I have a friend who will order the lox and bagel platter at any brunch and spend the rest of the morning painstakingly constructing the perfect mouthful—bagel, cream cheese, salmon, tomato, red onion, and capers—with each and every bite. It’s an admirable commitment to quality control, and one that’s generally lost on the rest of us heathens who snarfle up our meals with a single inhale. My post-brunch plans usually center around a lengthy nap, so there is never a moment to lose when sleep is at stake. This masterpiece is a model of Sunday morning efficiency, where all the perfect bites are assembled in one go, leaving you plenty of afternoon for that leisurely snooze.
1 fully baked Everything (but the) Bagel Tart Pastry Shell, cooled completely
SMOKED SALMON CREAM CHEESE FILLING
8 ounces (225 grams) cream cheese
½ cup (125 grams) plain Greek yogurt
4 ounces (125 grams) smoked salmon, finely chopped
2 tablespoons minced red onion
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon capers
1 tablespoon minced fresh dill
1 tablespoon minced fresh chives
1 teaspoon horseradish cream
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1. Combine the cream cheese and yogurt in a medium bowl and blend with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the remaining ingredients and stir with a spatula until well combined.
2. Spread the filling in the baked and cooled tart shell and smooth the surface.
TOMATO OMBRÉ DESIGN PROCESS
10 ounces (280 grams) baby heirloom tomatoes in assorted colors
Paring knife
1. It’s helpful to organize the tomatoes by color as you cut them, so set out three plates and designate one plate for dark purple tomatoes, one for red tomatoes, and one for orange ones.
2. Trim off the stem tops of the tomatoes. Cut the tomatoes crosswise into ¼-inch slices. File the tomato slices on the appropriate plates according to color.
3. Beginning with the darkest ones, arrange the tomato rings in an overlapping line around the outermost edge of the tart. Take care not to rest the tomatoes past the filling edge to avoid soggifying the crust.
4. Add the word soggifying to your culinary vocabulary.
5. When this first ring of tomatoes has been created, arrange an overlapping line of red tomatoes inside the purple ring. Complete the design by arranging a line of overlapping orange tomato slices to fill the center.
6. Serve immediately.
SUGGESTED SUBSTITUTIONS
Crust alternative: Herbed Tart Pastry Shell
Topping alternatives: Red, white, and Easter egg radishes
NOTE
For a simpler ombré, slice the baby tomatoes in half. Arrange the tomatoes cut-side down and by color in concentric rings without overlap.