The cornmeal in the crust adds a nutty crunch and complements the smoky, salty bacon and fresh goat cheese. The tart makes a perfect light lunch or supper, with a green salad.–Melissa Pasanen
WHAT IS THE BEST PAN FOR CARAMELIZING ONIONS?
If you’ve never caramelized onions before, you might have some trepidation and think that using a non-stick skillet will safeguard all that work. And it will–caramelized onions take a lot of time, patience, and stirring. So much stirring.
But here’s the thing about caramelized onions…you want a little bit to stick to the pan. Cast-iron or stainless pans will help you to develop fond, the thing that gives your onions that depth and color that makes them what they are. The little bits that stick to the pan (the fond) won’t develop in non-stick. You’ll still get a close approximation but trust us, you’ll want the flavor that will only occur with cast-iron or stainless.
Bacon and Goat Cheese Tart
Ingredients
For the crust
- 1 stick (4 oz) unsalted butter, cold
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup yellow or white cornmeal, preferably stone-ground
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 3 ounces cream cheese, cold and cut into 4 chunks
- 2 to 3 tablespoons ice water
For the filling
- 8 slices (about 1/2 pound) thick-cut bacon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 pounds (about 4 large) onions, thinly sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- 3/4 cup crumbled fresh goat cheese
- Milk, for brushing the crust
Instructions
Make the crust
- Cut the butter into small cubes and freeze for at least 15 minutes.
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade, blend the flour, cornmeal, and salt. Add the cream cheese and process for about 20 seconds, or until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the butter and pulse until no butter is larger than the size of a pea. Add the ice water and process for about 30 seconds, or until a pinch of the dough holds together. If it doesn't, add more water, a teaspoon at a time.
- Dump the dough out onto a lightly floured counter. Knead just until it holds together in one piece. Shape the dough into a flat disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. (If you chill it much longer, give it time to warm up a little before rolling it out.)
Make the filling
- While the dough is chilling, cook the bacon in a sauté pan or skillet until it is about halfway cooked. Remove the bacon to a plate lined with a paper towel and set it aside.
- Discard all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat. Put the pan with the remaining bacon fat back over medium heat. Add the olive oil and then the sliced onions and salt. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the onions slowly, stirring occasionally, until they are deep golden brown and caramelized, 35 to 45 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) with a rack in the second-lowest position. On a nonstick baking mat or piece of parchment paper, roll the chilled dough into a rough circle about 1/8 inch thick and 14 to 16 inches in diameter. (The edges don't have to be smooth and neat.) Lift the baking mat with the crust onto a cookie sheet.
- Spread the caramelized onions over the crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edge. Coarsely chop the bacon and sprinkle it evenly over the onions, followed by the thyme leaves, and finally the goat cheese. Fold the edges of the crust over the filling, pleating the edges as necessary. Brush the crust with milk.
- Bake the tart for about 30 to 35 minutes, until the crust is golden. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.
Notes
Bacon and Goat Cheese Tart Variation
The onion and bacon base also works well with cooked diced beets, raw diced apple, or blue cheese. Or substitute diced ham for the bacon and add lightly steamed or microwaved cubes of butternut squash or pumpkin, and goat cheese. Skip the bacon for a vegetarian tart.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Testers’ Reviews
This tart got an overwhelming “Wow,” even from me! It may be the cream cheese, but this was one of the nicest tart doughs to work with and I appreciate the tip to roll it out onto the baking mat and just place the whole thing onto the baking sheet (way easier than transferring dough from the counter to the baking sheet).
Bacon, of course, makes everything better and it just rounded out the onions and goat cheese. The crust became flaky but also smooth, with that occasional cornmeal crunch. It’s such a simple idea, but it looks great coming out of the oven, tastes wonderful, and is so versatile. We ate it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and it never seemed out of place.
For something so simple, this dish is a true pleaser. Bright, rich flavors complemented each other nicely. I felt like I should be sitting in a pub somewhere in the UK. This, with the recommended salad, makes a wonderful lunchtime meal. I was even able to lightly warm it up the following day without ill effects.
I’ve been making a nearly identical tart for some time, but I was intrigued by the crust. It came together beautifully and, overall, the tart was well received, but I’m not sure how much the cornmeal actually added. I think, in the future, I’d try increasing the cornmeal amount.
The flavor combination was spot on—I’ve not added thyme to my onion tarts before, and I intend to use it consistently in the future. This isn’t the most original recipe, for sure, but for a fun, simple lunch (with a green salad), this tart is hard to beat.
Okay, who doesn’t like caramelized onions, bacon, and goat cheese? Put these together and you’ve got a party in your mouth. This was even more amazing than I imagined. The crust had a nice crunch from the cornmeal, the bacon added the salt, the caramelized onions the sweet, and the goat cheese the tangy.
I sprinkled some fleur de sel over my slice after taking a bite and feeling like it needed a little more seasoning. That’s the way to go, rather than adding more salt in the cooking process. It was truly delicious. I could have eaten the whole thing in one sitting. And for once, it looked exactly like the picture! This is one recipe I will definitely make for guests.
Just what I expected. Salty, savory, rich, and flaky all at once. The pastry was particularly easy to put together and it handled beautifully. It was a great brunch dish, with a little salad on the side. I may fiddle with the proportions a bit next time— more cheese, less bacon—but this will definitely be on the menu again soon.
Very good! I appreciate that the time for the onions was realistic. It takes time to caramelize! The crunch of the cornmeal in the crust was great. I served it with arugula dressed with lemon and olive oil.
Thanks!
What a fabulous menu, Carlin! Thank you for writing to us!
Two questions … can this be made ahead and do you think it would pair well with champagne?
tc, how far ahead are you considering? You don’t want it to get soggy. As far as Champagne, I’m the wrong person to ask. I think everything goes with it! I’d certainly pair them.
Thanks, David. I’m hosting a champagne paired menu next month and am thinking of serving this after the cheese and 3 types of prosciutto course. I’ll prep everything early in the day then assemble and throw in the oven prior to serving.
Do let me know how it goes, tc.
Hi David, can you freeze the pastry I always like to make extra? By the way, love your recipes…Ciao from Sydney, Australia.
Bruna, you absolutely can freeze the pastry tightly wrapped in plastic. (I always wrap that in foil to give it extra protection.) The night before you plant to bake, pop the pastry into the fridge to let it defrost.