Description
This Ultimate Onion Tart is a savory and creamy delight featuring caramelized onions in a crisp shortcrust pastry base, combined with a rich custard of eggs, double cream, and vegetarian parmesan-style cheese. Perfect as a comforting lunch, dinner, or elegant appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 300g shortcrust pastry, thawed if frozen
Filling
- 25g butter
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 900g onions, halved and thinly sliced
- 2 medium eggs
- 300ml double cream
- 40g vegetarian parmesan-style cheese, grated
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare pastry: Heat your oven to 190°C (fan 170°C/gas mark 5). Roll out the shortcrust pastry on a lightly floured surface and line a deep 23cm fluted flan tin with it. Line the pastry with baking paper and fill with baking beans for blind baking.
- Bake the blind pastry: Bake the pastry case in the preheated oven for 15 minutes to set the base without the filling.
- Cook the onions: While the pastry bakes, heat butter and olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the sliced onions, cover, and gently fry for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onions are completely softened but still pale, avoiding browning.
- Prepare the custard mixture: In a bowl, beat together the eggs and double cream until combined. Stir in the grated vegetarian parmesan-style cheese along with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Combine and fill: Stir the softened onions into the custard mixture, then spoon this filling evenly into the pre-baked pastry case.
- Bake the tart: Return the tart to the oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the filling is lightly set and the top is golden brown.
- Cool and serve: Allow the tart to cool slightly before slicing and serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Use vegetarian parmesan-style cheese to keep the tart vegetarian-friendly.
- To prevent the onions from browning, fry them covered and stir occasionally for even cooking.
- Blind baking the pastry prevents a soggy base once the filling is added.
- This tart can be enjoyed warm or cold and pairs well with a simple green salad.
- If you prefer a crisper bottom, increase blind baking time by a few minutes but watch closely to avoid overbaking.
- Double cream can be substituted with single cream for a lighter version, though the filling may be less rich.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
- Category: Savory Tart
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: onion tart, savory tart, vegetarian tart, shortcrust pastry, caramelized onions, vegetarian parmesan cheese, British recipe
