Asparagus Ricotta Tart with a Polenta Crust

This gluten-free savory Asparagus Ricotta Tart has a smooth ricotta filling & is topped with sauteed asparagus & cheesy mozzarella. You’ll be amazed at how crispy this cornmeal crust tart becomes once it is baked. This will quickly become one of your best recipes for party appetizers… your guests are going to love it!

Aristotle once said that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Now, of course, I don’t think Aristotle was thinking of asparagus or ricotta or cornmeal (polenta), but his famous quote about synergy can definitely apply to this wonderful savory tart. 

You won’t believe how flavorful the final product is! 

Let’s take a closer look at some of these ingredients, shall we?

Asparagus

Unique in flavor and distinct in appearance, asparagus is one of the healthiest vegetables around.

This shoot vegetable is one of the very best sources of Vitamin K. It also gets the bragging rights of having the highest source of glutathione, an antioxidant that helps liver function (among other health benefits).

As was mentioned in the introduction, this ricotta tart requires the asparagus to be sautéed for just a few minutes before it is baked with the ricotta.

How to sauté asparagus

Sautéing asparagus is one of the quickest, simplest and tastiest ways to prepare this vegetable.

I have previously shared this stovetop asparagus recipe flavored with garlic and lemon. This simple recipe makes a great side dish. I use it often when I am making this crusted cod fish recipe.

For today’s asparagus ricotta tart, the asparagus gets a quick sauté and then gets baked with the ricotta.

This is how I proceed:

Cut the asparagus stalks in two (after having trimmed the bottom part).

In a large skillet, over high heat, add 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil; add the cut-off asparagus bottoms and sauté for about 2-3 minutes, continuously shaking the pan.

Then, add the top half, which is the delicate asparagus tips and crushed garlic clove. Sauté for another minute or so.

Just before removing the pan from the heat, squirt a little lemon juice over the top and give it a few more shakes. You may have to vary the time you sauté the asparagus depending on their size.

Remember, the asparagus should remain crisp as it will continue to cook in the oven.

Ricotta

What can I say about ricotta that I haven’t already mentioned?

Its versatility makes it a great ingredient to use in both sweet and savory dishes -from rice ricotta pie to pasta shells.

This fresh cheese can also be used as-is to stuff dates or slightly sweetened and used as a stuffing for zeppole, 

Did you know that you can make your own ricotta at home? You will be amazed at the creamy texture and how “fresh” it tastes.

Feel free to use either commercial or homemade ricotta in this gluten-free tart, as long as it is properly drained. Otherwise, your resulting mixture will be too wet.

In the ricotta tart we are making today; we need to whisk together ricotta, Romano cheese, olive oil, lemon juice, nutmeg and pepper. Set it aside while we prepare the cornmeal (polenta) crust.

Cornmeal (Polenta)

Cornmeal, just like ricotta, is another wonderful ingredient that can be used in sweet or savory dishes.

As you probably know, cornmeal is the result of grinding dried corn kernels.

For this recipe, we are using cornmeal to make polenta that will be pressed into a tart pan. This polenta crust tart, once baked, will be the perfect vehicle for ricotta and asparagus.

Let me explain this process.

Over high heat, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add salt and olive oil. Reduce the heat to low; slowly add the cornmeal and start whisking.

As the cornmeal begins to cook, the starch becomes hydrated. In fact, the cornmeal will begin to gelatinize.

The longer the cornmeal cooks (on the stovetop), the creamier your end product (i.e., polenta) will become.

When making polenta, the final product can vary, depending on how you want to serve it. The consistency can be anywhere from soft to semi-solid.

As you can tell from the picture above, we are looking for a semi-solid consistency.

How to assemble this ricotta tart

Once you have obtained this consistency, spread about 2 cups of the polenta in a long rectangle tart pan with a removable bottom, coat the back of a spoon with a little olive oil to help spread it out. The goal is to create a little indentation in this crust that will hold the ricotta the second time the crust goes in the oven.

It would be best if you worked quickly as the polenta tends to stiffen very quickly as it cools down.

Please note that the amounts included in this recipe will make two tarts -one filled with ricotta/asparagus; the other I transform into a herb tart (a non-dairy option). 

Bake the crusts for approximately 30 minutes.

Remove from the oven and allow to cool down for a few minutes.

Spread the ricotta filling…

…followed by the sautéed asparagus. Back in the oven, it goes.

During the last few minutes of baking, add some grated mozzarella cheese down the center and broil. Keep an eye on it and pull it out when the cheese begins to bubble and change color.

Garnish with fresh thyme and you are done.

This Asparagus Ricotta Tart can be cut into little bite-sized morsels or sliced in little rectangles or triangles. It is best served the day it is made.

Please note that the cornmeal measurements in this recipe will make two tarts – I usually make one Asparagus Ricotta Tart, but keep the rest of the cornmeal to make a polenta pizza (a non-dairy option for family and friends).

Easy asparagus recipes we love

• Sauteed Garlic Asparagus 
• Asparagus Risotto 
• Creamy Asparagus Pasta
• Orzo Risotto 

Recipe inspiration

My mom inspired so many of the recipes that I share with all of you on my “She Loves Biscotti” blog, and this is no exception!

A while back, I shared this polenta pizza with herbs with all of you. This was a recipe that my mom would make a few times a week… a staple during my youth. More often than not, it would be spread out on a large sheet pan (free form) and covered with lots of rosemary, garlic and olive oil.

I use this recipe as a polenta piecrust for all kinds of wonderful toppings.

In fact, this tart recipe is a combination of two recipes: polenta pizza and sauteed asparagus.

I just needed a filling to join these two parts together and I thought that ricotta would work perfectly… and it did!

This asparagus ricotta tart will definitely become a hit with family and friends.

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

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Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have made this Asparagus Ricotta Tart recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!