Rustic Beefsteak Tomato Tart

This freeform tomato tart makes a great appetizer, lunch, or light supper. Use the best-tasting, locally grown farmstand beefsteak tomatoes you can lay hands on.

For the crust:

• 9 oz. (2 cups) unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (about 1/2 oz.)
• 1 Tbs. chopped fresh thyme
• 1/4 tsp. table salt
• 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
• 1/8 tsp. ground cayenne
• 5-1/2 oz. (11 Tbs.) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 5 to 6 Tbs. ice water

For the filling:

• 1-1/2 lb. ripe beefsteak tomatoes
• Kosher salt
• 1-1/2 cups freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (about 3 oz.)
• 4 Tbs. roughly chopped pitted oil-cured black olives or Kalamata olives
• 12 large basil leaves, thinly sliced
• 2 tsp. capers, drained and patted dry, roughly chopped if large
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil

Prepare the crust and tomatoes:

Combine the flour, cheese, thyme, table salt, pepper, and cayenne in a food processor and pulse to blend thoroughly. Add the butter and pulse until the pieces are about the size of rice grains. Add the ice water through the feed tube, 1 Tbs. at a time, while pulsing in short bursts until the dough starts to come together. It may still look crumbly, but if you press it with your fingers, it should become compact. Don’t add more water than is necessary to get the dough to cling together. Turn it out onto a clean work surface and, using your hands, press and gather the dough into a rough ball. Put the ball on a sheet of waxed paper, gently shape it into a flat disk, and wrap it tightly. Refrigerate for at least 45 min.

Meanwhile, core (but don’t peel) the tomatoes and slice them 1/4 inch thick. Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp. kosher salt, stack them in a colander set over a bowl, and let drain for at least 45 min. and up to 1 hour. About every 15 min., turn the slices gently and tilt the colander to let the juices drain freely.

Assemble and bake:

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 425ºF. Cut a piece of parchment to fit a rimmed baking sheet (preferably a heavy-duty one) and put the baking sheet in the freezer to chill. Take the dough out of the refrigerator and let it warm until pliable, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle the parchment lightly with flour. Roll the dough on the parchment into a 14-inch round that’s 1/8 inch thick. It’s fine if the dough extends a little beyond the parchment. Transfer the parchment and dough to the chilled baking sheet and refrigerate for 15 min.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 5 min. to keep it from cracking. When filling the dough, work steadily without delays. Sprinkle two-thirds of the cheese over the center of the dough round, leaving a 2-inch-wide band around the edges. Scatter half the olives and half the basil over the cheese and arrange the tomato slices on top so they overlap slightly, making a solid layer. Sprinkle on the remaining basil and olives, the capers, and the rest of the cheese. Season with pepper and drizzle the olive oil over the filling. Fold the edges of the pastry over the edge of the filling, pleating it as you go so it forms a neatly fitting round edge. Bake until the dough is lightly browned, turning the pan halfway through baking, about 40 min. total. Carefully transfer the tart from the parchment to a rack and let it rest for at least 30 min. before cutting and serving.