This classic tarte is light, airy, and exceptionally mouthwatering. Tarte au Fromage is the French version of cheesecake. In the United States, we think of cheesecake as sweet, rich, and heavy. In France, it is a delicate tarte, both in texture and flavor.
My Mamine has been making this recipe her entire life. I remember eating it as a child when we would visit her and my family in France. Yesterday, for the first time, Mamine showed me how to make the tarte. The recipe is written on a very old and worn recipe card. She tells me because she knows it by heart she hasn’t used the card in so long she is surprised she still has it . Lucky for me!
My grandmother directed me as I made the tarte and I have to say it was a lot of fun to share this experience with her. I hope you love this tarte as much as I do. I am honored to have been given permission to share it. 
(NOTE – the recipe in French calls for fromage blanc which is similar to our cottage cheese. I recommend getting small curd and pulsing in the blender a few times to smoothen the cheese. You may find fromage blanc in some specialty food stores, though I have not come across it in the past.)
Tarte au Fromage
Ingredients:
1 package of dough for crust
2 cups of small curd cottage cheese, blended
2 tbsp. sour cream
3 lg. eggs, separated
1/2 cup natural yogurt
2/3 cup of granulated sugar
pinch of salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 tsp. lemon juice
1 packet of Dr. Oetker pudding mix, original cream flavor
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 F.
Beat egg whites on medium, then high, with a pinch of salt until fluffy, white, and foamy. Set aside.
Beat egg yolks and sugar on medium speed for 1-2 minutes. Continuing blending, add yogurt, vanilla, lemon juice, and pudding mix. Beat for 2-3 minutes. Pour mixture into a large bowl.
To the bowl, add cottage cheese, and whisk together. Gently fold in egg whites.
Over a round pie pan, lay parchment paper over the top. Lay pie crust over parchment paper. With a fork, lightly poke holes in the dough to release the air. Slowly pour pie mixture over dough.
Bake in the oven at 400 F for 5 minutes. Lower heat to 300 F and cook for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and gently remove from pan. Remove parchment paper and let cool. Serve at room temperature. You are going to love this!!
Bon Ap!
Julie
Tags: cheesecake, dessert, french, fromage, tarte
