Savoury Afternoon Tea

A savoury afternoon tea recipe isn’t always the first thing that comes to mind when you think of afternoon tea. Usually, you’d imagine delicious cream cakes, delicate biscuits and colourful macarons. However, for a delicious afternoon tea, savoury afternoon tea recipes should definitely make the cut for your creations. 

Everyone will have their personal favourites from an afternoon tea, be it delicious mini sausage rolls, mini quiches, or a delectable assortment of sandwiches. However, below we’re going to discuss the recipe for a delicious Cherry Tomato and Rocket Tartlet recipe. 

Ingredients needed to make Savoury Afternoon Tea

Ingredients for a Cherry Tomato and Rocket Tartlet:

Ingredients: For the tartlets:

• 250g plain flour
• 125g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons cold water

For the filling:

• 200g cherry tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 150g rocket 
• 100g feta cheese, crumbled
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Balsamic glaze (optional)
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish

Step by step instructions to make Savoury Afternoon Tea

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C fan/ Gas Mark 6.
2. To make the delicious tartlet pastry, place the plain flour and cold, cubed butter in a mixing bowl. 
3. Use your fingertips to rub the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Be careful not to overmix. 
4. Add the egg to the mixture and stir until combined. 
5. Gradually add the cold water, a little at a time, until the mixture comes together to form a dough.
6. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it gently until smooth and without any flour or butter lumps.
7. Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
8. Once chilled, roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 3mm. Cut out circles or squares, depending on the shape you prefer, using a pastry cutter or a sharp knife.
9. Line a greased tartlet tin with the pastry circles or squares, pressing them gently into the tin to ensure they fit snugly. Trim any excess pastry.
10. Prick the bases of the pastry with a fork to prevent them from puffing up during baking.
11. Bake your tartlets for 8 minutes with baking beads on top, and while cooking, prep your tomatoes. 
12. Slice your tomatoes in half. 
13. In a bowl, toss the cherry tomatoes with olive oil and minced garlic. Season generously with salt and pepper and some balsamic if you like a little tang. 
14. Once tartlets are done with their first cook, remove the bakery beads and put them in again for another 5 minutes to golden up.
15. Once the pastry is out, place the rocket evenly into each pastry case. Top with the marinated cherry tomatoes, distributing them evenly among the tartlets.
16. Crumble the feta cheese over the top of the tartlets.
17. Place the tartlets on a baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry turns golden brown.
18. Once baked, remove the tartlets from the oven and let them cool slightly. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, a little balsamic if you like, and serve!

A tasty Savoury Afternoon Tea

This recipe really is a delicious summery edition savoury afternoon tea recipe. The crisp pastry, fresh and zesty tomatoes, partnered with salty feta and delicious tangy balsamic are truly delicious. This recipe can be made with a bigger sheet of pastry and sliced up after if you’d prefer a big sheet pizza style, and if you’d like to change toppings, can be made with lots of other veggies!

Try a delicious courgette and halloumi version, pesto and asparagus with parmesan, and lots more savoury afternoon tea recipe creations. 

Just what you need

This recipe is the perfect addition to any afternoon tea, garden party, or family get together and adds a refreshing and zesty kick to the warmer months. Serve with a side salad some tasty garlic new potatoes, or along with a selection of other savoury treats for a really great afternoon tea. 

Savoury Afternoon Tea in the New Forest

If you’d love to experience a real taste of a savoury (or sweet) afternoon tea, join us in the New Forest for an unforgettable afternoon tea in one of our restaurants. Across New Forest Collection, you can indulge in a delightful afternoon tea experience at any of our restaurants. 

Join us in the Burley Restaurant or the sophisticated Bartley Lodge Restaurant when staying with us. Or perhaps head to 1820 in Forest Lodge, which is conveniently located close to the foodie town of Lyndhurst, or visit the lovely Taylor’s in Beaulieu. Treat yourself to an unforgettable afternoon tea experience with us and enjoy plenty of sweet and savoury choices from our menus. 

Our afternoon tea menus change seasonally, but you’ll be able to enjoy a range of sweet and savoury options at each of our locations. Please ask for vegetarian and vegan menus and enjoy a delightful afternoon tea with us in the gorgeous New Forest.