Shallot Tatins With Goats Cheese Food

SHALLOT TARTE TATIN WITH GOAT'S CHEESE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the shallots into a heatproof bowl and pour over boiling water to cover. Leave for 10 mins, then drain and peel.
• Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan. Add the shallots and fry gently for 10-15 mins until softened and lightly browned. Stir in the vinegar and sugar with leaves from 2 thyme sprigs for a few mins until caramelised. Turn off heat and season.
• Tear remaining thyme sprigs into a few pieces and scatter over the base of a 22cm ovenproof shallow pan, cake or tart tin without a loose base. Tip in the shallots with all their sticky juices. Roll out the pastry until it's big enough to cut out a roughly 26cm circle. Lift the pastry circle onto the shallots, then tuck the edges down the inside of the pan. Bake for 25-30 mins until pastry is golden.
• Leave tart for 5 mins to settle, then turn out of the tin. Dot with rounds of goat's cheese and slice into wedges.

POTATO, GOAT CHEESE AND CARAMELIZED ONION TATIN

Steps:

• To make the tatin, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch round gratin dish. Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter and 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cumin and cook until golden brown and soft, stirring from time to time, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in the skillet, add the potatoes and toss to coat. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and pepper. Layer the potatoes in the prepared dish. Bake until tender, about 40 minutes. Set aside for 15 minutes.
• Top the potatoes with the goat cheese and then the onion mixture. Place the pastry on a work surface and press out the seams. Cut out a 9-inch circle and pierce it all over with a fork. Place the pastry over the cheese.
• Meanwhile, to make the sauce, melt 2 teaspoons of the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Refrigerate the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Add the mushrooms, shallots, garlic, thyme, tarragon and basil and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the Madeira and dry red wine and simmer until reduced by half, about 6 minutes. Add the broth and simmer until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 20 minutes.
• Increase oven heat to 400 degrees. Bake the tatin until the pastry is brown, about 25 minutes. Meanwhile, bring the sauce to a simmer. Cut the butter into small pieces. Remove the pan from the heat and gradually whisk in the butter pieces. Remove the thyme sprig.
• To serve, run a small knife around the edge of the tatin to loosen. Invert onto a plate and cut into 4 wedges. Place 1 wedge on each of 4 plates and spoon some of the sauce around each one. Serve immediately.

SHALLOT TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Put the shallots in a large bowl and pour over boiling water to cover. Leave for 5 mins, then drain and peel. Cut the shallots in half (some will naturally break into two sections).
• Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan, add the shallots and fry gently for 10 mins, until they are softened and lightly browned. Stir in the vinegar, thyme and 1 tbsp water, then cook for a further 5 mins, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and tip into a non-stick shallow cake or pie tin, about 20cm across. Leave to cool.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Cut the pastry into two. Roll out each piece to about 5cm larger than the top of the cake tin. Put one piece of pastry over the shallots. Sprinkle evenly with cheese and cover with the second piece. Trim the edges of the pastry to a little larger than the tin, then tuck the edges of the pastry down the sides of the tin.
• Bake for 25-30 mins, until pastry is crisp and golden. Leave to cool in tin for 5 mins, turn out onto a flat plate, cut into wedges and serve warm.

SHALLOT TATIN

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pour boiling water over the shallots and leave them until the water cools. (This makes it easier to slip the skins off.) Peel and halve the shallots, then set aside. Put the sugar in a 23cm ovenproof frying pan and heat until it dissolves and you have a sticky caramel. Add the butter, thyme and a splash of balsamic vinegar or cracked black pepper - take care as it will spit.
• Remove the pan from the heat and put all the shallots into the pan, cut-side down. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry and cut out a round 2cm larger than the pan. Drape the pastry over the shallots and tuck in the edges, so that it 'hugs' the shallots. Place the pan in the oven and cook for 25-30 mins until the pastry is puffed up and golden. Leave to rest for 1 min, then invert the tart onto a plate. Serve with a punchy salad of rocket and goat's cheese.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Pour boiling water over the shallots and leave them until the water cools. (This makes it easier to slip the skins off.) Peel and halve the shallots, then set aside. Put the sugar in a 23cm ovenproof frying pan and heat until it dissolves and you have a sticky caramel. Add the butter, thyme and a splash of balsamic vinegar or cracked black pepper - take care as it will spit.
• Remove the pan from the heat and put all the shallots into the pan, cut-side down. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry and cut out a round 2cm larger than the pan. Drape the pastry over the shallots and tuck in the edges, so that it 'hugs' the shallots. Place the pan in the oven and cook for 25-30 mins until the pastry is puffed up and golden. Leave to rest for 1 min, then invert the tart onto a plate. Serve with a punchy salad of rocket and goat's cheese.