
Eggplant-Goat Cheese Tart
Ingredients:
For the pastry:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 10 Tbs. (1 1/4 sticks) chilled unsalted butter,
  cut into 1-inch pieces - 2 Tbs. ice water, plus more as needed
For the filling:
- 4 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large garlic clove, minced
- 1 eggplant, about 1 1/4 lb., cut into 1/2-inch
  cubes - Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 1 cup seeded and diced plum tomatoes (3 or 4
  tomatoes) - 5 oz. goat cheese (chèvre)
- 1/4 cup pine nuts
- 1 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
For the salad:
- 4 cups arugula
- 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
- Fresh lemon juice, to taste
- Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions:
Position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 400°F.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness to fit a 13 3/4-by-4 1/4-inch tart pan. Press the dough into the pan and trim dough, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang around the rim. Fold in the excess dough and press it into the sides so they are thicker than the bottom. Refrigerate at least 10 minutes.
To make the filling, in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, warm 3 Tbs. of the olive oil, add the garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the eggplant, toss to coat well, and season with salt and pepper. Sauté, stirring often, until the eggplant is tender and golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper and let cool 15 minutes.
Brush the pastry with the remaining 1 Tbs. olive oil and spread the tomatoes evenly over the bottom. Spoon the eggplant over the tomatoes, then crumble the goat cheese on top. Sprinkle with the pine nuts, thyme, salt and pepper. Bake until the crust is golden and crisp, about 1 hour. Transfer the tart to a wire rack and cool at least 10 minutes.
Just before serving, make the salad: In a mixing bowl, toss the arugula with the olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Remove the tart from the pan and cut the tart crosswise into slices about 3 inches wide. Serve the salad alongside.