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Easy Asparagus and Goat Cheese Tart with Puff Pastry

March 23, 2021 (Last updated February 2, 2025) · Nicole Triebe

Delight your taste buds with this delicious asparagus and goat cheese tart. A perfect recipe for a spring brunch or Mother’s Day treat!

I’m not sure if it’s time in quarantine that has me more excited for spring than normal, but I can’t get enough of these spring recipes! Asparagus has to be my favorite spring veggie. Those tender green stalks always call my name at the grocery store! They’re great for throwing on the grill or putting in a quiche or frittata! But I wanted to create something special for Mother’s Day this year, and this elegant asparagus and goat cheese tart was everything I had dreamed of!

Why We Love this Asparagus and Goat Cheese Tart

It’s versatile easy to make! This tart is a quick yet elegant dish that is an ideal starter for brunch, a light lunch, or as an appetizer. Plus, it requires minimal prep and baking time! Asparagus is a quick-cooking vegetable, so it requires minimal oven time!

Aesthetic and Impressive! The crisp, golden layers of puff pastry provide a deliciously light and airy base that contrasts beautifully with the creamy toppings. Goat cheese adds a rich, tangy depth that balances the earthiness of asparagus while offering a smooth, luscious texture.

It uses seasonal ingredients! Delicious asparagus is a quintessential spring vegetable that brings a bright, slightly sweet, and grassy flavor, making the tart taste fresh and seasonal.

Looking for more asparagus recipes? Check out this shaved asparagus salad or linguine with asparagus and lemon cream sauce!

Key Ingredients for this Easy Asparagus and Goat Cheese Tart with Puff Pastry

Puff Pastry

This flaky, buttery base provides a crisp yet tender structure for the tart. It’s easy to use and bakes into a beautifully golden, delicate crust that complements the creamy and fresh toppings. You can use your own puff pastry or you can get the store-bought stuff in the freezer section at your local grocery store for an easy hack!

Asparagus

Fresh asparagus brings a slightly sweet, grassy, and earthy flavor that pairs well with the richness of goat cheese. It also adds texture and a vibrant green color, making the tart visually appealing. Trim the asparagus spears using this trick:

Hold a spear at both ends and gently bend it. It will naturally snap at the point where the tough end meets the tender part. Use this as a guide to trim the rest of the spears at the same point.

Cream Cheese

Cream cheese adds a creamy, spreadable consistency that helps create a luscious base for the tart. It blends well with goat cheese, making the filling silkier and less crumbly. Make sure the cream cheese is at room temperature before mixing it with the goat cheese.

Goat Cheese

Goat cheese is tangy, creamy, and slightly tart, which balances the mild sweetness of asparagus and the buttery pastry. It also adds a rich depth of flavor and helps hold the ingredients together.

Olive Oil

Tossing the asparagus in olive oil helps it roast evenly while preventing dryness. It also enhances the richness of the tart without making it greasy.

Garlic

Fresh garlic adds a layer of savory depth, complementing the cheese and asparagus without overwhelming them.

raw seasoned asparagus on plate

Step By Step Instructions to Make this asparagus goat cheese tart

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.

Toss asparagus with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, place in oven-safe baking dish, and bake for 10 minutes.  Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Unfold the puff pastry onto the sheet and lightly roll it out with a rolling pin to smooth any creases. You want to thin it out just slightly so you have a larger surface area to work with.

Transfer puff pastry to a lined baking sheet.  Beat the egg in a small bowl with a splash of water and then lightly brush the puff pastry with egg wash.

Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 8-10 minutes or until the pastry starts to turn a light golden brown.

While the puff pastry is baking, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, garlic, and all but 1 tsp lemon zest in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

Remove the puff pastry from the oven and gently push down any puffed parts.

Spread the goat cheese mixture all over the surface of the puff pastry, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.

Arrange the asparagus spears in a single layer over the goat cheese, and return the baking sheet to the oven for another 8-10 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and puffed around the edges.

Cool for a few minutes on the pan before removing.  Garnish with basil leaves and remaining lemon zest.   Slice and serve at room temperature.

    Tips for working with puff pastry

    Store-bought puff pastry pastry can often be tricky to use, so I wanted to give you a few tips for handing this dough.

    • Work quickly: When working with puff pastry, you want to work quickly while it’s still cold and you want to handle it as little as possible to keep the layers from getting squished down together and producing a dense final result. If it happens to get too warm and soft, stick it back in the fridge after working with it, while the oven preheats. This step gives the butter a chance to re-solidify, to get an even better result.
    • Use a sharp knife: Using a sharp knife will allow you to cut straight down without sawing back and forth if you need to cut or trim the dough.
    • Wait until thawed: If you’re working with store-bought frozen puff pastry, Unfold your pastry only when fully thawed. Unfolding it too early can cause the pastry to crack or break. If the pastry does start to crack, wait a few minutes and try again.
    • Flour your surface: before working with puff pastry, lightly dust your working surface with flour.  It will help the pastry to roll out smoothly, and prevent any sticking and pulling.
    fully baked asparagus goat cheese tart on cutting board

    What should I serve with this tart?

    This asparagus and goat cheese tart is not only visually stunning but also packed with flavor. Serve it with a fresh Panzanella salad or a glass of crisp white wine for a truly delightful experience. Enjoy!

    Here are a few other options for a beautiful brunch for Mother’s Day!

    Eggs Benedict with citrus hollandaise

    Spinach and red pepper frittata

    Brioche French Toast with Whipped Lemon Mascarpone

    Bananas Foster Nutella Crepes

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with us through social media by following us on InstagramPinterest, and Facebook!

    asparagus goat cheese tart sliced on plates
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    Asparagus Goat Cheese Tart

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    • Author: Nicole Triebe
    • Prep Time: 5 minutes
    • Cook Time: 20 minutes
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 4 1x
    • Category: Breakfast
    • Method: Bake
    • Cuisine: French

    Description

    Delight your taste buds with this delicious asparagus and goat cheese tart. A perfect recipe for a spring brunch or Mother’s Day treat!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    1 lb asparagus, ends trimmed

    1 tbl olive oil

    1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed but still chilled

    1 egg

    5 oz goat cheese, softened

    1 oz cream cheese, softened

    1 garlic clove, grated

    Zest of 1 lemon

    Salt and pepper, to taste

    Handful of basil 


    Instructions

    Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.

    Toss asparagus with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, place in oven-safe baking dish, and bake for 10 minutes.  Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

    Gently unroll the pastry onto a lightly floured surface and lightly roll out a rolling pin. You want to thin it out just slightly so you have a larger surface area to work with.

    Transfer puff pastry to a lined baking sheet.  Beat the egg in a small bowl with a splash of water and then lightly brush the puff pastry with egg wash.

    Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until the pastry starts to turn a light golden brown.

    While the puff pastry is baking, combine the goat cheese, cream cheese, garlic, and all but 1 tsp lemon zest in a small bowl. Season with salt and pepper.

    Remove the puff pastry from the oven and gently push down any puffed parts.

    Spread the goat cheese mixture all over the surface of the puff pastry, leaving a 1-inch border around the edges.

    Arrange the asparagus spears in a single layer over the goat cheese, and return the baking sheet to the oven for another 8-10 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and puffed around the edges.

    Cool for a few minutes on the pan before removing.  Garnish with basil leaves and remaining lemon zest.   Slice and serve at room temp.


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