Vidalia Onion Tart With Bacon Local Honey And Fresh Thyme Recipe Epicuriouscom Food

HONEY-ROASTED ONION TART

Steps:

• Position rack in top third of oven and preheat to 375°F. Using lightly floured rolling pin, roll out puff pastry on lightly floured surface to 14x10-inch rectangle. Fold 1/2 inch of pastry edges in toward center on all sides, forming 13 x 9-inch rectangle. Transfer pastry to large rimmed baking sheet. Press firmly on pastry edges with fork to form rim. Chill crust.
• Cook bacon in small skillet over medium heat until brown and crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Reserve 1 tablespoon bacon drippings from skillet.
• Whisk honey, wine, and reserved 1 tablespoon bacon drippings in large bowl. Add onions; toss to coat. Coat another large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Spread onion mixture in even layer on sheet. Roast 30 minutes. Turn onions over, allowing rings to separate. Roast until onions are caramelized, turning often for even browning, 30 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven; cool onions slightly.
• Increase oven temperature to 400°F. Mix crème fraîche, sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and nutmeg in small bowl. Using offset spatula, spread crème fraîche over crust to folded edge. Arrange onions atop crème fraîche. Sprinkle with bacon. bake tart until crust is light golden brown and topping is bubbling, 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with thyme and serve.

GRILLED VIDALIA ONIONS WITH BACON BUTTER

Steps:

• Preheat grill to medium heat.
• Cut onion top and "backtail" so onion can sit flat. Peel the onion. Using a parking knife cut a hollow cone-like shape into the center of the onion making sure not to go all the way to the bottom. Salt and pepper to the cavity. Place onions on individual squares of heavy duty aluminum foil.
• Add the butter, bacon, blue cheese, and thyme to a bowl and mix until well combined. Add large dollops of the butter to each cavity of the onions. Fold the aluminum foil all around the onion, gathering at the top and sealing to create a tent.
• Place on the grill over direct heat and cover the grill. Cook for 30 minutes until onions are soft. Let cool for 5 minutes before opening the foil packet and serving.

FRIED VIDALIA ONION

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F.
• Whisk together the egg and the milk in a medium sized bowl.
• In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt, peppers, oregano, thyme, and cumin.
• Slice 1/2-an inch off the top of the onion and the bottom of the onion. Slice the onion in half, about 3/4-of the way down without slicing all the way through. Slice into quarters, then into 1/8s. Repeat this until you have cut the onion into 14 sections. Spread the "petals" of the onion apart and dip the onion in the milk mixture. Then coat it liberally with the dry ingredients. Separate the "petals" and sprinkle the dry coating between them.
• Place the battered onion in the hot oil and fry until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray and season with salt and pepper.
• In a small bowl, combine ingredients and whisk together. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve with Fried Vidalia Onion.

BACON, ONION AND CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
• In a medium saute pan, cook the bacon over a medium-low heat until it begins to render, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the onions and cook until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Season with pepper. Set aside to let cool. Add the thyme to the cooled bacon-onion mixture.
• In a bowl, combine the farmer's cheese, creme fraiche, egg yolk and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
• Flour a flat surface and place the puff pastry on top. Flour the top and gently roll into a 13-by-18-inch rectangle. Cut the pastry in half and transfer each to a lined sheet pan. Using a fork, dock the puff pastry (pierce it slightly with the tines), leaving a 1-inch border untouched.
• Divide the cheese mixture between the two sheets of pastry and spread evenly on the docked area. Top each tart with half of the bacon-onion mixture.
• Place the tarts in the oven on the lower racks and bake, rotating halfway through, until the crusts are dark golden, about 25 minutes. Garnish with the pecorino and chives.

VIDALIA ONION TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C.)
• In a large heavy skillet, saute butter and diced Vidalia onion. Cook until lightly caramelized. Remove from heat and whisk in sour cream. Slowly whisk in evaporated milk. Whisk in dry soup mix until completely incorporated. Whisk in eggs. Mix in the shredded cheese until blended. Spoon mixture into an unbaked pastry. Place pie on a cookie sheet and place into oven.
• Bake in preheated oven 40 to 45 minutes; or until a knife inserted comes out clean. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes.

VIDALIA ONION TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Line a pie plate with pastry.
• Prebake for 10 minutes.
• Arrange half the onions in the pie shell and top with half the cheese.
• Add a second layer of onions and cheese, sprinkle with salt and pepper, drizzle the cream over top.
• Bake for 25 minutes or until top is lightly golden browned.
• Remove and let stand for 10 minutes.

VIDALIA ONION CONFIT WITH GARLIC TOASTS

Steps:

• Position an oven rack 4 inches below the broiler element and preheat the broiler. To make the toasts, arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and brush on one side with some of the olive oil. Broil until brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the toasts and broil the other side. Remove the toasts from the oven and while warm, rub one side of each toast with the cut surfaces of the garlic clove. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• To make the confit, heat the butter and remaining olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and sugar, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Increase the heat to medium-high. Add the wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until the wine is reduced and the onions are a deep golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Add the thyme; taste and adjust for seasoning with salt and pepper.
• To serve, place the reserved toasts on a large serving platter and top each piece with a spoonful of confit. Garnish each with a sprig of thyme.
• making ahead
• The toasts can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored at room temperature in an airtight container. The confit can also be made ahead and will actually improve as the flavors marry. Refrigerate the confit in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• storing onions
• Onions need circulating air to stay fresh. Vidalia onions are particularly tricky due to their high sugar content. One of the best ways to store Vidalia onions is in the cut-off legs of pantyhose: drop an onion down the leg, tie a knot, and repeat. Hang the onion-filled hose from a hook in a cool, dry place. They will keep for months. Alternatively, wrap them separately in paper towels and refrigerate.

VIDALIA ONION TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Melt butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet with an ovenproof handle; sprinkle with sugar, and remove from heat.
• Cut 6 of the onions in half crosswise, and fit them snugly into the pan, cut sides down. (Cut more onions if necessary to cover pan.) Cut leeks into lengths about the same height as the onion halves, and fit them into spaces near center of the pan. Sprinkle with half the thyme leaves; add salt and pepper to taste.
• Slice remaining onions 1/4 inch thick, and arrange over onion halves. Sprinkle with remaining thyme; season with salt and pepper.
• Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, and continue cooking for another 5 minutes, or until onions are a deep golden brown on the cut side. Shake pan gently from time to time and rotate its position on the burner to ensure even browning.
• Pour stock and vinegar over onions; bring to a simmer, cover, and cook over low heat for 25 minutes, or until onions are very tender. Remove lid, raise heat, and cook until liquid is syrupy and almost completely reduced. Remove from heat; let cool slightly.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry 3/8 inch thick to a diameter slightly larger than pan. Wrap dough around rolling pin; unroll over pan. Tuck in excess.
• Place pan in oven, and bake until pastry is golden brown and juices are bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a serving plate. Serve warm, garnished with fresh thyme.