Shallot Tarte Tatin

This savory twist on a sweet favorite is made by swapping shallots for the classically used apples. This version takes away most of the sweet but leaves all of the flavor, and serves as a pretty darn beautiful side dish.
By / Photography By | August 24, 2015

Ingredients

  • 1 pound shallots (about 24)
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • All-purpose flour, for dusting
  • 1 sheet good-quality puff pastry, thawed if frozen

Instructions

Heat oven to 375°. Place shallots in a bowl and cover with boiling water. Let them sit for 10 minutes to allow them to soften and to make peeling easier. Peel and halve shallots and set aside. Heat sugar in a large cast-iron or ovenproof skillet over medium heat and cook, swirling the pan occasionally, until it dissolves into a sticky caramel. Swirl in the butter, thyme, a splash of balsamic vinegar and a pinch of black pepper—take care, as the mixture will spit.

Remove the pan from the heat and put all the shallots into the pan, cut side down. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry and cut out a round 1 inch larger than the pan. Drape the pastry over the shallots and tuck in the edges, so that it ‘hugs’ the shallots. Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Set pan aside to cool for a few minutes, then invert the tarte onto a serving plate.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound shallots (about 24)
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • All-purpose flour, for dusting
  • 1 sheet good-quality puff pastry, thawed if frozen