina of Food for My Family on June 13, 2011. It has been edited for clarity and to include additional information.

Creating this Asparagus Tart with Puff Pastry

It was a cold spring, which slowed down the arrival of asparagus at the farmers market.

I was impatient. I searched weekly, coming home empty-handed several times before the bright green stalks arrived, ready for me to snatch up and carry off in a basket. A brick of Gruyere cheese from another vendor, and I had the beginnings of a beautiful late spring meal.

I’d been drooling for a while over asparagus tart photos that were popping up, and I had my heart set on making my own.

Make my own I did, which turned into a full meal for me and my neighbors – neighbors who so willingly allow me to walk into their house and drop food off, but then also return the gesture a few hours later.

As we Minnesotans come out from our winter holes where we’ve been hiding since November, I’m reminded each and every week how important the friends in my neighborhood have become.

With an open door policy and sometimes weekly happy hours hosted between us, we’ve been enjoying smiling faces and cute baby toes all spring.

This tart may seem simple, and sure enough, the recipe itself comes together easily.

Everything falls into place with very little effort, but the end result is nothing short of extraordinary. In fact, it will blow said neighbors away and did, as I witnessed the other evening.

While I had this as a main dish, it would also be lovely cut into slices as an appetizer or to go alongside a piece of protein.

Regardless of how you serve it or with what, good food only gets better when shared with friends. So gather your neighbors or friends and come together over a meal this summer. You’ll be glad you did.

You’ll Love this Asparagus Tart Recipe

Here are some reviews from readers who have made this delicious recipe:

“Made this a couple weeks ago …. Very good (and I’m not a fan of asparagus!).” -Staci

“Oh my lanta! I made this for dinner tonight, and it had to be one of the most epic meals that has ever hit my dinner table. My whole family (even my two year old son) absolutely LOVED it!! Thank you so much for posting such an amazing recipe!!!” -Nicolina

“I’ve made this twice in the last week – it truly is delicious. And SO simple and easy to make. Perfect summer appetizer!” -Vicky

“I LOVE THIS RECIPE! I made this last week and it was beyond wonderful–something I’m probably going to make again and again! Don’t change a thing! (I LOVED the creaminess of the filling…the addition of egg yolks is ingenious!)” -Beth

What is in this Asparagus Puff Pastry Tart

You’ll need the following ingredients to prepare this simple tart recipe:

• Puff Pastry Dough
• Fresh Asparagus
• Crème Fraîche or Sour Cream
• Egg Yolk
• Dijon Mustard
• Gruyère Cheese
• Salt
• Black Pepper

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make an Asparagus Tart

Recipe Preparation

1. First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Then, line a cookie sheet or baking pan with parchment paper.
3. Next, prepare your asparagus spears by rinsing and removing the woody ends. Then, set aside to dry.

Preparing the Puff Pastry Crust

1. First, unfold puff pastry sheet and Roll into a 14×10″ rectangle on a lightly floured work surface. Then, move the puff pastry to the prepared baking sheet.
2. After that, score the puff pastry dough all around the rectangle with a knife, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.
3. Then, dock the inside rectangle by poking it lightly with a fork in approximately 1/2″ spaces. Bake for 15 minutes.

Making the Cheese Mixture

1. Next, mix together sour cream, egg yolks and Dijon mustard in a small bowl. After that, stir in 1/4 cup of the Gruyère.

Assembling the Asparagus Tart

1. Then, remove the puff pastry from the oven and spread the sour cream mixture evenly over the inside rectangle. Top with the remaining Gruyère cheese and layer with the asparagus spears.
2. After that, return to the oven and bake for 15 additional minutes until cheese begins to brown lightly and asparagus is cooked.
3. Then, remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Slice using a pizza cutter or sharp knife and serve.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Tips for Preparing this Puff Pastry Tart with Asparagus

Want to make this recipe for Puff Pastry Tart with Asparagus? Follow these extra tips to get great results!

Use thin asparagus for this tart recipe because thick asparagus will take longer to cook and will weigh more on the light puff pastry crust. Snap off the woody bottoms of the asparagus spears.

I recommend buying blocks of cheese and shredding them yourself. Pre-shredded cheese are often coated with anti-caking agents that make them slightly grainy once melted.

Recipe Adaptations

Missing an ingredient or feel like experimenting in the kitchen, then here are a few ways you could change things up in this Asparagus Tart recipe:

• Want to use a different variety of cheese in this Cheesy Asparagus Tart recipe? Here are the different cheeses that pair well with asparagus: goat cheese, parmesan, pecorino, romano, or fontina cheese.
• Try different vegetables. Broccolini would work well in this recipe. Sundried tomatoes would make a nice accept to asparagus or broccolini. Mushrooms would also taste great, but you’ll need to saute them first to release the excess water so the tart doesn’t get soggy.
• Add lemon zest to the cheese mixture. Lemon goes so well with asparagus and would add a little pop of brightness to the flavors.
• Garnish with fresh herbs and grated parmesan cheese. A few herbs that pair well with asparagus are: basil, chives, dill, tarragon, lemon thyme, thyme, and fresh parsley.
• Drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Drizzle the asparagus with a bit of balsamic vinegar before adding it to the tart, or drizzle some balsamic glaze on top of the finished tart.
• You can always make your own puff pastry if you have a recipe that you like, but I love how using a pre-made sheet of puff pastry makes this recipe come together so quickly!

Can I Make this Asparagus Tart Ahead of Time

I don’t recommend preparing this recipe in advance because it is best served fresh. However, here are a few simple tips to save time when preparing this asparagus tart recipe!

• You can use your food processor to quickly grate the cheese ahead of time. Then, store in a plastic bag in the fridge. Did you know you can also freeze cheese?
• Snap the ends off the asparagus, wash, and dry it in advance. Then, store the asparagus in the refrigerator until you’re ready to prepare the tart.
• Combine the cheesy filling ingredients earlier in the day and store it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake the tart.

What to Serve with Asparagus Tart

This Asparagus Tart with Puff Pastry is the perfect appetizer for a dinner party, but it can also be served alongside a main course or with a salad for a light meal. Here are some recipes that would taste great with this easy asparagus tart:

• Salad – Italian Mixed Greens Salad features a mix of arugula, radicchio and baby kale is tossed with a simple lemon Dijon vinaigrette and topped with crispy prosciutto and fresh shaved parmesan.
• Grilled Steak – This Easy Recipe for Flank Steak Marinade is a family favorite! Marinated Flank Steak is perfect for summer grilling nights!
• Smoked Chicken – Easy Smoked Chicken is a great summer meal. The chicken turns out incredibly flavorful, tender and juicy. 
• Roasted Chicken – Rosemary Roasted Chicken is super moist with a crispy skin.
• Grilled Chicken – In this recipe for Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken, chicken tenderloins are marinated in a sweet and savory honey mustard sauce with sprigs of fresh rosemary and lemon juice.
• Pork Tenderloin – This recipe for Sheet Pan Pork Tenderloin with Honey Balsamic Roasted Vegetables makes dinner super quick.

What to Do with Leftovers

If you have leftovers after preparing Asparagus Puff Pastry Tart, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Leftovers are best reheated in the oven or toaster oven. Reheating it in the microwave doesn’t work well for the puff pastry and will leave the crust soggy.

Try this Asparagus Cheese Tart at Home!

Next time you’re craving a simple, but delicious appetizer, give this easy Asparagus Tart a try!

Did you love the elegant appearance and how easy it is to prepare? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this great recipe.

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More Asparagus Recipes

Asparagus Prosciutto Puff Pastry Pizzas might sound fancy but they are super simple to prepare and packed with the flavors of fresh asparagus, prosciutto, sun dried tomatoes, ricotta, and parmesan.

Oven Roasted Asparagus is drizzled with a tasty lemon walnut dressing for simple and delicious side dish. With spring getting closer, this Roasted Asparagus with Lemon Walnut Dressing is the perfect addition to your dinner table.

This Salmon en Papillote recipe is essentially a fancy foil dinner. Salmon is cooked in parchment paper with asparagus, potatoes, and herbs — so easy and delicious!

Asparagus Risotto Recipe is a delicious dish for springtime featuring leeks, fresh asparagus, fresh peas, and mascarpone cheese with a touch of fresh lemon and parmesan cheese.

This easy recipe for Chicken Asparagus Stir Fry is so quick to make! Serve this Chicken Stir Fry with Asparagus with the delicious homemade with Honey Ginger Stir Fry Sauce Sauce and rice for a wholesome meal.

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