Italian Cheese and Red Pesto Tartlets

Bring a taste of Italy to your table with these irresistible Italian Cheese and Red Pesto Tartlets, the perfect appetizer or light snack that combines rich flavors with minimal effort. Featuring a flaky puff pastry base, these tartlets are generously topped with tangy red pesto, melty mozzarella, and nutty Parmesan cheese, all balanced by juicy cherry tomatoes and a fragrant garnish of fresh basil. With a simple egg wash for golden, crisp edges and a quick bake time of just 25 minutes, this recipe is both time-efficient and crowd-pleasing. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or enjoying a casual gathering, these tartlets offer a delightful medley of textures and bold, Mediterranean flavors in every bite. Perfectly portioned for sharing and easy to make ahead, they're sure to be a hit on your table!

Nutriscore Rating: 56/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 sheet Puff pastry sheet
• 4 tablespoons Red pesto
• 100 grams Mozzarella cheese
• 50 grams Parmesan cheese
• 10 pieces Cherry tomatoes
• 10 leaves Fresh basil leaves
• 1 piece Egg
• 1 tablespoon Milk
• 1 teaspoon Olive oil
• 1 pinch Salt
• 1 pinch Black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2

Roll out the puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface and cut it into 8 equal squares.

Step 3

Place the pastry squares on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each square.

Step 4

Using a knife, score a smaller square about 1 cm inside the edge of each pastry square to create a border. Be careful not to cut all the way through.

Step 5

Spread around half a tablespoon of red pesto inside the scored border of each square.

Step 6

Slice the mozzarella cheese into small pieces and distribute evenly inside the pesto-covered area of each tartlet.

Step 7

Grate the Parmesan cheese and sprinkle it on top of the mozzarella.

Step 8

Halve the cherry tomatoes and place one or two halves on each tartlet.

Step 9

In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and milk to create an egg wash. Brush the edges of the pastry with the egg wash for a golden finish.

Step 10

Drizzle a very small amount of olive oil over the cherry tomatoes and season each tartlet with a pinch of salt and black pepper.

Step 11

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry edges are puffed and golden brown and the cheese is bubbling.

Step 12

Once baked, remove the tartlets from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes.

Step 13

Garnish each tartlet with a fresh basil leaf before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(739.5g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	2440.2

Total Fat 176.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 53.2g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3.8g
Cholesterol 312.8mg	0%
Sodium 3128.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 142.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 9.3g	0%
Total Sugars 12.7g
Protein 68.6g	0%

Vitamin D 70.5IU	0%
Calcium 1313.6mg	0%
Iron 9.8mg	0%
Potassium 1016.7mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 65.3%

Protein: 11.3%

Carbs: 23.4%