Fresh Strawberry and Ricotta Tart

I love this time of year when fresh fruit and berries are popping up all over in the grocery stores, and even though it's not quite the season yet they're looking really good and there's always some kind of a sale going on which makes it even better! So I just can't resist buying berries every week.

Most times I'm mixing them up in some Greek yogurt which is very satisfying in itself, but every once in a while I like to make a tart or a pie of some sort. When I found this recipe I knew I was going to love it, strawberries and ricotta go so well together.

This is not an overly sweet dessert, in fact the balance is just right, the creamy ricotta actually complements the strawberries in a way that lets them shine through. And lets face it, glossy fresh strawberries topped on any dessert is hard to resist!

We couldn't resist, as you can see!

Adapted from Rustic Fruit Desserts
The original recipe calls for a short dough crust, but I felt like a graham cracker crust so I made that instead, but feel free to make or purchase your favorite pie crust.

For my version you'll need:

1 ½ c. of finely ground graham crackers
1/4 c. sugar
5 Tbs. butter, melted
1/8 tsp. salt

Firmly press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom.

Ingredients:

1 cup ricotta

1/3 cup reduced fat cream cheese at room temperature

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

6 cups strawberries hulled, and sliced on the thick side

1/2 cup strawberry jam

Here's what you do:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Using a beater, mix your ricotta, cream cheese and sugar together on medium speed. Add the eggs one at a time, beating until smooth after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl occasionally. Stir in the vanilla.

3. Pour the filling into the prebaked tart shell and bake in the middle of the oven for 30 minutes, or until the edges have puffed up and toothpick comes out clean. Cool to room temperature on a rack, then chill in the fridge for 1 hour.
4. Just before serving, put the strawberries in a bowl. Warm the strawberry jam in a small sauce pan over low heat, then toss and coat the jam over the strawberries. Arrange the sliced berries on top of the tart and serve immediately.

Note: The tart filling can be made a day in advance and refrigerated. Top with the strawberries just before serving.

Enjoy and Buon Appetito!