Description

This Balsamic Glazed Mushroom Tart is a savory, elegant appetizer or light meal featuring tender cremini mushrooms caramelized with shallots, garlic, and a sweet-tart balsamic glaze atop flaky puff pastry and melted Gruyere cheese. Easy to prepare and perfect for entertaining, it combines rich flavors and delightful textures in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Pastry and Cheese

7 ounces good-quality puff pastry dough, cut into 2 rectangles
5 ounces Gruyere, Jarlsberg, or Emmenthaler cheese, grated

Mushroom Filling

2 cups cremini mushrooms, sliced (baby bella mushrooms)
3 shallots, cut into rings
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons soy sauce
½ teaspoon dark brown sugar
4 sprigs fresh thyme

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it is hot and ready for baking the tarts.
Prepare Pastry Base: Lay the puff pastry rectangles onto a greased baking sheet and sprinkle a generous layer of grated cheese over each one, leaving a border around the edges without cheese to form a crust.
Cook Mushroom Mixture: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add sliced mushrooms, shallot rings, minced garlic, dark brown sugar, soy sauce, and balsamic vinegar. Cook, stirring frequently, for 8-10 minutes until the mushrooms reduce to about half their size and shallots are caramelized and soft. Remove from heat and stir in the leaves from 2-3 sprigs of thyme.
Assemble Tarts: Using a slotted spoon, evenly distribute the mushroom mixture over the cheese-covered pastry rectangles, leaving the crust border clear. Sprinkle additional cheese and some remaining thyme leaves on top of the mushroom layer for extra flavor.
Crimp Edges: Optionally, press the edges of the pastry with a fork to create a decorative crust and seal the edges slightly.
Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 21-26 minutes until the pastry is golden brown and puffed.
Rest and Serve: Let the tarts rest for about 5 minutes after baking to set before slicing and serving. Pair beautifully with a glass of wine for an elevated tasting experience.

Notes

Use a sharp knife to slice mushrooms and shallots evenly for consistent cooking.
Gruyere cheese provides a nice melting quality and nutty flavor, but Jarlsberg or Emmenthaler are good alternatives.
If puff pastry is frozen, thaw it properly before use to avoid cracking.
For a vegan version, substitute butter with vegan margarine and use a plant-based cheese alternative.
Fresh thyme is preferable for best flavor, but dried thyme can be used if fresh is unavailable—reduce quantity by half.
Baking times may vary slightly depending on your oven; watch for golden brown pastry as a doneness indicator.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 26 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Baking
Cuisine: French-inspired

Keywords: balsamic glazed mushroom tart, mushroom tart, puff pastry tart, vegetarian tart, savory tart, appetizer recipe