Wild Mushroom and Gruyere Tart with Fresh Herb Salad

Notes: This Wild Mushroom Tart recipe was the winner of our sixth Lunch with the Girls Poll (Now, the “Live@5 Cooking Club”). I was privately hoping it would win because I love savory tarts. They are often very easy to make and a joy to eat. Give this one a try and let me know if you agree with me that savory tarts are much too underappreciated.

The Tart…

½ Cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
1 Large egg yolk
2 Teaspoons plus
2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
¼ Cup crème fraîche or sour cream
1 ½ Pounds assorted fresh wild mushrooms (such as chanterelle, oyster, or stemmed
shiitake), sliced
2 Teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 Tablespoon butter
1 Bunch green onions, thinly sliced on diagonal (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 Sheet frozen puff pastry (half of 17.3-ounce package), thawed
1 Large egg yolk, beaten to blend with
1 Teaspoon water (for glaze)
4 Ounces thinly sliced Gruyère cheese

Puree ricotta in processor until smooth, about 1 minute. Add 1 yolk and 2 teaspoons oil and blend. Transfer ricotta mixture to bowl; fold in crème fraîche.
Heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and sauté 7 minutes. Mix in thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add butter and sauté until mushrooms are tender, about 4 minutes longer. Mix in green onions.

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Roll out puff pastry on lightly floured surface to 13×9-inch rectangle. Using sharp knife and starting 1/4 inch in from edge, cut score line around entire perimeter of dough, cutting halfway through. Brush 1/4-inch dough border with glaze. Transfer dough to ungreased heavy baking sheet. Spread ricotta mixture over dough, inside border. Top with half of mushrooms, half of Gruyère, then the remaining mushrooms and Gruyère. Bake tart until crust is golden and Gruyère melts, about 25 minutes.