Start Your Plant-Based Journey For $8/month* With The Forks Meal Planner! Get It Now

Spring Onion and Asparagus Tarts with Black Bean Crust

  • Prep-time: / Ready In:
  • Makes 2 tarts
  • Serving size: ½ a tart
  • Print/save recipe

With twice the protein of a standard hamburger and no cholesterol, these hunger-busting asparagus tarts are a healthy option for the whole family. Pureed black beans create a hearty, fiber-packed crust, while fresh thyme adds subtle floral notes. Par-bake the crusts, then slather with a lemon-infused tofu cream. After a brief spell in the oven, top with steamed asparagus, spring onions, and a zesty homemade gremolata. It’s that simple! These scrumptious savory tarts would work well for dinner for two or as an appetizer for a bigger group.

For more inspiration, check out these tasty ideas:

By Caitlyn Diimig, RD,

Share
  • 1

Ingredients

  • 2 15-oz. cans no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained (3 cups)
  • 1 cup brown rice flour
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
  • 2 tablespoons tahini
  • 1 lemon (plus extra wedges for serving, if desired)
  • 1 14- to 16-oz. pkg. firm tofu, drained
  • ¼ cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ cup chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ½ cup pitted Kalamata olives, sliced
  • 2 bunches spring onions, trimmed to 7 inches with bulbs attached, halved lengthwise
  • 16 oz. asparagus, trimmed, halved lengthwise if large

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  • In a food processor process black beans until a paste forms, adding up to 1 tablespoon water to help beans blend, if needed. Transfer bean paste to a medium bowl.
  • Stir rice flour and 4 teaspoons of the thyme into bean paste. Drizzle with tahini. Toss with a fork until mixture resembles coarse sand. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough forms (about 3 tablespoons total). Divide dough in half. On one prepared baking sheet, press one dough portion into a 10-inch circle about ¼ inch thick. (If necessary, cover dough with a sheet of parchment paper and use a rolling pin to shape dough.) Repeat with remaining dough portion on a second baking sheet.
  • Bake crusts on separate oven racks 20 minutes or until starting to brown.
  • For filling, remove 6 teaspoons zest and squeeze 1 tablespoon juice from lemon. In a blender or food processor combine 4 teaspoons lemon zest and juice, tofu, broth, the remaining 2 teaspoons thyme, the pepper, and garlic powder. Cover and blend until smooth and spreadable.
  • Spread filling evenly over parbaked crusts. Bake 10 minutes or until crusts are crisp and filling is hot.
  • For gremolata, in a small bowl stir together parsley, garlic, and the remaining 2 teaspoons lemon zest.
  • Place a steamer basket in a large saucepan. Add water to just below basket. Bring to boiling. Steam spring onions and asparagus, covered, 5 minutes or until tender. Arrange spring onions and asparagus on baked tarts. Sprinkle with olives and gremolata. If you like, serve with lemon wedges.
Nutritional Information:

Per serving (½ a tart): 531 calories, 74 g carbohydrates, 31 g protein, 16 g total fat, 3 g saturated fat, 0 g cholesterol, 138 mg sodium, 19 g fiber, 5 g sugar

Note: Nutritional information is provided as an estimate only.

Comments (0)

(0 from 0 votes)

Recipe Rating

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

About the Author

headshot of Caitlyn Diimig, RD

About the Author

Caitlyn Diimig, RD

Caitlyn Diimig is a registered dietitian and food editor for Dotdash Meredith and Allrecipes magazine. Her love for all things food, health, and writing landed her in a career in food media, where she has worked for nearly a decade. Whether editing complex health information into easy-to-understand stories or developing 30-minute delicious recipes for dinner tonight, she makes leading a healthy lifestyle achievable through food. Diimig has years of experience helping people with diabetes. She has worked for Diabetic Living magazine and is a former co-chair for the American Diabetes Association (ADA) Young Professional Leadership Council of Iowa. Follow her on LinkedIn.

See More from this Author

Join our mailing list

Get free recipes and the latest info on living a happy, healthy plant-based lifestyle.

By providing your email address, you consent to receive newsletter emails from Forks Over Knives. We value your privacy and will keep your email address safe. You may unsubscribe from our emails at any time.