Pissaladiere Provencal Onion Tart Recipes

CLASSIC PROVENCAL PISSALADIèRE

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Preheat oven to 350 F.
• Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the onions and demerara sugar and sauté , frequently stirring, until the onions become tender and start to turn golden at this point, be very careful not to burn the onions as this can leave a very bitter taste to the whole dish.
• Sprinkle the cooked onions with salt, pepper, and thyme.
• Stir the mixture and transfer the skillet to the preheated oven.
• Cook for 20 to 30 minutes, occasionally stirring, until the onions are wilted, very soft, and are a medium gold throughout, again check for burning.
• Add the vinegar during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
• Remove from the onions from the oven and set them aside to cool while preparing the pastry for the pissaladiere.
• Raise the oven temperature to 425 F.
• Press the thawed pastry into a rectangle on a 12-inch by 18-inch baking sheet, building it up a bit around the edges.
• Spread the pastry with the onion confit, leaving 1 inch of dough uncovered around the edges of the pastry.
• Arrange the anchovy fillets and olives on the pissaladière in a criss-cross pattern then place an olive into each rectangle pattern to make an attractive looking tart.
• Bake the tart for 15 to 25 minutes in the center of the heated oven until the pastry has puffed up, turned golden, and crisped.
• Remove the pissaladière from the oven and sprinkle the olive oil and fresh thyme across the hot surface of the tart.
• Cut it into rectangles and serve very warm or at room temperature. Enjoy!

PROVENCAL ONION TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Melt butter with oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and thyme, and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are golden and soft, about 10 minutes.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to an 8 1/2-by-15-inch rectangle, trimming edges to make them straight. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, transfer to oven, and immediately reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees. Bake until pastry just begins to puff, about 12 minutes.
• Arrange onions in a single layer over pastry, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Top with olives and anchovies (if desired). Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees, and continue baking until tart is puffed and golden around the edges, about 15 minutes more (tent with foil if crust browns too quickly). Let cool slightly before cutting into small squares and serving.

PISSALADIERE (PROVENCAL ONION TART)

Steps:

• In workbowl of food processor fitted with plastic dough blade (can use metal blade if necessary), pulse flour, yeast, and salt to combine, about five 1 second pulses. With machine running, slowly add oil, then water, through feed tube; continue to process until dough forms ball, about 15 seconds.
• Generously dust work surface with flour. Using floured hands, transfer dough to work surface and knead lightly, shaping dough into ball.
• Lightly oil 1 quart measuring cup or small bowl, place dough in measuring cup, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and set aside in draft-free spot until doubled in volume, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• While dough is rising, heat oil in 12 inch nonstick skillet over high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Stir in onions, garlic, salt, and brown sugar and cook, stirring frequently, until moisture released by onions has evaporated and onions begin to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring frequently. After 15 minutes, remove garlic cloves, mince them and then return them to the pan, along with the balsamic vinegar. Stir and continue cooking for 5 more minutes, until onions have softened and are medium to golden brown. Off heat, stir in water; transfer to bowl and set aside.
• When dough has doubled, adjust oven rack to lowest position, set baking stone on rack, and heat oven to 500°F.
• Remove dough from measuring cup and divide into 2 equal pieces using dough scraper. Working with one piece at a time, form each piece into rough ball by gently pulling edges of dough together and pinching to seal. With floured hands, turn dough ball seam-side down. Cupping dough with both hands, gently push dough in circular motion to form taut ball. Repeat with second piece.
• Brush each lightly with oil, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut two 20 inch lengths parchment paper and set aside.
• Coat fingers and palms of hands generously with oil. Using dough scraper, loosen 1 piece of dough from work surface. With well-oiled hands, hold dough aloft and gently stretch to 12-inch length (like a very large breadstick). Place on parchment sheet and gently dimple surface of dough with fingertips. Using oiled palms, push and flatten dough into 14x8 inch oval.
• Brush dough with oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Leaving 1/2 inch border around edge, sprinkle 1/4 cup olives, 1 tablespoon chopped anchovies, and 1 teaspoon thyme evenly over dough, then evenly scatter with half of onions. Sprinkle with fennel seeds and marjoram, if using.
• Slip parchment with tart onto pizza peel (or inverted rimless baking sheet), then slide onto hot baking stone. Bake until deep golden brown, 13 to 15 minutes. While first tart bakes, shape and top second tart.
• Remove tart from oven with peel or pull parchment onto baking sheet; transfer tart to cutting board and slide parchment out from under tart. Cool 5 minutes; sprinkle with 1 1/2 teaspoons parsley, if using. Cut tart in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise to form 8 pieces; serve immediately. While first tart cools, bake second tart.

RECIPE: PISSALADIèRE (PROVENçAL ONION TART)

Steps:

• Make the dough: In the bowl of stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment, combine the heated milk with the yeast and the sugar. Let sit until starting to foam, 10 minutes. To the milk mixture, add the flour, water, olive oil and salt, and mix until a smooth dough comes together, 5 to 6 minutes. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel and let sit in a warm area until it's doubled in size, 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, prepare the topping: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions, thyme and bay leaves, and cook, stirring often until soft and golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a bowl and let cool slightly, then discard the herbs.
• Transfer the dough to a greased baking sheet and press to fit the entire surface of the pan. Spread the onion mixture on top, then arrange the olives and anchovies. Lightly cover in plastic wrap and let proof until puffed, another 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400º.
• Transfer the tray to the oven and bake until golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool completely, then slice and serve.

PISSALADIERE

Steps:

• For the topping, heat the olive oil in a very large saute pan and cook the onions, thyme, salt, pepper, and garlic over low heat for 45 minutes, until the onions are sweet and cooked but not browned. Toss the onions from time to time. After 30 minutes, take out the garlic, chop it roughly, and add it back to the onions.
• Meanwhile, for the dough, combine the water, yeast, honey, and olive oil in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a dough hook. (If the bowl is cold, start with warmer water so it's at least 100 degrees F when you add the yeast.) Add 3 cups of the flour, then the salt, and mix on medium-low speed. While mixing, add 1 more cup of flour, or just enough to make a soft dough. Mix the dough on medium-low speed for about 10 minutes, until smooth, sprinkling it with flour to keep it from sticking to the bowl. When the dough is ready, turn it out onto a floured board and knead it by hand a dozen times. It should be smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a well-oiled bowl and turn it to cover lightly with oil. Cover the bowl with a damp kitchen towel. Allow to rest at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
• Divide the dough into 2 equal parts, rolling each 1 into a smooth ball. If you're only making 1 pissaladiere, place 1 ball on a baking sheet and cover it loosely with a damp towel. Allow the dough to rest for 10 minutes. (If you're not using the other dough, wrap it well and refrigerate or freeze it for the next time.) Roll the dough lightly with a rolling pin, then stretch it to a 10 by 15-inch rectangle and place it on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.
• Spoon the onion topping onto the dough, leaving a 3/4-inch border all around. Artfully arrange the anchovies and olives on top, brush the edge of the dough with olive oil, and bake for 15 minutes, or until the crust is crisp. Serve hot on a cutting board.

PISSALADIERE PROVENCALE

Steps:

• Electric mixer method: In a large mixing bowl, sprinkle yeast over water with the sugar.
• Let proof and soften for about 5 minutes.
• With paddle attachment, add oil, and stir to blend.
• Add 1 cup flour and stir until smooth.
• With dough hook attachment, add remaining 3/4 cup flour and salt and knead until silky smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
• Food processor method: Place flour and salt in food processor bowl; process briefly just to blend.
• Combine oil and yeast mixture, pour down feed tube and process just until mixture is a lumpy mass.
• Place this mixture on a lightly floured work surface and knead sticky dough for about 5 minutes until satiny and smooth.
• Knead in no more than three tablespoons additional flour.
• Place dough in large bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place away from drafts until doubled in bulk, about 1 hour.
• While dough is rising, prepare the filling.
• Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet and over medium-low heat sauté the onions, garlic and salt until soft and transparent, about 10 to 15 minutes.
• Throughout the cooking time, always stir occasionally to prevent onions from browning or scorching.
• Add the water and thyme, and over high heat cook until the water evaporates.
• Over low heat, continue sautéing about 20 minutes longer, until onion mixture is similar to a paste (yield at this time is 3 cups).
• Remove sprig of thyme.
• Set aside to cool.
• Adjust the rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Rub 1 tablespoon olive oil over the bottom of a 10 x 15 jelly roll pan or a 12-inch pizza pan.
• Punch dough down.
• With fingertips, press and stretch the dough to fit the pan.
• If the dough becomes elastic, rest a couple of minutes, then press again.
• Cover dough loosely with plastic wrap and let rest about 30 minutes or until puffy.
• Spread the onion filling evenly over the dough to the edges.
• Sprinkle Parmesan over filling.
• Arrange the anchovy fillets, lattice-fashion, over the filling and dot the olives over the surface.
• Keep the design close together so that when cut, each portion will include an olive and some anchovy.
• Bake for about 30 minutes or until edge of crust is light gold.
• Sprinkle freshly ground pepper over top.
• Cut rectangles, squares or wedges while warm or at room temperature.
• Notes: For an extra crisp crust, spread filling over dough, and rather than allow time for the dough to rise and become puffy, bake it right away.
• For a more bread-like crust, let dough rise in baking pan until puffy, then spread filling on top and bake.
• If anchovy fillets taste too salty, rinse them in cold water and dry thoroughly with paper towels.

PISSALADIERE (ONION TART)

Steps:

• Melt the butter in a deep pan and soften the onions with the garlic. Add the herb bouquet. Cook very slowly for about an hour but do not allow to brown.
• Remove the herb bouquet. Reserve the onion mixture until ready to serve
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put the onion mix in a saucepan and heat through. Fill the pie shell and arrange the anchovies and olives on top and bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve hot or cold.

PISSALADIèRE

Steps:

• Tip the flour, salt and yeast into a bowl. Pour in the water, spoon in the oil and mix to a soft dough. Turn out on to a lightly floured surface and knead for 5 minutes until the dough is smooth and no longer sticky.
• Return the dough to the bowl, cover with cling film or a damp tea towel and leave it to rise for 45 minutes to 1¼ hours or until the dough springs back when pressed. Don't worry too much is it takes more or less time - it's not critical for this relaxed recipe.
• While the dough is rising, heat the oil in a large, deep frying pan or sauté pan, throw in the onions and fry gently for about 10 minutes until softened but not browned, stirring from time to time.
• Sprinkle in the thyme and some salt and pepper, then tip in the tomatoes and stir well. Cover and cook gently for 45 minutes until the onions are meltingly soft, stirring occasionally and removing the lid for the last 10 minutes to reduce any liquid. Remove from the heat and leave to cool slightly.
• Preheat the oven to 220C/gas 7/fan 200C. Lightly oil a shallow 23x33cm baking tin or tray. Knead the dough again briefly, then roll it out and press it into the tin. Don't leave it to rise again.
• Spread the onion mixture over the dough, then arrange the anchovies on top, making a criss-cross pattern. Stud each window between the anchovies with an olive, then bake for 25-30 minutes until golden. Serve warm, cold or reheated, cut into squares.

PISSALADIèRE

Steps:

• Make the filling: Finely chop 2 of the anchovy fillets. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, thyme and chopped anchovy, then cover pan and cook, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low, stir in salt, and continue cooking for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. The onions should be pale golden and very soft; lower the heat if they start to turn dark brown at the edges or stick to the skillet. Use your judgment on timing: Look to the color of the onions to tell you when they're done. Remove from heat and cool completely before using.
• Meanwhile, make the dough: In a medium bowl, sprinkle dry yeast over warm water. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes, then add oil. In a large bowl, whisk together flour and salt, then stir in yeast mixture with a wooden spoon until combined. Turn bowl's contents out onto a floured surface and knead until uniform and elastic, 3 to 5 minutes. (Flour your hands if necessary to keep dough from sticking.) Transfer dough to an oiled bowl, flip the dough over, cover bowl with a damp cloth and let rest in a draft-free place for 1 hour.
• Lightly oil an 11x17-inch rimmed baking sheet. Working on a floured surface, roll dough into an 11x16-inch rectangle, then transfer it to the oiled baking sheet and press the dough to the sides. Cover with a damp cloth and let rest for 30 minutes.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Spread cooked onions evenly over dough, and top with remaining anchovies and olives. Bake until edges and underside are golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.