Goat cheese and caramelized balsamic onion tartlets

Would you like to try one of my favorite little tarts? Goat Cheese Tarts with Balsamic Onion are perfect for those moments when you want to enjoy something tasty and uncomplicated. If you use refrigerated puff pastry, everything becomes much easier and with just a little care when caramelizing the onion, adding generous portions of goat cheese, and letting the oven work its magic until they are golden and crispy.

Without a doubt, the special touch in these tarts comes from the caramelized onions. I recommend making them on the stove with a splash of balsamic vinegar to enhance their natural sweetness. The contrast between the creamy cheese and the sweet-and-tangy onions is simply irresistible.

You can accompany these delights with a salad of tender greens and cherry tomatoes, and you'll have a combination of flavors that will pleasantly surprise you. A great starter or a delicious dinner! Also as an appetizer at a gathering with friends, these goat cheese and caramelized onion tarts are a winning choice. So go ahead and try them and be surprised by their flavor!

Le Creuset ceramic dishes

Ingredients

• 1 refrigerated rectangular sheet of puff pastry
• 2 large onions
• 50 g butter
• 60 ml balsamic vinegar
• 25 g sugar
• Salt
• Black pepper to taste
• 200 g log goat cheese
• 1 beaten egg

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
2. Thinly slice the onions.
3. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat, and add the butter. Reduce the heat when it starts to melt and add the onions.
4. Sauté the onions over low heat in the butter until they are golden (they start to look tender and translucent). Add the balsamic vinegar and the sugar. Stir and season well with salt and pepper. Set aside.
5. Roll out a sheet of puff pastry (it should be about 3 mm thick; if it is thicker you can stretch it). Being rectangular, you can make 6 tarts easily by cutting it lengthwise in half, and the longer side into 3 parts. Transfer the pastry pieces to a Le Creuset nonstick baking tray, or a perforated one.
6. Let's assemble the tarts for baking: place a slice of goat cheese in the center of each pastry and fold the corners toward the center.
7. Brush the pastry edges with beaten egg and bake for 20–25 minutes, until the pastry looks golden.
8. Remove from the oven and add a spoonful of the balsamic onions on top. They're ready to serve!
9. If you want to serve them as a complete individual course, arrange some Le Creuset plate tender greens, some walnuts (they go wonderfully with these tarts!), and cherry tomatoes, and place a tart on top of the salad.

Notes

1. Instead of making 6 individual tarts, you can make 4 larger rectangles (cutting the pastry like a cross, half horizontally and vertically), or even you can make one whole sheet of pastry, like a tart or puff pastry pizza, and cut it into the portions you want when serving.

2. Cheese variation: besides goat cheese, you can try other cheeses, like soft and semi-soft sheep cheeses. You can also experiment with mild cow's milk cheeses like ricotta, or try brie, camembert... many cheeses work in these tarts.

3. Add herbs: If you want an extra flavor boost, you can add fresh herbs such as thyme, rosemary, or basil to the caramelized onions. These herbs will pair very well with the goat cheese and balsamic onions.

4. Red onions: If you prefer a sweeter and more colorful flavor, you can use red onions instead of white onions. red onions have a milder and sweeter flavor when caramelized.

5. Improve presentation: If you want the tarts to look more attractive, you can cut the puff pastry into more creative shapes, like circles or triangles. You can also sprinkle a little grated cheese on top of the pastries before baking, to get a golden, crispy finish.

6. Accompaniments: In addition to the salad and cherry tomatoes, you can serve the tarts with a honey-mustard sauce or a balsamic reduction to add more flavors and enhance the dining experience.

7. Customize the ingredients: If you have other vegetables or ingredients you like, such as mushrooms, spinach, or sun-dried tomatoes, or want to add some roasted asparagus, or some toasted pine nuts, feel free to add them to the recipe to give it a different, personalized touch, or you can vary it each time.

Remember that cooking is an art, so feel free to make adjustments and experiment with ingredients to find the combination you like best. Have fun cooking and I hope you enjoy these delicious Goat Cheese Tarts with Balsamic Onion!