Heritage carrot and ricotta tart

A celebration of colour and freshness. Crisp homemade pastry, creamy ricotta, and vibrant ribbons of heirloom carrots. Aromatic spices and citrus lift every bite, making this vegetarian tart a showstopper for summer lunches or buffets.
By Matt Tebbutt
From Saturday Kitchen

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This heritage carrot and ricotta tart offers a nutritious balance of protein-rich ricotta, fibre-packed heritage carrots, and a homemade pastry base. Olive oil and fresh herbs add healthy fats and antioxidants, making this a well-rounded vegetarian main.

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Ingredients

For the pastry

• plain flour 300g/10½oz, plus extra to dust
• unsalted butter 160g/5½oz
• iced water 4 tbsp
• free-range egg 1 medium, beaten

For the heritage carrot and ricotta tart

• ricotta 500g/1lb 2oz
• olive oil 4 tbsp
• heritage carrots 4, in different colours, peeled into ribbons
• caraway seeds 1 tsp
• ground coriander 1 tbsp
• crushed coriander seeds 1 tsp
• garlic clove 1, crushed
• lemons 3, juiced, plus zest of 1 lemon
• fresh coriander 2 tbsp, to garnish
• salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Make the Pastry

1. Add the plain flour and unsalted butter to a food processor. Blend until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs, then add the iced water to bring the dough together. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
2. Lightly dust your work surface with flour. Use a rolling pin to roll out the chilled dough to a 25x20cm rectangle. Place on a baking tray and brush the edge with beaten egg using a pastry brush. Chill again for at least 1 hour.

Prepare the Ricotta Filling

3. Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7. In a clean food processor, blend the ricotta with 2 tablespoons olive oil, salt, and plenty of black pepper until smooth.
4. Spread the ricotta mixture into the centre of the pastry rectangle, leaving a border all around. Bake for 15 minutes until the base is golden and just set.

Dress the Heritage Carrots

5. In a mixing bowl, toss the heritage carrot ribbons with 2 tablespoons olive oil, caraway seeds, ground coriander, crushed coriander seeds, garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
6. Scatter the dressed carrot ribbons over the baked ricotta tart, reserving any remaining dressing. Return to the oven and bake for another 12 minutes until the carrots are just tender.

Finish and Serve

7. Spoon the reserved dressing over the tart and sprinkle with fresh coriander leaves. Serve warm or at room temperature for a vibrant vegetarian centrepiece.

Additional Notes

For extra colour and flavour, use a mix of purple, yellow, and orange heritage carrots. This tart is delicious served with a crisp green salad or herby new potatoes.

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Suggested Wine Pairing

Majestic: Domaine Begude ‘Le Paradis’ Viognier

This aromatic Viognier offers stone fruit, floral, and citrus notes that complement the sweet earthiness of heritage carrots and the creamy ricotta. Its freshness and subtle spice pair beautifully with the tart’s aromatic profile.

Tesco: Finest Gavi

With bright acidity and hints of green apple and lemon, this Italian white wine cuts through the richness of the ricotta and highlights the citrus and spice in the carrot topping. Its minerality brings out the best in vegetarian tarts and savoury pastries.

Sainsbury’s: Taste the Difference Pinot Grigio delle Venezie

Light, crisp, and delicately fruity, this Pinot Grigio enhances the tart’s fresh herb and lemon notes. Its clean finish and gentle citrus flavours make it a perfect match for a vegetable and cheese tart like this one.

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What can you serve with this

1. Green salad – A crisp salad with lemon vinaigrette adds freshness and crunch.
2. Herby new potatoes – Serve warm, tossed with parsley and olive oil for a satisfying side.
3. Marinated olives – Their briny richness complements the creamy ricotta and spiced carrots.
4. Roasted beetroot – Earthy and sweet, beetroot pairs beautifully with heritage carrots and citrus.

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Nutri-score Health Check

This recipe scores a Nutri-score of B. The tart is rich in heritage carrots for fibre and antioxidants, with ricotta providing protein and calcium. Olive oil and fresh herbs add healthy fats and micronutrients. The pastry introduces some saturated fat from butter, but overall the dish is well balanced, especially when enjoyed as part of a varied vegetarian diet.

Positive Factors

• Heritage carrots are high in fibre, vitamin A, and antioxidants.
• Ricotta offers protein and calcium with less fat than many other cheeses.
• Olive oil and fresh coriander supply heart-healthy fats and phytonutrients.

Negative Factors

• Butter in the pastry adds saturated fat.
• Pastry increases the calorie count, so enjoy in moderation.

This Nutri-score has been automatically calculated from the ingredients in the recipe and is only a guide. Relish this heritage carrot and ricotta tart as a nutritious, flavour-packed vegetarian main.