A puff pastry tart topped with Brussels sprouts, apples, and walnut pesto. This savory tart is perfect for a vegetarian Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, or just a tasty meatless meal.
This Brussels Sprout and Apple Tart with Walnut Pesto recipe makes a perfect vegetarian main dish, side, or appetizer for Thanksgiving! (Or Christmas, too.)
Thanksgiving is next week. (At least when I'm writing this it is.) Did I just blow your mind?
Fine, maybe not. Maybe you are a person who has things together, who plans everything in advance, and for that, I commend you. I used to be that person too. But then I turned into a person says "Have a good weekend!" on Tuesdays and who does all her Christmas shopping the day before Christmas.
I have no sense of time and no have-it-togetherness. Evidenced by my use of the word "have-it-togetherness."
The thought of hosting a Thanksgiving gathering makes me a little bit woozy, in fact. There is so much planning involved! It's kind of like Tetris, except instead of fitting together colorful shapes, you're figuring out when to put the gratin in the oven when the breadsticks need to be cooked at the same time, but at a different temperature or how you're going to cook 5 different things on the stovetop when you only have 4 burners.
Also, there's no Russian-y Tetris music playing while you figure this stuff out, which makes it much less fun.
Well, this is the kind of meatless main dish that makes things a little bit easier. (You thought I wasn't getting to a point, huh?)
Here's the game plan: you make the pesto and the Brussels sprout topping the day before. On Thanksgiving day, you'll prepare the puff pastry crusts and top them - they only take 15 minutes total in the oven.
So after your gratins and casseroles and whatnot have finished cooking, cover them to keep them warm, then pop these savory tarts in the oven.
This brussel sprout and apple tart is hearty enough to be a main dish for your vegetarian guests, and you can cut smaller pieces for others to have a taste too.
It's nice to have vegetarian main dishes that double as sides for everyone else on Thanksgiving - less alienation! I've paired Brussels sprouts with apples before and it's one of the most popular recipes on Oh My Veggies.
Brussels sprouts go so well with that little bit of sweetness from apples. This tart is the perfect balance of savory and sweet flavors, with a flaky puff pastry crust to boot. Yum!
P.S. If you're looking for more holiday inspiration, be sure to check out our brand new Vegan Thanksgiving Cookbook!
Recipe
Ingredients
- ¾ cup raw walnuts
- ¾ cup parmesan cheese shredded and divided
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 shallot thinly sliced
- 1 lb Brussels sprouts trimmed and thinly sliced
- 1 medium apple cored and thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
- 2 sheets puff pastry homemade or thawed according to package directions
- 2 tbsp dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Put the walnuts, ¼ cup of cheese, and olive oil in a food processor and process until crumbly. Season with salt and pepper.
- Heat the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shallot and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the Brussels sprouts and apple slices; cook about 10 minutes more, or until apples and sprouts are beginning to brown. Stir in the maple syrup and thyme, then remove from heat and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Place the puff pastry on baking sheets lined with Silpats or parchment paper; roll the pastry out to about 9x12 inches. Bake for 8–10 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown. Gently press down the center of the pastry, leaving a 1-inch margin on all sides. Sprinkle the pesto onto the crust, then top with half the cheese, the sprouts and apples, then the remaining cheese. (You might have some of the sprout mixture leftover.) Return to the oven for 5 more minutes to melt the cheese, then top with the cranberries. Cut each tart into 6 pieces and serve.
Sarah @ Making Thyme for Health says
I love your Tetris analogy, haha. I agree, the idea of hosting Thanksgiving gives me anxiety.
I am drooling over this tart. Brussel sprouts are just so dang good right now and I bet they are amazing with the apples. I can see why that is one of your most popular recipes!
Kiersten says
They really are amazing with apples! It sounds like a weird combination, but it works. 🙂
Daniela @ FoodrecipesHQ says
When you make pizza... it's always an explosion of creativity! It makes me think, every time: "why did n't I think of it before?".
Kiersten says
Thank you! 🙂
Laura @ The Rookie Cook says
Glad I don't have to cook for Thanksgiving yet! ...and I'm totally with you on the timing thing. Today, I was leaving a friend's house and said, "See you....soon? What day is it??"
This tart looks delicious 🙂
Kiersten says
I'm glad I'm not the only one. I never know what day it is anymore. It's starting to get a little bit scary.
Happy Friday!
mjskit says
Finally, a way to enjoy Brussels sprouts! I've seen a lot of recipes lately with the shaved sprouts and finally tried one. Delicious. So now I can honestly say that this tart looks quite tasty and, yes, something that I would eat. So pretty too.
Kiersten says
I like them shaved or thinly sliced too! It seems to help with the bitterness.
Nicky says
Just made this tonight! AMAZING!!! One of my new favorites and very easy to make!
Kiersten says
Thank you for your comment--I'm so glad you liked it!
Genevieve says
Oven juggling is the worst! Something always ends up getting cooked improperly, and unfortunately the veggie side dishes usually seem to get last priority! On the bright side, I love the idea of this tart! I've always wanted to try shredded brussels sprouts as a pizza topping, but I like how you made it a bit more fancy with the pesto and puff pastry.
Kiersten says
I've been wanting to make a Brussels sprout pizza too. I have an idea for one, I just need to make it happen! 🙂
kim kindrew says
I'm making this. And playing Tetris music in my head. Thanks for the recipe. 😀
Kiersten says
I had Tetris music in my head for several days after writing this post. 🙂
Brittany says
I can't believe Thanksgiving is this coming week -- this year has gone by so quickly! That said, this main entrée looks absoltutely delicious! Thanks for sharing.
Kiersten says
I know, right?! And soon it will be Christmas!
Brenda Williams says
SERIOUSLY...you did it!!! All my favorite things into one dish!!! These photos looked so good I wanted to lick the computer screen!!
Kiersten says
It's all of my favorite things too! 😀
Purabi Naha | Cosmopolitan Currymania says
This tart looks so delicious. I am sure it is just perfect for the Thanksgiving!! Absolutely fantastic idea and next time I’ll need some brussels sprouts to try this for sure!!
Kiersten says
It's definitely a great main dish or side for Thanksgiving!
Shikha @ Shikha la mode says
This looks delicious - what a great way to use up leftover veggies too!
Kiersten says
It would definitely work well with leftovers!
Yasmeen | Wandering Spice says
You're tugging on my heartstrings with this recipe. I've found a fellow brussels sprout lover! Beautiful combination with the apple and walnut pesto. I can definitely see this in my work lunchbox with a crunchy salad.
Kiersten says
Oh yes, I definitely love me some sprouts. 🙂 It's funny how people either love them SO much or can't stand the mere thought of them!
Mary @ Fit and Fed says
Love it! The Brussels sprout and apple combo again, dressed up for Thanksgiving! A little sweetness is the best thing for Brussels sprouts and the apples provide that. The walnut pesto, cranberries, and puff pastry turn this into a very cool main dish!
Kiersten says
Yes, I always need some sweetness with my Brussels sprouts. 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
Alanna @ One Tough Cookie says
Woah! This tart looks incredible! Thanksgiving's passed already for us Torontonians, but it's always wonderful to have another vegetarian main to add to the repertoire!
p.s. Loving the new layout of the site, by the way!
Kiersten says
It's perfect for Christmas too! 😉 Oh, and thank you! We are still working on perfecting the layout, but I was excited to change things up a little bit.
rebecca says
looks so good and in season hope you had a great thanksgiving
Kiersten says
Thank you--I hope yours was great too!
heather @ heatheromade says
yes to this recipe, to tetris & to saying have a good weekend on tuesdays. i'm with ya sister. hope you had a fantastic thanksgiving!
Kiersten says
I did--I hope yours was great too! 🙂
Deena kakaya says
What a beautiful and seasonal way to use Brussels cx
Kari@Loaves n Dishes says
I love how easy store bought puff pastry makes life! The flavors of this tart are just perfect together and totally up my alley!
Kiersten says
I know, right?! I've seen recipes for making it yourself, but I'm far too lazy for that. 🙂
Kari@Loaves n Dishes says
I made puff pastry from scratch long ago, back when I subscribed to Martha Stewart mag. I stopped the subscription because I felt like if I didn't make, bake, or craft it from scratch that I was an utter failure. Now I buy my puff pastry and I'm not ashamed of it!
Kiersten says
Ha! I know the feeling. I would read her calendar and feel like such a loser because my days are like, "Make frozen burrito for lunch" and "Put on pants."
Ari says
I Love The Sound Of This Recipe, However I'm Allergic To Walnuts, Almonds, Cashews, Pine Nuts, Macadamia Nuts And Pecans. Do You Have A PEsto Recipe Made With Pistachios Or SomethingElse? ThankYou
Kiersten says
You could try substituting the walnuts with pistachios, but I've never made a pesto with pistachios before so I'm not sure how it would turn out.
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective says
Mmmm...delicious-looking tart!
Asmita says
Simply gorgeous!
Annie @ Natural Sweet Recipes says
Oh yummy! I love these the pesto and apple combo in this. I love all kinds of tarts and pizzas. I would have never thought to add apples or brussels sprouts to something like this. I am definitely pinning this for dinner sometime soon!
Kiersten says
Thanks for the pin! 🙂
Jackie {The Beeroness} says
That looks so good! I would even serve that for breakfast topped with a poached egg. Beautiful!
Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking says
Oh my goodness this looks amazing!!
Caroline says
I can't tell you how badly I want a piece of this right now! What great flavor combinations! Unfortunately, it's bedtime for me…but I'm pinning this to make for dinner this week!
Kiersten says
Yay! I hope you like it. 🙂