Zucchini Tart with Lemon Thyme and Goat Cheese

When preparing the dough for this gorgeous tart, don’t omit the white vinegar: It makes the crust flaky and tender.

• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 5 oz. cold unsalted butter
• Kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. white vinegar
• 1-1/2 lb. zucchini, trimmed and sliced into 1/8-inch-thick rounds
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
• 8 oz. plain goat cheese, softened
• 1 tsp. chopped fresh lemon thyme

Tip:

If you can’t find lemon thyme, use 1 tsp. chopped thyme and 1/4 tsp. finely grated lemon zest instead.

In a food processor, pulse the flour, butter, and 3/4 tsp. salt until the butter is the size of small peas. Add the vinegar and 3 to 4 Tbs. cold water, pulsing until the dough just comes together. Shape the dough into a 1-inch-thick disk; wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes. Roll the dough on a well-floured surface into an 11-inch round that’s 1/4-inch thick. Put the dough on a baking sheet, cover with plastic, and chill until ready to use, at least 30 minutes.

In a colander, toss the zucchini with 2 tsp. salt and drain for 30 minutes. Gently squeeze the slices with your hands to release excess water and transfer to a medium bowl.

Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. Toss the zucchini with 1 Tbs. of the olive oil and pepper to taste. In a small bowl, mix the goat cheese with the lemon thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Spread the cheese over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Arrange the squash rounds in tightly overlapping concentric circles all the way to the edge of the dough. (The rounds will shrink as they cook.) Drizzle with the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil and bake until the zucchini is golden-brown, 40 to 50 minutes.