Beet Appetizer With Goat Cheese on Puff Pastry
If you like roasted beets and tangy goat cheese, this beet appetizer on puff pastry is for you. It’s a simple, pretty, make-ahead tart. Make it effortless by buying pre-packaged roasted beets.
Don’t be intimidated by cooking beets (as I was). In this recipe, you roast them to bring out the sweetness and a gorgeous deep red-purple color. Just be sure to wash your hands right after handling!
I was recently looking for an easy appetizer with beets as I find myself acquiring more and more of a taste for them. I came across one by Jessica Merchant from How Sweet It Is and decided to try it out. It was easy to make, it helped me overcome my ignorance about working with beets and worth the effort I think.
Of course you have to like beets. Beets have a bit of an earthy taste, but they are mild and pleasantly sweet and smooth. Paired with the tang of goat cheese, the sweetness of honey and the crunch of the puff pastry, they make a statement, but they are not overwhelming.
Needless to say, buying roasted beets instead of making your own will save a ton of time.
Ingredients – tailored to your taste
- Beets – I like deep purple ones, but golden or stripe beets are great too.
- Goat cheese
- Puff Pastry – for a richer flavor, try to get one that says ‘made with butter’. Frozen puff pastry can be found in the frozen section of your grocery store. If possible, get a box with two pre-rolled sheets to avoid rolling the dough.
- Garnish: drizzle of honey plus optional basil leaves, diced peaches or pears, pea shoots,
Variations
- One tweak I would make in the recipe is to add the goat cheese topping after the tart is baked, not before.
- I would also consider adding some finely diced fresh peaches or pears on top. Some people may even prefer to leave out the goat cheese altogether.
Step by step instructions
Shortcut
Buy roasted beets which often come vacuum packed at Costco or your local grocery store. This will save a LOT of time (over an hour) and messy hands.
Make ahead
This beet and goat cheese appetizer can be made ahead and served at room temperature. If you like, you can reheat it for 5 minutes in a 375F/190C oven. Add garnish after reheating.
More beet recipes
- quinoa avocado salad with roasted beets and carrots
- beetroot salad with oranges
- spinach quinoa salad with beets
If you are looking for other kinds appetizers, check out our easy vegetarian appetizers with serving tips. Or our full list of appetizers and snacks.
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Beet Appetizer With Goat Cheese On Puff Pastry
Ingredients
- 2 medium fresh beets. Note 1 (red, golden or striped)
- 1 teaspoon oil
- 1 sheet puff pastry, defrosted, Note 2
- 1 egg (plus 1 tsp water) for egg wash
- 4 ounces goat cheese
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
- honey, for drizzling
- Garnish options: basil leaves, diced peaches or pears, fresh goat cheese, pea shoots
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425F/218C.
- ROAST THE BEETS: Cut off the green stems of the beets. Scrub the beets under running water to remove dirt and sand. Oil the beets, then wrap tightly in tin foil. Place them on a foil-lined pan (in case they drip) and roast for about 1 hour or until tender. Remove from oven and let cool a bit. Over the sink, slide off the skins. Wash your hands right away to avoid stains from the beet juice. Slice thinly – about 1/16 to1/8 inch – using a sharp knife. Skip this step is using pre-packaged roasted beets.
- PREPARE PUFF PASTRY: Unroll the sheet of puff pastry and lay it on parchment paper on a baking sheet. Blend water and egg to create an egg wash. Lightly brush puff pastry with egg wash. Cut pastry in half to make two pieces (this is optional for easier handling).
- ASSEMBLE, BAKE, SERVE: Crumble half the goat cheese on the puff pastry leaving a 1/2 inch edge all around. Cover with the beet slices, overlapping a bit. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle more goat cheese on top. Alternatively, wait until tarts are baked and sprinkle fresh goat cheese on top. Bake for about 20-20 minutes or until puff pastry is golden brown and crispy. Drizzle honey over the tarts. Add garnish if desired. Cut each rectangle into 8 pieces for a total of 16 appetizers. Serve immediately or at room temperature.
Recipe Notes
- Shortcut for beets: buy pre-packaged roasted beets. This saves over an hour of time!
- Puff pastry: if possible buy frozen puff pastry that come in two rolled sheets. This way you just unfold it (no rolling). Puff pastry labeled ‘made with butter’ has a richer taste.Â
- Make ahead: This beet and goat cheese appetizer can be made ahead and served at room temperature. If you like, you can reheat it for 5 minutes in a 375F/190C oven. Add garnish after reheating.
