It's the perfect time to get into the kitchen, and learn about a completely new cuisine! Last time, we shared a recipe for French cheese appetisers, Gougères. This time, we're making Roquefort cheese and caramelised onion tart.
The king of cheese- Roquefort is a type of pungent blue cheese from the South-West of France. Wines from Sauternes in south-western Bordeaux go very well with the blue cheese that has a rather peppery finish to it.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 layer pastry dough
• 3 medium onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup Roquefort cheese, crumbled
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup half and half
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
PROCEDURE
- Preheat the oven to 190.5°C.
- Roll out and line the pastry into a deep-dish pie pan. Line the pastry with parchment paper, fill it with dry beans and then bake it for 15 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes. Remove and place the beans to one side to store and use again once cooled.
- In a large skillet set over low heat, melt the butter and cook the onions in it for 20 minutes, until they're tender but not brown. Take care to make sure they do not burn. Turn the heat up to medium-high and sprinkle the sugar over the onions. Sauté the onions and sugar until the mixture turns golden brown. Remove the onions from the pan and leave to cool slightly.
- Layer the caramelised onions and crumbled Roquefort cheese onto the bottom layer of the pastry. Beat together the eggs, half and half, thyme, salt, and pepper (be careful not to use too much dried herb or it will overpower the dish).
- Pour the egg mixture over the onions and cheese. Bake the tart for 35-40 minutes, until the eggs are set in the middle. Cool slightly and serve.
Source of the recipe: The Spruce Eats (External link)
Written by: Rebecca Franklin