Oh, hallo there, Fall. You bittersweet time of year with your clear blue skies, brisk breezes, dancing sunshine, leaves of crimson, amber, and gold. So beautiful, crisp and cozy and so undeniably the last gasp before Winter sets in... Have I mentioned that I do not care for the cold?
But you do bring the most delectable apples, and my feelings about them, at least, are entirely positive.
Here's a super simple, easy way of enjoying the season's apples that is a sure crowd pleaser and picky-eater teaser and looks really fancy and involved.
The secret is to use frozen puff pastry dough. Of course, you can make your own pastry dough if you've got time to kill and two hands free at the same time (not so here these days)and it's possible that it might taste even better but I can't offer you any guarantees on that.
I've had great results with DuFour's puff pastry. And apparently, it's some of the best money can buy... but I think it'd be tasty with any puff pastry -- there's a lot of butter in puff pastry so it is inherently yummy, no matter what brand you use. Just don't forget to leave time for it to defrost (a mistake I've definitely made...)
Use a crisp, sweet-tart apple - Macoun, Mutsu, Cortland, Northern Spy, Granny Smith - there are a million good varieties available at this time of year, at least there are here in New York, the apple bin of the country.
Do not skimp on the onions as they provide such delicious sweet flavor. And I am always amazed by the degree to which they reduce during the caramelization... Lotsa fresh herbs give it a pleasant hint of freshness amidst all that wonderfully melty cheese and buttery pastry.
Pine nuts provide some hearty crunch and a lovely toasted flavor while you chew. And salt and pepper do their part by bringing the whole flavor combo up yet another notch.
Enjoy!
Easy Apple Cheddar Tart With Caramelized Onions & Pine Nuts
Makes one tart
Ingredients
* 1 sheet puff pastry, defrosted
* 2 medium or 1 large apple, cored and sliced (not too thick - you want to avoid too much weight or liquid as it will make the pastry soggy)
* 2-3 branches fresh thyme, chopped
* Handful of fresh basil and/or oregano, chopped
* 1 cup grated cheddar cheese (you could also use goat or gruyère cheese)
* 1 large onion, sliced
* Extra-virgin olive oil
* Freshly ground black pepper
* Sea salt
* Handful of pine nuts
Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. While you're waiting for the pastry to defrost, sautée the onions in a frying pan in olive oil until translucent.
2. Lay the sheet of puff pastry out on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Prick the dough inside the border all over with the tines of a fork to prevent it from puffing up too much during baking.
3. Spread a layer of cheddar (or whichever cheese you choose) on the pastry. Top with the onions, then arrange the apple slices on the pastry in a single layer (crowding or overlapping them could make the puff pastry soggy). Scatter the fresh herbs and pine nuts over the apples. Drizzle the tart with some olive oil and season with salt and pepper. If using gruyère, reserve a little cheese to sprinkle over the top.
4. Bake the tart until the pastry is crisp and deeply browned on the bottom and around the edges, 30-40 minutes.
Serves 4-6 as an appetizer or 2-3 as a main course.
You might also like:
- Apple Crisp
- Tomato Tart, Two Ways
- Winter Veggie Pie With Roasted Beets & Goat Cheese
- Leek & Goat Cheese Gallette
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5 comments:
I made this for a baby shower yesterday. It was a HUGE hit. I think this is my new go-to impressive yet easy dish to bring to holidays and events. :-)
So glad to hear it!
I really enjoy making this recipe; however, I'm not sure at which point to add the pine nuts. While you list them as one of the ingredients you make no mention of them in the instructions...
I love this recipe; however, you list pine nuts in your ingredients but make no mention of them in your directions...
Hi Kat,
thanks for pointing that out! I've fixed that omission - you just sprinkle them on along with the rest of the ingredients before baking.
Best,
Eve
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