Frozen puff pastry comes to the rescue for a quickly assembled dessert that can be adapted as various seasonal fruits arrive at the market.

Makes 12 servings 

Refrigerated butter-flavored cooking spray
1 quart fresh blueberries
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
1/3 cup sugar substitute
Unbleached all-purpose flour, for dusting
1 sheet frozen puff pastry (1/2 of a 17.3 package), thawed
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Frozen light whipped topping, thawed, optional

Preheat the oven to 400F. Coat a nonstick baking sheet with cooking spray.

 

Place the berries in a bowl. Stir in the cornstarch, lemon zest, and sugar substitute, making sure that all berries are well coated.

On a lightly floured board, roll the puff pastry to a 12 x 14 –inch rectangle. Place on the prepared baking sheet.

Mound the berries on the pastry, leaving a 1 ½ inch border. Fold in the four corners. Using wet fingers bring up the border of the dough over the edge of the berries, pleating as you go to form a rustic free-form oval or rectangle. Sprinkle the berries with lemon juice. Generously coat the top of the tart with cooking spray and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until the berries are cooked and the pastry is golden.

 

Serve warm or at room temperature with a dollop of light whipped topping, if desired.

Per serving: 140 calories (36% calories from fat), 6 g total fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 2 g protein, 20 g carbohydrate, 3 g dietary fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 70 mg sodium, 40 mg potassium

VARATION: Apple Currant Tart. Substitute 3 large peeled, thinly sliced Granny Smith apples for the berries. Add ¼ cup dried currants that have been macerated in 2 tablespoons dry sherry. Reduce the sugar substitute to 2 tablespoons. Add ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon. Bake according to the master recipe.

Per serving: 130 calories (36% calories from fat), 6 g total fat (1.5 g saturated fat), 2 g protein, 20 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 mg cholesterol, 70 mg sodium, 65 mg potassium

From the Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide and Cookbook (c) 2007, published by Broadway Books. Cleveland Clinic Healthy Heart Lifestyle Guide and Cookbook is available at www.randomhouse.com or wherever books are sold.