Tuna and grilled vegetables tart

It is Christmas market time again and the delicious smells are wafting the air. I think that is the best part, together with the glittering lights. If you are not familiar with Christmas markets in Germany, it is when the market squares are filled with stands selling food to eat and things to buy. And a skating rink or two if you are lucky. And talking about food, the air is constantly filled with delicious, and I mean delicious smells of food that somehow seems even more mouth-watering when smelt in the cold 0 degree air - sausages frying on a wood fire grill, soups in large pots, waffles baking in open ovens, various cinnamon and vanilla-filled treats topped with cherry jam and whipped cream, hot fruit punches punctuating the air with scents of orange and grapes -  the list goes on and on and I will add a few pics of the Heidelberg Christmas market in the upcoming posts, but right now, I just want to encourage your imagination (since nobody seems to do that anymore in this day and age of instant gratification!)

And one of the yummy treats that I like to eat at the Christmas market is called the Flammkuchen , which is kinda like a thin-crust pizza topped with creme fraiche and various toppings like the original of ham and onions, or my favourite of smoked salmon and roasted leek and another of grilled vegetable and feta cheese. But the problem of eating a Flammkuchen for me is, that I usually get bored after the 4th slice and then I will stop eating it, after which I will be hungry again an hour later since I basically have eaten 4 very thin slices of dough with a scant topping. So I have made this homage to the Flammkuchen using a thicker (puff) pastry and having more toppings. Once you have tried this version, feel free to substitute the vegetables and remember to spread the word coz everyone should know how to make something this delicious and easy!


For the topping :

1 small zucchini sliced thinly
1 small red capsicum/bell pepper in thin strips
A handful of chopped olives
2 cans of dolphin-friendly tuna in water or sunflower oil mixed with
As much mayonnaise as you want to drench your tuna in (I used 5 tablespoons!)
A sprinkling of grated parmesan


For the base :

The easy way - Use one pack of ready rolled puff pastry from the supermarket. This is the time to pat yourself on the back for being so clever.
 

Ready, set and roll out the dough!

Spread the tuna mayonnaise evenly over the dough. Arrange the zucchini, capsicum over it and artfully (or not) strew the olive pieces over everything. Take a step back and admire your edible painting. Then put in the oven at 180 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the sides are nicely golden brown and the vegetables grilled. Take it out of the oven and sprinkle the grated parmesan and watch it melt deliciously over everything. Slice and serve with more salad if you want, or roll the slice and tell your children these are edible fingers. Crunch and munch and let it be known how easy deliciousness can be :-)