Beet

Beet Tart with Caramelized Onions and Goat Cheese

by:
October  8, 2011
4
1 Ratings
  • Makes 1 9" round tart
Author Notes

I bought way(!) too many beets at the farmers market last week and needed a new way to use them. I find that I never tire of a hearty dinner tart, beets are always lovely with goat cheese, and who doesn't love a caramelized onion?! Thus, this tart.
I riffed on a whole-wheat olive oil crust recipe I had, adding orange zest to it, and in general, kept things simple. We liked this a lot, and prefered it at room temp. —em-i-lis

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • For the Filling
  • 2 cups yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon vin cotto (or reduced balsamic vinegar)
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 cups roasted beets, sliced into 1/8" thick rounds
  • 8 mint leaves, slivered
  • 1/3 cup fresh goat cheese, crumbled
  • For the crust
  • 250 grams whole wheat pastry flour (roughly 2 cups)
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 cup cold water
Directions
  1. If you read this ahead of time, roast your beets and refrigerate overnight. Otherwise, trim about 6 beets, place in a baking dish, add 1/4" water, cover with foil and roast at 375 for 20 minutes. Slice beets into 1/8" thick rounds/slices.
  2. Meanwhile, in a 10" skillet, heat 2 T olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the thinly sliced onions and season well with salt and pepper. Cook until translucent and soft, about 10 minutes. Add vin cotto or reduced (or regular) balsamic vinegar, reduce heat to low and cook until very soft, getting caramelized. Set aside. Preheat oven to 400.
  3. Make the crust: in a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, salt and orange zest. Add the olive oil and stir with a fork until incorporated. Add the water and fork until incorporated. Knead into a ball and turn out onto a lightly floured surface.
  4. Roll out into a large circle and flip into a lightly greased 9" round tart pan. You'll have extra; trim it off and bake for snack-crackers.
  5. In the tart shell, sprinkle the crumbled goat cheese. Then layer in the slivered mint and caramelized onions. Season with salt and pepper. Layer on top the roasted beet rounds and season again with s&p.
  6. Cover tart with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Lower oven heat to 300, remove foil from tart and cook 10 additional minutes. Remove tart and drizzle with olive oil. Let sit. This is really the best at room temp, preferably with a glass of Pinot.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • em-i-lis
    em-i-lis
  • aargersi
    aargersi
  • Will
    Will
  • ChefFace
    ChefFace

4 Reviews

Will June 11, 2020
Have made this twice, the second time with the orange-zested crust. Especially the second time, it left an impression more sweet than savory, which is perplexing. The flavor combo of balsamic-caramelized onions, mint, and goat cheese is divine. The only improvement I’ve made is to steam the beets—roasting as instructed did not get them nearly soft enough. I might try making a butter orange crust next time—the olive oil one felt a little bland.
 
ChefFace January 23, 2013
I was inspired by this recipe, but I was short on time so I used puff pastry, shaped up a bit, and instead of mint i used thyme and pieces of crispy proscuitto... delicious, thank you! (I convinced 3 self-professed "beet haters" to reconsider their prejudice!)
 
em-i-lis October 9, 2011
Thank you so much!!! I loved having another piece for lunch today!
 
aargersi October 9, 2011
Oh my goodness this sounds so good - I will definitly try it - saving!