Irresistible Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts Recipe
Delight in the perfect blend of sweet, caramelized onions and tangy goat cheese nestled within flaky, buttery puff pastry. These elegant yet easy-to-make tarts are ideal for parties, appetizers, or a special treat paired with wine. With a few simple, fresh ingredients and straightforward steps, you’ll have a crowd-pleasing vegetarian dish that’s as impressive as it is irresistible.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 tarts 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed but still cold)
Caramelized Onions
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced (yellow or sweet)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- 4 oz goat cheese, crumbled
- Additional fresh thyme leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: Heat olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced onions along with sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook without stirring constantly, letting them sit for about 5 minutes between stirs. After 15 minutes, the onions will begin to turn a golden color. Stir in the balsamic vinegar and fresh thyme leaves, then cook for another 5 minutes until the onions are jammy and sweet. If the onions begin to stick, add a splash of water to deglaze the pan. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Assemble the Tarts: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled puff pastry sheet and cut it into 6 rectangles with rustic edges. Spread the caramelized onions evenly over each rectangle, leaving a border around the edges for puffing. Generously crumble goat cheese over the onions and sprinkle a little extra fresh thyme on top for a decorative touch.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place the prepared tarts on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until the puff pastry is golden brown and puffed, and the goat cheese is beginning to melt and brown slightly. Check every 2 minutes after 15 minutes to prevent burning. Remove from the oven and allow to cool briefly before serving.
Notes
- Pat the caramelized onions dry with paper towels before assembling to avoid soggy puff pastry.
- Chill the assembled tarts in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before baking to ensure extra flaky layers in the pastry.
- Fresh thyme significantly enhances the flavor; if using dried thyme, crush it between your fingers before adding.
- Spread onions right to the edges of the pastry for an even flavor distribution and attractive puffed borders.
Keywords: caramelized onion tarts, goat cheese tarts, puff pastry appetizer, easy party appetizers, vegetarian tarts, French appetizers