Caramelised Onion Cheddar Tart Recipes

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Slide a baking sheet in to heat. Roll the pastry out enough to line a deep 20cm flan tin or a shallow 23cm one. Chill for 10 mins.
• Put a few balls of crumpled foil in the base of the pastry case and bake on the baking sheet for 10 mins. Remove the foil and bake for 5 mins more, until light golden.
• Meanwhile, cook the onions in the oil until starting to soften, then add thyme, pepper, and salt if you want to. Cook slowly for about 15 mins until the onions are soft and tinged brown.
• Beat the eggs, beat in the milk and half the cheese and some pepper. Spread the onions over the flan case and pour in the egg mix. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and bake the tart on the baking sheet for 30-40 mins until the filling is firm and golden, and the pastry crisp. Serve warm or cold.

Steps:

• Thaw the pastry sheet at room temperature for 40 minutes or until it's easy to handle. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with vegetable cooking spray.
• Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for about 15 minutes or until golden, stirring often. Season to taste and let cool.
• Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 12-inch square. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Brush the edges of the square with water. Fold over the edges 1/2 inch on all sides, pressing firmly with a fork to form a rim. Prick the pastry thoroughly with a fork.
• Spread the onion mixture over the pastry crust. Top with the gruyere and parmesan cheeses and sprinkle with the chives.
• Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Cool for 5 minutes on a wire rack. Cut into approximately 3 x 2-inch rectangles. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Put the lardons into a large, cold, non-stick frying pan and turn the heat on low. Cook the lardons very gently, stirring occasionally, until the fat has melted into the pan and they are beginning to brown and crisp. Use a slotted spoon to lift the bacon into a mixing bowl and set aside, but keep all the fat in the pan.
• Add the onions, oil and 2 thyme sprigs. Cook over a low heat for 20-25 mins until the onions are softened and beginning to turn golden. Stir in the sugar and cook over a higher heat for 5 mins more until golden brown. Tip into the bowl with the lardons and set aside to cool.
• When the onions are just about cool, tip the bread mix into another mixing bowl with leaves stripped from 1 thyme sprig, and make up following pack instructions, but don't knead or rise. Scatter the semolina, polenta or flour over a 30 x 40cm shallow tin or baking tray, and roll out the dough to fit it. Season the ricotta with 1 tsp salt and some pepper, and spread over the dough, leaving a small border. Mix the egg and Gruyère into the onion mixture with seasoning, then spread over the ricotta. Scatter with remaining thyme. Open-freeze for 2 hrs, then wrap well in cling film and freeze for up to 3 months. Or heat oven to 200C/ 180C fan/gas 6 to bake straight away.
• Cook for 40 mins until base is crisp and golden, then eat warm or cool, sliced into pieces with a green salad. To bake from frozen, heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and bake for 30 mins, then increase temp to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 for 15-20 mins.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry out to slightly smaller than an A4 rectangle. Slide onto a baking tray, brush with the beaten egg and cook for 20 mins or until golden.
• Meanwhile, melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat. Once foaming, add the onions with a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring regularly, for 10 mins until soft. Pour in the balsamic and cook for a further 6-8 mins until sticky and caramelised.
• Spoon over the pastry, then top with the courgette ribbons and blobs of goat's cheese. Return to the oven for 15 mins until the cheese is bubbling. Serve with salad.

Steps:

• Place flour in a food processor and add butter. Using the pulse button, process in short bursts, until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 3 tbsp water and process in bursts until dough begins to clump together. Pinch a piece to feel if it is moist enough, and add a little more water if it is too crumbly.
• Turn out dough onto a work surface, and gather into a ball. Roll out on a sheet of non-stick baking paper to fit a 24cm (base measurement) loose-bottom flan tin. Line tin with pastry, and trim edges (reserve the paper). Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 180°C or 160°C fan. Line pastry with paper, and fill with dried rice or pastry weights. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove paper and beans and cook a further 15 minutes, until dry and lightly golden. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large frying pan and add onions. Cook over medium-low heat for about 35 minutes, until a deep golden colour. Season well with salt and pepper and transfer to a bowl to cool.
• Spread cooled onions over pastry base. Sprinkle cheese over, then thyme leaves. Lightly whisk eggs and cream together, and pour over the filling. Stand on a tray and bake for 30-35 minutes, until set and golden. Serve warm, or at room temperature.