Asparagus Gruyere Tart With Puff Pastry

Store-bought puff pastry makes this simple, 3 ingredient Asparagus Gruyere Tart look sophisticated enough for any dinner, party, or brunch.

Our favorite go-to asparagus recipe is roasted asparagus with parmesan, we love to serve asparagus alongside Blackened Salmon, Lemon Rosemary Grilled Chicken, or Pasta Frittata for brunch.

Easy Asparagus Tart

I became an asparagus lover several years ago.  My mom never served them when I was growing up. Boy did I miss out! Lucky for my kids their mom loves asparagus and they do too!

So if you’re going to talk about asparagus, it may as well be due to a worthy conversation starter like this ridiculously simple and delicious asparagus Gruyere tart recipe. 

Flaky, golden, buttery puff pastry paired with smooth, creamy Gruyere and asparagus is delightful!

Make this super easy puff pastry tart for a quick side dish or appetizer that everyone will love. Beautiful and delicious!

Why You’ll Love This Puff Pastry Asparagus Gruyere

This Asparagus Tart is the perfect dish to bring to Easter brunch, showers, potlucks, or any spring get-together. It will be the hit of the party! You might want to make two. One is gone really quick, trust me!

• Store-bought puff pastry makes this simple 3 ingredient Asparagus and Gruyere Tart look sophisticated enough for any dinner or brunch.
• Serve this as an appetizer or side dish…….or even make it work as a light meal!
• Gruyere is excellent with a salty, nutty flavor that adds more depth and creaminess without overpowering the asparagus phyllo tart.
• The pre-made pastry means you can make this tart in about 35-45 minutes.
• This asparagus tart is just a layering process – SO easy!! No fancy equipment is needed.
• Perfect for Sunday or Holiday Brunch.

Notes On Asparagus For Your Puff Pastry Tart

It is best to use asparagus the same day you purchase them, if at all possible. The longer you let asparagus sit, the tougher they get. Asparagus loses moisture quickly and will develop a woody tissue as it ages and even more rapidly if left at room temperature.

NOTE: The best months for asparagus are between February to June, with April being the peak season.

How do you store asparagus?

After selecting the perfect bunch of asparagus spears for your puff pastry tart, immediately store them in the refrigerator in one of the following ways:

• Good: Always in the fridge.
• Better: Asparagus can be wrapped in a clean damp tea towel or paper towel and placed in the crisper drawer; for the best results, use within a few days of storing.
• Best: The optimum way to store fresh asparagus if you have room in the fridge is to place it upright in a glass jar filled with an inch of water and place a clean plastic bag over the top.

Ingredients For Asparagus Gruyere Tart

• Puff Pastry, Thawed – save time with a packaged puff pastry from the freezer section. Opt for the brand made with butter instead of vegetable-based fats if available.
• Gruyere Cheese – A milder version of a traditional swiss that enhances flavors and melts beautifully.
• Fresh Asparagus – Generally speaking, thin to medium spears are better for this recipe
• Olive Oil – Using quality extra virgin olive oil adds a fresh, complimentary, full-bodied floral, and slightly peppery note to savory baked dishes.
• Salt And Pepper
• Flour -For Work Surface

How To Make Asparagus Puff Pastry Gruyere Cheese

Storage: Leftovers can be stored well-wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Although it’s best eaten fresh the day it’s made. Reheat in the oven or toaster oven until warm.

Cheese, Please! What is Gruyere

This creamy pale yellow cheese is a traditional style Swiss cheese. It is named after the town where it originated, Gruyere, located in Switzerland. Made in small form from pressed cow’s milk, this classic semi-hard cheese has excellent melting capability.

Gruyere is a milder version of swiss, with a rich, salty, nutty flavor and a firm texture with small holes. It is considered perfect for baking and fondues because its delicate flavor enhances other ingredients and adds melty savoriness.

What Other Cheese Will Work In This Asparagus Tart Recipe?

Emmental (aka Emmentaler AOP) Cheese –  nutty, buttery, and slightly acidic in flavor, it is considered the original Swiss cheese. Traditionally from cows milk and made in 200 lb. wheels in the valley of the Emme River, Switzerland, with large, distinctive holes. A perfect melting cheese.

Kerry Gold Irish Dubliner – a more robust grass-fed cow’s milk cheese with a sharper tang, notes of nut, and a slight sweetness. Some cooks swear it’s a satisfactory, even preferred substitute for Gruyere and readily available. The jury is out on this one, but hey, just keeping it real!

Fontina Val d’Aosta DOP is a lightly pungent yet sweet and fruity Italian Alpine cheese similar to Gruyere in butteriness and the flavor of roasted nuts.

Jarlsberg Cheese – a Norwegian cheese that is a bit milder in flavor, although it has Gruyere’s buttery and nutty characteristics. Jarlsburg melts well and pairs with this asparagus puff pastry recipe quite splendidly, especially if you prefer a less distinctive cheese that is slightly sweet.

What Is The Closest Cheese To Gruyere?

Comte Cheese – considered the French sister to Gruyère with a creamy texture and melts superbly (although it is also considered the English sister to cheddar!). Made from cow’s milk, it is a semi-firm French cheese with a taste similar to Gruyère: mild, salty, lightly fruity, with hazelnut undertones.

Asparagus Tart Popular Substitutions & Additions

• Smoked gouda, fontina or any cheese described in the “Cheese, Please” section can be substituted. Or feel free to use what sounds good to you!
• Sprinkle with lemon zest when the finished tart comes out of the oven or Zesty Lemon Seasoning before it goes in the oven.
• Spread a little garlic butter on the baked pastry.
• Use crispy bacon bits, diced ham or sliced mushrooms to create a main dish.
• Add roasted red peppers or marinated sun-dried tomatoes for added pizzazz and a splash of color.
• Garlic aioli adds a dollop of sophistication for special occasions

Pro Tips For Asparagus and Gruyere Tart

Be sure to follow thawing directions on the frozen packaged puff pastry to ensure a crispy, airy, golden crust.

Evenly pierce puff pastry dough with a fork, so it doesn’t puff as much in the oven while baking. Watch the video for this recipe for more details.

Select uniform, medium stemmed asparagus to cook evenly and look nicely arranged on the tart.

Do not wash asparagus before storing. Only rinse or submerge asparagus in water to remove any fine sand or grit when ready to make the asparagus Gruyere tart.

Before arranging asparagus on the shredded Gruyere, use a paper towel to dry any remaining moisture

Originally posted in April 2014. UPDATED March 2022. We spiffed up this post with more info and better pictures! No changes to the original recipe.