Vidalia Onion Tart Food

VIDALIA ONION TART WITH BACON, LOCAL HONEY, AND FRESH THYME

Steps:

• To prepare the pastry, pulse together the flour, butter, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a plastic blade until the butter is about the size of small peas-about ten pulses. Gradually, drizzle in the ice water while pulsing. The amount needed will depend on the moisture content of the flour. Add just enough water for the dough to form a loose ball. Turn the pastry out onto a lightly floured surface and quickly form the dough into a 1-inch-thick disk. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes (or up to three days) to rest. Preheat oven to 375 degrees about 20 minutes before you're planning to bake the tart.
• Meanwhile, prepare the filling. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the bacon in a single layer and cook, turning as needed, until the bacon is crispy and the fat has been rendered. Remove the bacon to drain on paper towels to cool, chopping coarsely once cool enough to handle. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat (discarding the rest or using for another purpose) in the pan and reduce the heat to medium. Add the onions, salt, pepper, and thyme. Cook over medium heat until the onions have softened, stirring frequently, about 15 minutes. Do not let the onions brown!
• Add the wine and increase the heat to medium-high. Cook until the wine has cooked down to a glaze, about 3 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the honey and reserved chopped bacon. Stir and cook 5 minutes more. Remove the onion mixture from the heat and spoon into a shallow pan; refrigerate to cool. When cooled, drain off any excess pan juices and stir in the egg and cream. Adjust seasonings as needed.
• To assemble, roll the reserved dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Line the pan(s) with the pastry and form even edges. Refrigerate another 10 minutes, then line the pastry with parchment paper and fill with pie weights. Bake 20 to 25 minutes, or until lightly browned. Remove the paper and weights and bake another 15 to 20 minutes to brown the bottom. Allow to cool slightly before filling. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees. Fill the pastry crust with the onion mixture and bake until golden brown and the filling is set, about 35 minutes.

VIDALIA ONION SWEET TART

Steps:

• Place pie crust in 9-inch glass pie pan. Prick bottom and sides with fork and bake as directed for 5 minutes. Cool.
• Lightly saute onion in olive oil 2 to 3 minutes; salt and pepper as desired. Place onions in bottom of crust, top with cheeses; place tomatoes on cheese in circular pattern around edge and middle of dish. Cover with chopped green onion tops. Lightly sprinkle bread crumbs and drizzle with melted margarine.
• Bake 20 minutes at 400 degrees. Allow to cool before slicing and serving.

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 PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: All ingredients should be cold. Combine all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Add shortening and butter. Using a pastry blender cut in the shortening and butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Drop by drop, add cold water. Mix in with the fingertips, not with the hands as the palms will warm the dough. Continue mixing water in until the dough begins to hold together without being sticky but not crumbly. Place dough in plastic wrap. Fold over plastic wrap and press down to form a disk. This will make rolling out easier after chilling. Finish wrapping in plastic and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Lightly spray a deep 9-inch pie pan or an 8 1/2-inch fluted flan pan. Roll out dough and place in pie plate. Return to the refrigerator until filling is ready. Makes pastry for a 9-inch single crust pie.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
• For the filling: Brush egg wash on the inside of pie crust. Return to refrigerator until filling is ready. Over medium heat, melt butter. Add onions and saute until translucent. Do not brown. Combine eggs, sour cream and flour. Add onion mixture. Season with salt and pepper and pour into chilled pie crust. Top with Parmesan. Bake for 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F for the last 20 minutes or until center is set.

VIDALIA ONION, PORCINI MUSHROOM AND ARUGULA TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400°F Heat the oil and butter in a medium-size saucepan over medium-low heat.
• Add the onions and turn the heat to medium-high, then cook until they begin to caramelize and turn brown, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Add the garlic and stir for 10 seconds, then add the porcini mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes.
• Add the thyme, Sherry, cheese, lemon juice, lemon zest and nutmeg. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the vinegar and remove from the heat.
• Place the arugula in a medium-size bowl and pour the mixture over it. Season with salt and pepper, and add the parsley. Stir to combine.
• Place the puff pastry sheets on baking sheets (there is no need to roll them out). Pierce the pastry sheets with the tines of a fork, then brush the tops with a beaten egg. Parbake the puff pastry for 13 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and distribute the filling evenly over the pastry sheets. Sprinkle a bit of cheese and season with a little black pepper.
• Bake for 6 minutes. Remove from the oven, let cook, and serve at room temperature.

VIDALIA ONION AND GOAT CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Sauté sliced onion in 2 T butter and 2 T oil until softened and caramelized.
• Place in bottom on pie shell.
• Sauté chopped onion in 1 T butter and 1 T oil until softened and caramelized. Allow to cool and place in blender.
• Combine remaining ingredients in blender. Pour over sauteed sliced onions.
• Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes until golden and puffy.
• Bake any excess filling in small greased soufflé dish along with tart.

VIDALIA ONION, KALE, AND SWISS TART

Steps:

• Roll out crust, fit into glass or ceramic quiche or pie pan. Leave enough "overhang" to crimp attractively. Place in fridge to chill.
• Melt butter in heavy skillet, add onions, and cook until nicely browned and very soft, almost caramelized. Add kale and cook until just wilted. Add salt and nutmeg to taste.
• Cool slightly. Add cream and eggs, mix well. Put cheese in bottom of crust, pour onion mixture over, and bake at 400 until puffed and golden.
• Delicious served warm or cold!

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.