Description
A decadent French Onion Tarte Tatin featuring slowly caramelized onions with thyme and balsamic vinegar, topped with golden puff pastry baked to perfection. This savory upside-down tart offers a perfect balance of sweet, tangy, and buttery flavors, ideal for a stunning appetizer or light meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Caramelized Onions
- 3 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- 1/2 cup white wine (or vegetable broth for a non-alcoholic version)
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp water (for deglazing)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Puff Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry (store-bought or homemade)
Garnish
- Fresh thyme sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the tart.
- Caramelize Onions: Heat olive oil and butter in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and cook while stirring occasionally for about 20 minutes until they soften and start to caramelize.
- Add Sugar and Thyme: Stir in the brown sugar and thyme, then continue cooking the onions for another 5-10 minutes until they achieve a deep caramel color.
- Deglaze and Reduce: Pour in the white wine, balsamic vinegar, and water, scraping up any browned bits on the pan bottom. Cook for several more minutes until the liquid reduces by half and the onions are tender and well caramelized. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
- Prepare Puff Pastry: Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut it into a circle slightly larger than the skillet diameter to ensure it covers the onions fully.
- Assemble Tart: Carefully drape the puff pastry over the caramelized onions in the skillet, tucking the edges down around the onions inside the pan.
- Bake the Tart: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is golden brown, puffed, and cooked through.
- Invert and Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Then carefully invert the skillet onto a serving plate so that the caramelized onions sit on top of the puff pastry as a beautiful presentation.
- Garnish: Optionally, garnish with fresh thyme sprigs for an herby finish. Serve warm and enjoy this flavorful French classic.
Notes
- If you prefer a non-alcoholic version, substitute white wine with vegetable broth.
- Make sure to use an oven-safe skillet to avoid transferring onions to another dish for baking.
- The tart is best served warm to enjoy the puff pastry’s crispiness and the rich sweetness of caramelized onions.
- Fresh thyme garnish enhances flavor but can be left out if unavailable.
- Leftovers can be reheated gently in the oven to retain flakiness.
