Sweet Potato Galette With Balsamic Caramelized Onions And Goat Cheese Food

SWEET POTATO GRATIN WITH CARMELIZED ONION AND PARMESAN CHEESE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Oil a 8" x 8" baking dish. In a skillet, heat butter and add onions and garlic on low heat and cook for 15 minutes. Place 1 layer of sliced potatoes overlapping slightly, 1 layer of onions, drizzle cream and sprinkle with parsley, and 1/4 cup of parmesan. Continue to make layers until the dish is filled. Sprinkle remaining parmesan to top layer. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes and then uncover and continue baking for another 25 minutes until potatoes are tender and top is brown. Let it rest for 15 minutes. Additional Notes: Substitute parmesan with goat cheese.

SWEET POTATO GALETTE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor to mix. While pulsing, drop the butter through the feed tube. Continue pulsing, scraping the bowl occasionally, until the mixture looks like coarse meal dotted with small and large chunks. Add water a little at a time, mixing in short and longer pulses between additions, until bumpy curds form. They should hold together when pinched. Press the dough into a ball, then flatten into a disk and place between parchment paper.
• Roll the dough into a circle a bit larger than 11 inches in diameter, then trim to 11 inches; prick all over with a fork. Refrigerate between parchment on a baking sheet for at least 2 hours (or freeze for 1 hour).
• Center a rack in the oven and heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Cover the chilled crust (still between parchment on the baking sheet) with another baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, remove the top baking sheet and parchment paper and bake for another 8 minutes or so, until lightly golden. Set aside. (You can make this up to 8 hours ahead.)
• Make the galette: In a medium bowl, with a flexible spatula, beat together the cream cheese, Parmesan, milk, 2 teaspoons maple syrup, 1 teaspoon chile powder and the salt. Taste and add more chile, if you'd like. (It will get hotter when it bakes.) Cut the potato and the apple into very thin rounds using a mandoline or sharp knife.
• While you don't want the cheese mixture to completely cover the crust, you do want the potato and apple slices to go right to the edge of the crust, so spread the cheese mixture over the crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Then, cover the entire crust with the potato and apple slices in slightly overlapping concentric circles. (You may have some slices left.) Mix together the remaining 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, the oil and 1/4 teaspoon chile powder. Brush this mixture over the galette (just gloss the top - you might not need all of the mixture). Sprinkle with Parmesan and pecans, if using.
• Bake for about 20 minutes, or until the potatoes are softened and cooked through (test with the point of a knife). Scatter with chives, if using, and let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. The galette is also good warm or at room temperature.

CARAMELIZED ONIONS (INA GARTEN BAREFOOT CONTESSA)

Steps:

• Heat olive oil and butter in a large shallow pot, add onions and thyme and toss with the oil.
• Place the lid on top and cook over medium low heat for about 10 minutes to sweat the onions. Remove the lid and continue to cook over medium low heat, stirring occasionally for 25 to 30 minutes, until t he onions are caramlized and golden brown. This could take much longer than 30 minutes, if your stove top is on a very low setting. If the onions are cooking too fast, lower the heat. Don't rush the process. It is worth the wait.
• Add the sherry wine vinegar, salt and pepper and cook for 2 more minutes, scraping the brown bits from the pan. Season to taste. They should be highly seasoned.

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.