This delicious upside-down tart with crispy ham and fresh cheese will elevate your cozy September aperitifs

Here's the perfect recipe to transform your casual aperitif into a crispy and melt-in-your-mouth treat.

Often, bowls of breadsticks disappear without a trace. Yet, you can instantly captivate your guests with a generously golden crust. Fresh from the oven, the pleasant, herbaceous aroma fills the room. Everyone admires this warm creation, promising a true delight.

The moment of unmolding always holds a spectacular visual surprise for gourmets. By tilting the dish, you reveal a glossy, caramelized topping. Moreover, the ham displays a crispy texture that contrasts beautifully with the cheese. Everyone immediately reaches out to grab a delicately steaming piece.

Here are the essential ingredients to make this upside-down tart with sweet and savory flavors.

You combine a few raw ingredients to create a perfect aromatic balance. Indeed, this rustic garnish only requires simple, everyday elements.

• 150g of garlic and herb cream cheese
• 5 thin slices of prosciutto-type dry-cured ham
• 1 disc of all-butter puff pastry, weighing 230g to 280g
• 25g of creamy liquid honey, mild or spicy with chili
• 4 sprigs of freshly picked fragrant thyme
• 1 whole egg for the egg wash

Take the fresh cheese out of the refrigerator a few minutes beforehand to preserve its suppleness. Also, opt for a high-quality, very thinly sliced ​​cured ham to enhance the crispness. This will give you a clean cut and an irresistible texture on the palate.

The key steps to delicately caramelize the ham and achieve an incredibly crispy puff pastry

The preparation requires little effort but demands careful attention during assembly. This will ensure your ingredients remain securely enclosed, guaranteeing a spectacular flaky pastry.

• Preheat the oven to 200°C in conventional mode then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Pour the liquid honey into the center to form a regular circle of approximately 22 centimeters.
• Arrange the slices of raw ham overlapping to completely cover the honeyed area.
• Gently spread the fresh cheese with a spoon, leaving an outer border of one centimeter.
• Place the puff pastry on top of the filling and then carefully fold the edges inwards.
• Brush the surface with beaten egg before lightly pricking the dough with a fork.
• Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until a nice amber color is achieved.

Let the tray rest for two minutes at room temperature after removing it from the oven. Then, quickly invert it onto a board to release the cooking juices. This precise technique prevents any spillage and ensures a flawless presentation.

Here are all the delicious tips to personalize this recipe and achieve a perfectly crispy reheat.

You can easily adapt this recipe into refined mini appetizer portions. Simply draw several small circles on your parchment paper. Furthermore, a subtly spiced honey awakens the taste buds with a pleasant zest. This tangy variation truly enhances the woody profile of the charcuterie.

If you have any leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. However, avoid using a microwave, as this will completely soothe the pastry. Instead, place the slices in a very hot conventional oven for five minutes. This will restore their perfectly crisp, flaky texture to an absolutely irresistible state.

Here's how to elevate your tasting experience with melted cheese, grilled ham, and aromatic herbs.

Serve the tart warm to fully appreciate its incredibly gooey and creamy center. The warmth harmoniously releases the potency of the garlic and herbs. Then, the ham delicately crisps before releasing its smoky flavors. This interplay of temperatures instantly enhances the richness of the flaky butter.

Serve these generous portions with a handful of peppery arugula and a few crisp grapes. Add a few sprigs of fresh thyme just before cutting. A final drizzle of amber honey sparkles over the still-steaming topping, a feast for the eyes.