Balsamic Onion Tartlets Recipes

CARAMELISED BALSAMIC AND RED ONION TARTS WITH GOATS' CHEESE

Steps:

• First make up the pastry by rubbing the butter lightly on to the flour, then adding the cheese, mustard and cayenne plus just enough cold water to make a smooth dough. Then place the dough in a polythene bag to rest in the refrigerator for 20 minutes. After that, roll it out as thinly as possible and use a 5 inch (13 cm) cutter, or a saucer or something similar, to stamp out 8 rounds. Line the greased tins with them, then bake in the oven, centre shelf, for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is cooked through but not coloured. Then cool the pastry cases on a wire rack and store them in an airtight tin until they are needed. To make the filling, melt the butter in a heavy-based, medium-sized saucepan, stir in the onions, balsamic vinegar and chopped sage, season and let everything cook very gently without a lid, stirring often, for about 30 minutes until they have reduced down and taken on a lovely glazed appearance and all the excess liquid has evaporated away. You can also watch how to chop onions in our Cookery School Video on this page. Then let the mixture cool until you are ready to make the tarts. To bake them, brush a little beaten egg on to each pastry case, pop them back into the oven, same temperature as above, for 5 minutes - this helps to provide a seal for the pastry and helps it from becoming soggy. Now spoon the onion mixture into the cases. Top each one with a slice of goats' cheese and a sage leaf that has first been dipped into olive oil. Finally sprinkle with a little cayenne and bake for 20 minutes.

BALSAMIC ONIONS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Cut the onions in half and slice 1/4 inch thick. Place on a baking sheet and toss with 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar, the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the onions are tender. Remove from the oven, toss with 2 more tablespoons balsamic vinegar.

BALSAMIC ONION TARTLETS

Steps:

• Under medium to low heat, place olive oil and onions in a skillet and cook for 3 or 4 minutes so that onions begin to soften but not brown.
• Add 1/3 cup of chicken broth to the onions and continue to cook until the liquid evaporates. This should take about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Add thyme and another 1/3 cup of broth, and cook until the liquid evaporates.
• Add the balsamic vinegar and the remaining broth, cooking until liquid evaporates. The final simmer takes about 12-15 minutes.
• The results will be soft and tender onions with a tart sauce that is slightly syrupy but not at all loose.
• To fill the Phyllo cups you can either use a pastry bag with a star tip or a teaspoon. If you are using cream cheese, allow it to soften a bit and mix with a tablesoon of milk.) Place a small amount of the yogurt or cream cheese in the shell filling about 1/3 to 1/2 way to the top. Top each with a spoonful of the onions.
• Bake the tartlets in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes.
• To garnish, you can pipe little rosettes of yogurt or cream cheese on top and sprinkle with a few fresh thyme leaves.

SWEET ONION TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add onions and cook until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Unroll pie dough 1 at a time. Use a 2 1/2-inch round cutter and cut as many rounds as possible (about 14 to 16), reserving scraps repeat with second pie dough. Gather together scrap dough and cut out as many rounds as needed to make 24 in total. Fit dough rounds into cups of mini muffin pan. Place in the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove and set aside. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, half-and-half, golden onion soup mix, and fines herbs. Set aside. Divide onions among tartlet shells, about 1/2 teaspoon each. Stir the egg mixture and fill tartlets to cover the onions. Top each with 1/2 teaspoon of cheese. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes.

CARAMELIZED ONION TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Heat butter in a skillet over medium heat and stir in onion. Pour in red wine to cover the bottom of the pan and sprinkle with sugar. Cook and stir until onions are tender and translucent, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Combine heavy cream, mozzarella cheese, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a bowl. Stir into onion mixture.
• Cut pie crusts into 3-inch circles using a cookie cutter. Place circles into the bottom of 12 muffin cups in a muffin tin.
• Spoon onion mixture evenly on top of the tart crusts.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before popping tartlets out of the muffin tin.

BRIE TARTLETS WITH CARAMELIZED BALSAMIC ONION MARMALADE

Steps:

• In a large skillet, saute onions in butter until softened. Add brown sugar, vinegar and garlic. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, stirring occasionally, for 35-40 minutes or until deep golden brown. Stir in salt and pepper., Place tart shells on an ungreased baking sheet. Place one piece of cheese in each; top with onion mixture., Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle with almonds if desired. Serve warm.

CARAMELIZED ONION TARTLETS

Steps:

• On a lightly floured work surface, roll pate brisee to 1/8-inch thickness. Using a 2-inch-round biscuit cutter, cut out 12 circles. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet, and refrigerate until needed.
• Melt butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle sugar over butter; cook, stirring, until sugar melts and starts to turn amber in color.
• Halve onions crosswise. Season cut surface with salt and pepper. Arrange onions in a single layer, cut side down, in skillet. Cook over medium-low heat, without turning, until caramelized sugar bubbles up around onions and onions are fragrant, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Using a slotted spoon or spatula to keep onions intact, transfer them to mini-muffin tins, placing half an onion, cut side down, in each cup (allow sugar syrup to remain in pan). Return skillet to low heat. Stir in balsamic vinegar, and season with salt and pepper and a few leaves of fresh thyme.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Quickly, before sugar cools, spoon a generous teaspoon sugar mixture into each muffin tin. Drape chilled pastry rounds over each onion, and using fingers, press to secure. Onions should be swaddled in pastry. Place muffin tin in oven; bake until pastry is golden brown and sugar bubbles up over pastry, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Immediately set baking sheet over muffin tin; invert, being careful of hot caramel that might drip from tin. Once you invert the tins, tarts will be right side up; serve garnished with fresh thyme leaves.

CARAMELIZED ONIONS TARTLETS

Steps:

• In a saute pan heat oil. Add onions and cook on medium heat, stirring often, until onions are golden brown (15 minutes). Let onion cool.
• In a bowl combine, yogurt, parmesan cheese and herbs mix well. Add cooled onions.
• Spoon 1 healthy teaspoon per phyllo cup and bake tartlets 10 minutes or until golden brown.