Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts in 3 Easy Steps Recipe
Delight in these irresistible caramelized onion and goat cheese tarts crafted with flaky puff pastry, sweet jammy onions, tangy goat cheese, and a hint of fresh thyme. Perfectly balanced with a touch of balsamic vinegar, these elegant yet simple tarts are an ideal appetizer or light meal, making gourmet flavor easy to achieve in just three straightforward steps.
- 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
For the Tarts
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed but still cold)
- 2 large onions, thinly sliced (yellow or sweet onions)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- 4 oz goat cheese, crumbled (creamier log-style)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Caramelize the Onions: Heat olive oil and butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add thinly sliced onions, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook undisturbed for about 5 minutes between occasional stirs to allow golden caramelization. After roughly 15 minutes, once the onions turn golden, add balsamic vinegar and fresh thyme, and cook for another 5 minutes until jammy and aromatic. Add a splash of water if onions stick to deglaze.
- Assemble the Tarts: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the puff pastry and cut into 6 rectangles. Spread the cooled caramelized onions evenly on each piece, leaving a border for puffed edges. Generously crumble goat cheese over the onions and sprinkle extra thyme on top for a fresh finish.
- Bake to Perfection: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C). Place assembled tarts on a baking tray and bake for 15 minutes until the pastry is golden brown, puffed, and the goat cheese is slightly melted and browned. Check every 2 minutes if additional time is needed to prevent burning. Allow tarts to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Pat the caramelized onions with paper towels after cooking to remove excess moisture for crispier pastry.
- Chill assembled tarts in the refrigerator for 10 minutes before baking to enhance puff pastry flakiness.
- Use fresh thyme for best flavor, but dried can be used if rubbed between fingers first to release oils.
- Spread onions fully to the edges for maximum flavor with every bite.
- Resist stirring onions constantly during caramelization to develop deep flavor and color.
Keywords: caramelized onion tarts, goat cheese tarts, puff pastry appetizers, easy French tarts, savory pastries
