Embark on a culinary journey to the heart of Alsace, France, with the iconic Tarte Flambée, also known as Flammekueche. This savory tart boasts a crispy, paper-thin dough topped with a delectable medley of ingredients. Savor the smoky flavor of bacon, the aromatic sweetness of onions, and the velvety richness of crème fraîche, all harmoniously bound together by a hint of garlic and herbs. In this comprehensive guide, we present two variations of this Alsatian specialty: the classic Tarte Flambée and a vegetarian version featuring caramelized onions and tangy goat cheese. Prepare to tantalize your taste buds with this exquisite dish that promises a delightful fusion of flavors and textures.
Here are our top 4 tried and tested recipes!
TARTE FLAMBEE
Provided by Anne Burrell
Categories main-dish
Time 2h30m
Yield 4 flatbreads
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- For the dough: Activate the yeast by combining the lukewarm water, yeast and sugar. Stir together and let sit until the mixture becomes frothy and foamy and smells very yeasty, about 10 minutes.
- Put the flour in a mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Add the olive oil, salt and the activated yeast mixture. Stir until the dough comes together and forms a ball.
- Dust a clean work surface with flour and knead the dough until it is tight and firm, 5 to 7 minutes. Place the dough back in the mixing bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
- For the topping: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place the bacon in a large, wide pan and give it a couple drops of olive oil. Bring the pan to a medium heat and cook the bacon until it is brown and crispy. Remove the bacon from the pan and reserve on paper towels.
- Add the onions to the pan, season with salt, cover and cook until the onions have wilted and are very soft, about 10 minutes. Remove the lid and cook the onions until they are very soft and caramelized. This will take awhile, maybe up to 45 minutes. Stir the onions occasionally paying attention not to let them burn, but don't rush it! When the onions are really brown and sweet, remove them from the heat and reserve.
- Combine the creme fraiche and fromage blanc.
- Divide the dough into 4 even balls and roll them out until they are 1/8 to 1/16-inch thick. Place them on a sheet tray and bake them in the oven for 4 minutes.
- Remove the dough from the oven. Schmear each dough evenly with the cheese mixture, place an even layer of the caramelized onions on the cheese and sprinkle the bacon on top of the onions.
- Return the dough to the oven until the dough is crisp on the bottom and the toppings are bubbly, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with chives and serve.
BACON, ONION AND CHEESE TART
This is my take on a traditional French tarte flambee, made on a crispy crust and topped with fromage blanc, bacon and onions.
Provided by Geoffrey Zakarian
Time 1h5m
Yield two 13-by-9-inch tarts
Number Of Ingredients 11
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.
TARTE FLAMBéE
Traditionally, this onion and bacon tart was a baker's treat made from dough scraps leftover from bread baking. The scraps were rolled out, topped with raw onion, bacon and fromage blanc (a soft, yogurtlike cheese) and baked until the dough puffed and the onions singed at the edges. Now you're as likely to find this savory tart at a restaurant or coming straight from someone's kitchen as at a bakery. This version, adapted from the chef Gabriel Kreuther, uses a biscuitlike crust made with baking powder instead of the usual yeasted dough. Since you don't have to let the dough rise, you can have a tarte flambée on the table in under 45 minutes. Serve this as an appetizer, a light main course, or for an unusual brunch offering. This recipe is part of The New Essentials of French Cooking, a guide to definitive dishes every modern cook should master. Buy the book.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories dinner, lunch, pies and tarts, main course, side dish
Time 40m
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- If you have a pizza stone, place it on the middle rack of your oven, top with a baking sheet, and heat the oven to 425 degrees. (If you don't have a stone, just place the baking sheet on the oven rack).
- In a medium bowl, combine crème fraîche, fromage blanc, nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the pepper. Set aside while you make the dough.
- In a separate medium bowl, whisk to combine flour, baking powder and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a small bowl, whisk to combine olive oil, egg yolk and 1/4 cup water. Add to dry ingredients and use a fork to combine until it creates a shaggy dough.
- Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and knead for 1 minute, until the dough is uniform and elastic. (Flour your hands as necessary to keep the dough from sticking.) Roll out to a 12-inch round, then transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet without a rim (or use an overturned rimmed baking pan).
- Spread fromage blanc mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border along the edges. Sprinkle bacon and onions over fromage blanc. Slide tart, still on parchment paper, off baking sheet and directly onto baking sheet in oven.
- Bake until top is beginning to brown, and sides are golden and crispy, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven and slide off parchment paper to serving platter. Serve warm.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 131, UnsaturatedFat 4 grams, Carbohydrate 12 grams, Fat 7 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 141 milligrams, Sugar 1 gram, TransFat 0 grams
ALSACE ONION TART
For decades, the restaurant Lutèce-with chef André Soltner behind the stove-was the pinnacle of French cuisine in New York City. Soltner's Alsace onion tart, one of the best we've ever tasted, was the inspiration for this version.
Categories Egg Onion Appetizer Bake Dinner Lunch Bacon Spring Party Gourmet Peanut Free Tree Nut Free Soy Free No Sugar Added
Yield Makes 6 main-course or 10 first-course servings
Number Of Ingredients 19
Steps:
- Make pastry:
- Blend together flour, butter, shortening, and salt in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with some small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Drizzle evenly with 4 tablespoons ice water and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in processor) until incorporated.
- Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until just incorporated, then test again. (Do not overwork mixture, or pastry will be tough.)
- Turn out mixture onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 6 equal portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion. Gather dough together with pastry scraper and press into a ball, then flatten into a disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.
- Roll out dough on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 14-inch round and fit into tart pan. Trim excess dough, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang, then fold overhang over pastry and press against side to reinforce edge. Lightly prick bottom with a fork and chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 400°F.
- Line chilled shell with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake until pastry is set and pale golden along rim, 15 to 20 minutes. Carefully remove foil and weights and bake shell until golden all over, 10 to 15 minutes more. Transfer shell to a rack. (Leave oven on.)
- Prepare filling while shell bakes:
- Cook bacon in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer bacon with a slotted spatula to paper towels to drain and pour off bacon fat. Add butter to skillet and cook onions with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper over moderate heat, stirring, until just wilted, about 2 minutes. Cover surface of onions with a round of parchment or wax paper (or cover skillet with a tight-fitting lid) and continue to cook, lifting parchment to stir frequently, until onions are very soft and pale golden, about 20 minutes. Stir in bacon, then remove from heat and cool 10 minutes.
- Whisk together crème fraîche, eggs, nutmeg, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl, then stir in onions.
- Fill and bake tart:
- Pour filling into tart shell, spreading onions evenly, and bake until filling is set and top is golden, 25 to 35 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips:
- For the best results, use a thin, crispy bread dough. You can use a store-bought dough or make your own.
- Be sure to slice the onions thinly and evenly. This will help them cook evenly.
- Don't overcrowd the pan when cooking the onions. This will help them caramelize properly.
- Use a good quality bacon. Thick-cut bacon is best.
- Don't overcook the bacon. You want it to be crispy, but not burnt.
- Use a sharp knife to slice the cheese. This will help prevent it from tearing.
- Serve the tarte flambée immediately after it is baked. It is best when it is hot and crispy.
Conclusion:
Tarte flambée is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a quick and easy meal. It is also a great way to use up leftover bread dough and bacon. With its crispy crust, caramelized onions, and smoky bacon, tarte flambée is sure to be a hit with everyone at your table.
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