Apple Tart with Seeds & Ossau-Iraty Cheese
A simple yet elegant savoury tart, bringing together the natural sweetness and gentle acidity of fresh apples, the nutty crunch of mixed seeds and the delicate richness of Ossau-Iraty, a traditional sheep's milk cheese from the French Basque Country which they love to serve at La Table de Nathalie.
Easy to prepare but full of character, this is a wonderful dish to share with friends, whether served as a light lunch, a starter or as part of a relaxed gathering around the table. The balance between fruit, savoury cheese and herbs makes it particularly delicious and gives it a lovely touch of French charm - rustic yet elegant.
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 25–30 mins
Serves: 4
Ingredients
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1 sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry
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3 firm apples, preferably slightly tart varieties such as Granny Smith or Braeburn
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1 tsp freshly chopped thyme
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20g mixed seeds (sunflower, linseed and/or pumpkin seeds)
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50g Ossau-Iraty cheese
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A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
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Freshly ground black pepper (optional)
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan).
Unroll the puff pastry and place it on a baking tray lined with baking paper. If necessary, gently roll it out to ensure an even thickness.
Wash and core the apples, then slice them very thinly, ideally using a mandolin. There is no need to peel them, as their skins add a lovely touch of colour and texture. Arrange the apple slices over the pastry, slightly overlapping them to create an attractive layered pattern. Leave a small border around the edges. Scatter the chopped thyme and mixed seeds evenly over the apples.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the pastry is beautifully golden and crisp, particularly underneath, and the apples are tender with slightly caramelised edges.
Remove from the oven and leave to cool for a few minutes. Using a vegetable peeler, shave the Ossau-Iraty into delicate ribbons and scatter generously over the warm tart.
Finish with a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and, if desired, a little freshly ground black pepper.
Cut into slices and serve warm or at room temperature.
Wine
Serve this apple and Ossau-Iraty tart with a glass of Château Marquis d'Alesme 2016, a refined Margaux with an elegant balance of fruit, freshness and beautifully integrated tannins.
The wine's delicate red and dark fruit character, together with its subtle spicy and cedar notes, gives an interesting contrast with the sweetness and gentle acidity of the apples. Its freshness complements the aromatic thyme, while the wine's silky tannins and structure work beautifully with the richness and savoury, slightly nutty character of the Ossau-Iraty.
The freshness of the fruit, the creamy texture of the cheese and the elegance of Margaux come together in a harmonious combination.
What Sally & Wendy think
We love Château Marquis d'Alesme, not only for the delicious wines but also for their relaxed 'Table de Nathalie' one of the best places in the Médoc to drop in for a lunch fresh and seasonal lunch. We also love the fact that the property if owned by a woman, the head wine maker of the family properties is too and the women-led hospitality team always ensure you have a fabulous time.