M+ Table: Caitlin Macdonald’s EASY Courgette & Goat’s Cheese Puff Pastry Tart
There is something about puff pastry recipes in spring and summer that feels effortlessly chic. This courgette and goat’s cheese tart from Caitlin Macdonald’s Puff It Up is exactly the kind of low-effort, high-reward recipe we love at Mother+ — simple enough for a midweek supper, but equally perfect sliced up for a picnic, lunch with friends or an easy garden lunch.
Creamy ricotta and soft goat’s cheese are layered onto crisp golden pastry before being topped with thinly sliced courgettes, garlic and chilli, then finished with pistachios and a drizzle of honey. It tastes even better once cooled slightly, making it ideal for making ahead during busy weeks. Serve with a large green salad and a glass of something cold.
Serves 4–6 | Prep time 15 minutes | Cook time 30–40 minutes
Ingredients
1 x 320g ready-rolled puff pastry sheet
1 egg, beaten
125g ricotta
125g soft goat’s cheese
Zest and juice of ½ lemon
200g courgette, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ tsp chilli flakes
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
30g pistachios, roughly chopped
Honey, to drizzle
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
Method
Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) and line a baking tray with baking parchment.
Unroll the puff pastry onto the tray and use a sharp knife to lightly score a 2cm border around the edge, being careful not to cut all the way through. Brush with the beaten egg and bake for 10 minutes until lightly puffed.
Meanwhile, mix the ricotta and goat’s cheese together until smooth. Stir through the lemon juice, season well with salt and pepper and set aside.
In a separate bowl, toss the sliced courgettes with the lemon zest, garlic, chilli flakes, olive oil and a pinch of salt.
Remove the pastry from the oven and gently press down the centre with the back of a spoon. Spread over the goat’s cheese mixture, then arrange the courgettes on top. Spoon over any remaining oil and return to the oven for 20–30 minutes until golden and crisp.
Finish with the chopped pistachios and a drizzle of honey before serving warm or at room temperature.
Puff It Up: 60 Recipes – 1 Sheet of Pastry, 1 Baking Tray by Caitlin Macdonald
If your idea of good cooking involves minimal effort and maximum impact, Puff It Up is the kind of cookbook you’ll end up reaching for constantly.
Built around the convenience of ready-made puff pastry, Caitlin Macdonald’s recipes are simple, clever and genuinely useful, spanning everything from quick lunches and easy entertaining dishes to comforting puddings and weekend baking projects.
The recipes feel relaxed rather than overly styled, with plenty of ideas that work around busy family life while still feeling special enough to serve to friends. Expect golden tarts, easy pastries and low-fuss crowd pleasers that look far more impressive than the effort required.