Red Onion Goat Cheese And Basil Tart Food

ONION & GOAT'S CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7. Cut the pastry into 4 rectangles and place on a baking sheet. Mark a border 1cm in from the edge of the pastry with a sharp knife. Spoon the onions into the middle, smooth then top with the cheese and thyme. Drizzle with oil and bake for 15-20 mins, until the cheese has melted and the pastry has risen and is golden brown.
• For the onions: Makes 600g, which is 3 batches. Prep time 5 mins, cook time 30 mins. Melt the butter in a large, deep frying pan and stir through the onions. Cover with a lid and cook gently for about 10 mins, until softened. Remove lid, add sugar, then cook 15-20 mins, stirring, until all of the liquid has evaporated and onions have turned golden. Divide into 3 batches to make the recipes, right. Will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.

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.

CARAMELISED BALSAMIC AND RED ONION TARTS WITH GOATS' CHEESE

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to gas mark 4, 350°F (180°C).
• You will also need eight 3½ inch (9 cm) diameter x 1 inch (2.5 cm) high mini flan tins, greased, and a 5 inch (13 cm) pastry cutter or plate to cut around.
• 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. 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.

RED ONION AND GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).
• Line a 9 inch fluted, loose-bottom flat tart pan with pastry. Chill for 15 minutes. Cover with foil, and fill with pie weights. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove foil and weights, and bake for a further 5 minutes.
• Put onions in a roasting tin, and drizzle over the oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast for 15 minutes. Set aside to cool. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Beat together egg yolks and cream, and season with salt and pepper. Arrange the red onions over the base of the baked pastry. Pour cream mixture over onions. Slice the goat cheese thinly, and dot over the top of the tart.
• Bake for 30 minutes, or until custard has just set.

RED ONION, GOAT CHEESE AND BASIL TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F
• Oil heavy large baking sheet. Toss onion wedges with oil in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange onions in single layer on baking sheet. Bake until bottoms of onions are golden and onions are very tender, about 25 minutes. Transfer sheet to rack; cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead . Cover and let stand at room temperature.).
• Preheat oven to 400°F Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface to 14x11-inch rectangle. Trim edges to even. Cut 1/2-inch strip from each side of pastry, forming 13x10-inch rectangle; reserve strips.
• Transfer pastry rectangle to another heavy large baking sheet. Brush edges with some of beaten egg; reserve remaining egg. Place strips on edges of tart, creating border. Trim strips; press gently to adhere. Pierce bottom of pastry several times with fork. Bake until edges puff and pastry is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to rack. Using metal spatula, loosen pastry from baking sheet. Cool completely on sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
• Stir cheese, pesto, cream and 2 tablespoons basil in medium bowl until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in remaining beaten egg. Spread cheese mixture evenly over bottom of crust. Remove peel and stem end from roasted onions. Fan wedges, golden brown side up, over cheese mixture.
• Bake tart until crust is brown and cheese appears set, about 20 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to rack and cool tart to room temperature.
• Sprinkle tart with remaining 1 tablespoon basil. Cut into squares.

RED ONION AND GOATS' CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Just unroll the pastry on to a flat surface and then trim it to make a 9-in (23-cm) square and place the pastry square on a lightly greased baking sheet. Now what you need to do is take a sharp knife and score the pastry without cutting right through, so you have a cut 1 in (2.5 cm) from the edge all the way round. Next, take a large fork, prick the pastry all over inside the scored square and brush the whole lot with the beaten egg. Then pop it into the oven on a high shelf for 20 minutes until it has risen and become golden. Meanwhile, drain the onions and reserve the juice. Mix the chopped thyme and red wine vinegar into the onions and season them with salt and freshly milled black pepper. After that, take the sharp knife again and dip it into boiling hot water before slicing the cheese into 12 rounds - cut it in half first, then cut 6 rounds from each half. When the pastry is ready, remove it from the oven and use the back of a fork to press the inner pastry base back down. Now spread the onions all over, followed by the slices of cheese and place a small sprig of fresh thyme on each slice. Finally, mix 1 tablespoon of the reserved onion juice with the tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle this all over everything before placing the tart back in the oven for a further 15-20 minutes. Note: This is great for vegetarians.

GOAT'S CHEESE, RED ONION & PINE NUT FREEZER TARTLETS

Steps:

• Tip the onions into a large pan with 250ml water and a large pinch of salt. Cook over a high heat for 20 mins until the water has evaporated. Pour in the oil, turn down the heat to medium and cook for 20 mins more until the onions have caramelised. Pour in the vinegar and sugar and cook until the onions are jammy. Leave to cool.
• Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured work surface to a 30 x 40cm rectangle. Cut out six circles large enough to line six 10cm loose- bottomed fluted tart tins. Line each with a square of baking parchment, fill with baking beans and bake for 8 mins. Remove the parchment and beans and baking for 7 mins more. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
• Remove the tart cases from the tins. Spread a layer of the onion jam in the bottom of each, top with the goat's cheese slices, then sprinkle with pine nuts. Wrap each tart well and freeze for up to three months.
• Heat the oven to 160C/ 140C fan/ gas 3, unwrap the tarts and bake from frozen on a baking tray for 15-20 mins until piping hot and the cheese has melted. Sprinkle with basil before serving.

RED ONION, GOAT CHEESE AND BASIL TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Oil heavy large baking sheet. Toss onion wedges with oil in medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange onions in single layer on baking sheet. Bake until bottoms of onions are golden and onions are very tender, about 25 minutes. Transfer sheet to rack; cool. (Can be made 1 day ahead . Cover and let stand at room temperature.)
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Roll out pastry on lightly floured surface to 14x11-inch rectangle. Trim edges to even. Cut 1/2-inch strip from each side of pastry, forming 13x10-inch rectangle; reserve strips. Transfer pastry rectangle to another heavy large baking sheet. Brush edges with some of beaten egg; reserve remaining egg. Place strips on edges of tart, creating border. Trim strips; press gently to adhere. Pierce bottom of pastry several times with fork. Bake until edges puff and pastry is golden brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to rack. Using metal spatula, loosen pastry from baking sheet. Cool completely on sheet. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
• Stir cheese, pesto, cream and 2 tablespoons basil in medium bowl until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Mix in remaining beaten egg. Spread cheese mixture evenly over bottom of crust. Remove peel and stem end from roasted onions. Fan wedges, golden brown side up, over cheese mixture.
• Bake tart until crust is brown and cheese appears set, about 20 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to rack and cool tart to room temperature.
• Sprinkle tart with remaining 1 tablespoon basil. Cut into squares.