This rustic plum ricotta tart has a flaky fillo pastry base, a layer of sweet ricotta filling, juicy plums, and crunchy almonds. Delicious with ice cream, or a dollop of whipped cream.
What's in this fillo plum tart?
You'll only need fillo pastry, ricotta cheese, plums, butter, honey, and a few spices. So easy and so good!
*Scroll down for ingredients details and amounts or click on the "Skip to Recipe" button at the top.
My grandparents had the best backyard - one acre of the best playground in the world! As kids, we also climbed their decades-old Damson and Mirabelle plum trees that bordered the yard.
Every fall, our whole family gathered for plum picking. It was an important event for the men because as far as they were concerned, making plum brandy was the sole reason for growing plum trees.
While they were busy distilling, grandma baked and cooked the plum jam. If I close my eyes and picture my grandma's plum tart, pie, or strudel, I can almost smell their sweet aroma. A pinch of cinnamon turns even a rustic tart into a holiday treat.
Ho to make this plum tart?
Follow these few simple steps and you will get the most aromatic rustic plum tart, just like my grandmother used to make.
- Combine ricotta cheese with lemon zest, vanilla, and honey. Set aside.
- Toss plum slices with sugar, cinnamon, and cornstarch.
- Layer buttered fillo sheets into your tart pan, with edges hanging over the edges of the pan. Spread ricotta evenly over the top fillo layer.
- Top with plum slices and sprinkle with sliced almonds. Fold in the overhanging fillo. Cut off excess if necessary. Bake on 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-30 minutes.
- Serve rustic plum tart warm or at room temperature topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
That's pretty easy, right? And don't worry if it doesn't look perfect, it adds to the tart's rustic charm. It is not any less delicious, though!
Recipe notes:
Just a few notes to make the baking of this plum tart even easier.
- You can use any kind of plums. I used Santa Rosa.
- If your plums are firm, you can use a mandoline to slice them about ⅛ inch thick.
- Arrange your plums any way you want. Or don't, for a more rustic look.
- Have all your ingredients ready before handling the fillo pastry. Work fast as it dries quickly and becomes brittle. Keep the rest of fillo tightly wrapped and refrigerated until next use (see recipe suggestions).
How do I store it?
Store plum tart covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Frozen fillo dough can be refrozen for up to three weeks or refrigerated for a week after opening. Fresh fillo will keep in the fridge for up to four weeks (keep the packaging sealed so they don't dry out).
Use leftover fillo pastry in these recipes:
- BBQ Buffalo Chicken Fillo Stromboli
- Swedish Apple Pie Rolls with Fillo
- Zucchini Ricotta Spiral Fillo Pie
- Spicy Fillo Samosa
- Easy Vegetable Pot Pie with Fillo Crust
PRODUCTS USED FOR THIS RECIPE:
The fillo dough you use absolutely can make or break your recipe. A good quality, not too fragile fillo sheets will make your experience with it an enjoyable one. I love Fillo Factory's organic fillo dough, used in this recipe but there's a variety you can choose from.
You can get any brand tart pan, but I'm never disappointed by Wilton. It is usually my go-to for baking needs.
I love all-in-one gadgets! This mandoline slicer is adjustable, with 3 interchangeable blades, removable tray, a cut-resistant kitchen glove & cleaning brush, plus few other neat things, you just have to check out for yourself.
What should I try next?
Rustic Plum Ricotta Tart with Fillo Pastry
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Kitchen knife or a mandoline slicer
- 11-inch tart pan
Ingredients
- 4 sheets of thawed Fillo Factory fillo dough
- ½ stick (4 tbsp) butter, melted
- 2 pounds plums about 7-8 pitted and sliced
- 9 oz. ricotta cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons honey
- Zest of 1 lemon
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup sliced almonds optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix together ricotta cheese, lemon zest, vanilla, and honey. Set aside.
- Place sliced plums in a large bowl and add in sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon. Toss gently with your hands until well combined.
- Grease an 11-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Place one fillo sheet in the pan. Edges of fillo should hang over edges of the pan. Lightly brush the fillo sheet with butter. Make sure to brush the hanging sides as well. Continue to layer three more sheets of fillo brushing each layer (and sides) with butter and rotating sheets to covert he pan.
- Pour ricotta mixture into the tart. Arrange plum slices in rows on top. Sprinkle with sliced almonds, if using.
- Gently fold the overhanging fillo up over the top of the tart (see recipe notes) and brush with remaining butter.
- Bake until fillo is golden brown and plums are soft, about 20-30 minutes. Let cool slightly before carefully removing the tart from mold, slicing, and serving.
Notes
- You can use any kind of plums. I used Santa Rosa.
- If your plums are firm, you can use a mandoline to slice them about ⅛ inch thick.
- Arrange your plums any way you want. Or don't, for a more rustic look.
- Have all your ingredients ready before handling the fillo pastry. Work fast as it dries quickly and becomes brittle. Keep the rest of fillo tightly wrapped and refrigerated until next use (see recipe suggestions).
Nutrition
This looks beautiful and delicious! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much, Hali! Glad you think so.
Yum, I am pinning this one. My daugher’s favorite fruit is a plum and this will make a wonder birthday “cake” for her April birthday.
I'm sure she'll like it, Kippi! Happy early birthday to her!
Like the recipe!
Thank you!
This tart looks incredible, such beautiful photography and a mouthwatering recipe. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Awe, thank you so much, Nicole! Hope your 2019 brings you everything you hope for. xx
Beautiful pie - sad story! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party. Have a wonderful New Year!
Thank you, Helen. Wishing you a prosperous 2019!
What a beautiful tart, Jas! I love that for those fantastic results, you made it pretty low effort. Fillo IS a little magical!
Thank you so much, Mollie! I agree with you about the fillo. 🙂 Wishing you joy and health for 2019 and always. Hugs
This Plum Ricotta Tart looks and sounds so good! 🙂 The big sweet tooth that I am, I think I would love this!
I hope you like it, it was a hit in my house 🙂 Happy New Year!
I don’t remember it being an issue with pecans, but that was a long tome ago Jas.
A lovely story of the memories you have of your grandmother. My grandmother had pecan trees in here back garden and our job as youngsters was to pick the fallen pecans. At this stage in my life making plum brandy seems like much more fun, but not as fun as making your plum tart. I'll pin this and when our damsons are ready next summer your tart will be made.
Oh, picking my grandma's walnuts was even worse! The outer hull stains your fingers. Is it the same with pecans?
That sounds delicious! It would be fabulous with those damson plums, and probably my favorite greengage plums as well. Thanks for the recipe!
It would be great with any kind of plums! I hope you enjoy it as much as we did. Thanks for stopping in and happy holidays!