• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Domestic Gothess
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    You are here: Home / Recipes / Baking / Caramelised Red Onion and Goats Cheese Tarts

    Caramelised Red Onion and Goats Cheese Tarts

    Published: Mar 20, 2015 · Modified: Aug 29, 2018

    Go to Recipe

    Caramelised red onion and goats cheese tarts - crisp parmesan pastry filled with balsamic caramelised red onions, egg custard and goats cheese.

    Caramelised red onion and goats cheese tarts - crisp parmesan pastry filled with balsamic caramelised red onions, egg custard and goats cheese.

    Something that you may not know about me is that for a year and a half I helped to run/manage a village pub...My mum bought one and ended up needing help to run it, so myself, Damian and Ringo (and our cat Skitz, who ended up staying with my parents when we left the pub) moved from Birmingham to a tiny village in West Sussex where we lived upstairs in the pub and helped manage it, despite never even having done any bar work before...

    caramelized red onion goats cheese tarts

    We learned a vast amount, did a bit of everything including serving drinks, waiting tables, working in the kitchen, admin, stock ordering, hiring staff, organising events, looking after the cellar, writing menus, decorating, till programming and cleaning the drains....amongst many other things...

    There were some good times, some lovely people and beautiful countryside, we made friends and I got to go horseriding again (after having to sell my horse a few years previously); but it was incredibly stressful and non-stop. Living in the pub there was no privacy and no such thing as a day off...(or even an hour off...).

    The pub didn't make much money, so we were earning less than minimum wage, and we were both stressed and tired; there were some truly horrible/nasty/racist/interfering locals and we ended up having arguments with my mum, the head chef/co-owner and each other.

    So we made the decision to leave and go back to Birmingham, and were much happier for it. It was an experience, though one I never want to repeat...

    caramelised red onion goats cheese tartlets

    Anyway, the point of all that rambling being, that my mum recently made the decision to sell the pub, and as she and Serge (the chef/co-owner) don't want to go back into the restaurant business, they have very kindly given me a lot of the kitchen equipment from the pub.

    And when I say a lot, I mean A LOT, I am seriously struggling to fit it all into my badly designed, lacking in storage space kitchen...but it is all very good quality (much better than I can afford!) and I will never need to buy another pan again...(no promises...).

    There was also quite a lot of food to clear out, so my cupboards are stocked up as well. This included a massive bag of red onions and a kilogram log of goats cheese...hence these caramelised red onion and goats cheese tarts.

    caramelised red onion goats cheese quiche

    The base is a crumbly shortcrust pastry flavoured with parmesan cheese and caraway seeds, it is very simple to whizz up in a food processor (you can do it by hand as well), just remember to make sure that your butter and water are very cold to ensure that your pastry is crisp.

    Because the filling is wet, the pastry needs to be blind baked before adding the filling mixture, you will need some ceramic baking beans, but you can also use dried rice or beans if you don't have any.

    The filling is made with red onions which are slow cooked with sugar, balsamic vinegar, thyme and star anise until they are soft and sticky. This is topped with a mixture of egg, milk and cream, flavoured with a little nutmeg, and a round of goats cheese - mine were sliced from the kilogram log but you can buy two 100g rounds of cheese and cut each one into two slices.

    I garnished mine with sprigs of fresh rosemary which lent a subtle taste, but they aren't necessary.

    caramelised red onion goats cheese mini quiches

    The recipe makes four 13cm tartlets, but you could probably make one 20cm one if you prefer, it would take a little longer to bake though (about 30 mins). They are creamy and delicious, sweet and tangy from the onions and cheese, with a hint of spice to round out the flavour.

    We enjoyed them as a main meal with a generous pile of salad but they would also make a nice starter (note that if you want them to be completely vegetarian make sure that you use a parmesan that is suitable for vegetarians).

    caramelized red onion goats cheese quiche

    Caramelised red onion and goats cheese tarts recipe:

    caramelised red onion goats cheese tarts
    Print
    5 from 1 vote

    Caramelised Red Onion & Goats Cheese Tarts

    Servings 4
    Author Domestic Gothess

    Ingredients

    Pastry

    • 200 g plain flour
    • 100 g cold butter diced
    • 20 g parmesan grated
    • ½ tsp salt
    • 1 tsp caraway seeds optional
    • 3-5 tbsp ice cold water

    Filling

    • 500 g red onions thinly sliced
    • 2 tbsp olive oil
    • 1 star anise
    • 1 tsp dried thyme
    • 75 ml balsamic vinegar
    • 3 tbsp dark brown sugar
    • 2 eggs
    • 90 ml whole milk
    • 80 ml double cream
    • generous pinch grated nutmeg
    • salt and pepper
    • 200 g goats cheese rounds two 100g rounds, each cut into 2 slices
    • 4 small sprigs fresh rosemary to garnish optional

    Instructions

    • Place the flour, butter, parmesan, salt and caraway seeds into a food processor and blitz until the mixture resembles fine crumbs. With the motor running, add the water 1 tbsp at a time until the pastry forms a ball (you may not need all of the water). Alternatively, rub the butter into the other ingredients by hand then add the water.
    • Form the pastry into a ball, wrap in clingfilm and place in the fridge for about half an hour.
    • Heat the olive oil in a wide pan and add the onions and star anise. Fry for about 15-20 minutes over a medium/low heat until the onions are soft and golden brown in colour.
    • Add the thyme, balsamic vinegar and sugar and cook for a further 10 minutes until the mixture is thick and glossy. Remove from the heat, discard the star anise and leave to cool.
    • Divide the pastry into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece out on a lightly floured surface until it is large enough to line a 13cm/5in tart tin. Line each of the four tins with the pastry, pressing it into the edges. Trim off the excess pastry, prick the bottom all over with a fork and return the tins to the fridge to chill for another 10-15 mins.
    • Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4.
    • Line each pastry case with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans. Bake for about 20 mins then remove the paper and beans and return to the oven for a further 10 mins until the pastry is pale golden.
    • Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream and nutmeg and season with salt and pepper.
    • Divide the onion mixture between the pastry cases, pour over the egg mixture so it comes almost up to the top. Place a goats cheese round on each tart and garnish with a sprig of rosemary (if using).
    • Bake for about 20-25 minutes until golden, puffed up and set. Allow to cool slightly before turning out and serving.

    Notes

    1. You will need four 13cm (5in) round, loose bottomed tart tins.

    caramelized red onion goats cheese mini quiches

    « Orange And Almond Swiss Roll
    Pear & Ginger Tarte Tatin For Two »

    Never Miss A Post!

    Subscribe to get all the latest recipes delivered to your inbox.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Truly Madly Kids (@TrulyMadly7)

      March 24, 2015 at 6:01 pm

      We are veggie in the week, so these are great!

      Reply
    2. Honest Mum

      March 25, 2015 at 7:44 pm

      Perfect picnic food or a summer's lunch! So, so pretty! Thanks for linking up to #tastytuedays

      Reply
    3. Lydia Gerratt

      March 26, 2015 at 10:27 am

      These look amazing - I love your photo's. How lucky are you to inherit all that kitchen equipment!

      Reply
    4. Helen at Casa Costello

      March 27, 2015 at 8:37 pm

      I love this insight into your past life. That equipment sounds amazing and your tarts look fantastic. Thanks for joining in with #FoodieFriday x

      Reply
      • hannahhossack

        March 30, 2015 at 4:14 pm

        Thanks Helen 🙂 all the equipment has been very useful! x

        Reply
    5. lucyparissi

      March 28, 2015 at 10:57 am

      Yes, yes a thousand times yes! I think I am having a When Harry Met Sally moment... but these do look SOOO good! Beautiful styling and photography as well. I know you will make good use of all the inherited kitchen stuff and equipment even if you struggle to fit it all in. Your blog is such an exciting place Hannah – can't wait to see what you make every week! Thanks for linking to #CookBlogShare

      Reply
      • hannahhossack

        March 30, 2015 at 4:07 pm

        Thanks Lucy! They were delicious 🙂 being vegetarian I've made a fair few savoury tarts in my time and these have to be some of the best! I think I'm going to have to do a complete kitchen clearout and re-arrange to try and make space... x

        Reply
    6. Winnie

      March 29, 2015 at 8:56 am

      Wowwww
      These are such amazing tarts!! They look fantastic and I'm sure they taste great!!
      Pinning, and definitely planning to try your recipe

      Reply
      • hannahhossack

        March 30, 2015 at 4:10 pm

        Thanks Winnie 🙂

        Reply
    7. wheelie38

      March 30, 2015 at 11:40 am

      These look stunning, your pictures are so good. My brother in law would love them I, like me loves chees 😀 I found you through #FoodieFriday

      Reply
    8. sylvieamesee

      April 15, 2015 at 2:51 pm

      We have rosemary trees in our garden and we dry it and reduce it into powder. Be sure I'll combine it with goat cheese when I'll cook these tarts!

      Reply
      • hannahhossack

        April 17, 2015 at 1:38 pm

        I've got a rosemary bush in my garden too 🙂 I love have fresh herbs to hand!

        Reply
    9. bristol plasterers

      May 14, 2015 at 12:00 pm

      This sounds lovely. Going to give this a go. thanks for sharing this recipe.

      Simon

      Reply
      • hannahhossack

        May 20, 2015 at 10:46 am

        Thank you 🙂 Hope you like it!

        Reply
    10. Susan

      November 19, 2015 at 2:22 pm

      Do these tarts freeze? They look beautiful!

      Reply
      • hannahhossack

        November 20, 2015 at 10:29 am

        I haven't tried myself but freezing them shouldn't be a problem, reheat them from frozen in a medium oven for about 20 minutes when you want to eat them.

        Reply
    11. Sarah

      December 16, 2016 at 8:38 pm

      Hello

      These tarts taste amazing! I just have a couple of questions I'm making these as a starter for a meal and I just try out this recipe in advance to see how it went. I didn't have small trays so I used a big one, I did everything like stated. It when I put the egg/cream/milk mixture on the oven after 10 mins the top of the tart started to go brown and also the edges started to burn? I had my oven on 180 so could this be a problem for certain ovens that heat fast?? Or could my misture be to runny??

      Reply
      • hannahhossack

        December 19, 2016 at 9:17 am

        Hi Sarah, I'm glad you enjoyed the tarts! It sounds like your oven may run a bit hot and a big tart will take longer to bake than little ones; I would turn the oven down a bit to 170C and once the top of the tart has coloured to your liking you can cover it with tin foil while it finishes baking to prevent it from burning.

        Reply
    12. koni

      November 19, 2017 at 8:46 pm

      Hi
      Can I freeze the tarts ?

      thanks

      koni

      Reply
    13. Tammy

      December 12, 2017 at 2:20 pm

      I am going to make these for Christmas brunch. 500g of red onion equals how many large onions? I am an American conventing your recipe to cups, tablespoons, etc. If only I had a cooking scale!

      Reply
      • hannahhossack

        December 20, 2017 at 11:34 am

        Hi Tammy, I think that 500g onion is about 4 large onions (I don't actually have any to weigh at the moment to be certain though!). I really recommend investing in a digital scale, I use mine daily!

        Reply
      • Faith

        July 04, 2018 at 3:02 am

        Did anyone actually make these?
        500 g of red onion seems like a lot for 4 tarts!
        It is 6 small to medium red onion!

        Reply
        • hannahhossack

          August 01, 2018 at 10:35 am

          Hi Faith, the recipe is correct, the onions cook down a lot as they are cooked for a long time. I also like a well-filled tart!

          Reply
    14. Virginia Payne

      March 16, 2018 at 2:36 pm

      These look amazing. Full of flavour and great presentation.

      Reply
    15. Kimberly Bahmanyar

      January 28, 2019 at 2:58 am

      5 stars
      Hi! I am in the U.S. and I have never seen that type of goat's cheese in that small size. Is it Buche de chevre? I'd love to know the name of the cheese and possible the brand so I can see if I can find it locally.

      Thanks!! Gorgeous tarts!!

      Kimberly

      Reply
      • hannahhossack

        January 28, 2019 at 8:50 am

        Hi Kimberly, I made these so long ago that I'm afraid that I can't remember what brand of goat's cheese I used. Most supermarkets here sell rounds of cheese that are about 3 inches wide and that is most likely what it was; they are simply labelled as goat's cheese so I can't give you a specific type unfortunately. Any kind of goat's cheese will work however so just use one that you like. I hope you enjoy them!

        Reply
    « Older Comments
    Newer Comments »

    Trackbacks

    1. 28 Cheesy Recipes To Celebrate National Cheese Lover’s Day – Plum And Proper says:
      January 20, 2017 at 5:03 pm

      […] Caramelized Red Onion & Goat Cheese Tarts [x] […]

      Reply
    2. This & That: July 7, 2017 – The Simply Luxurious Life® says:
      July 7, 2017 at 8:01 am

      […] ~recipe for Caramelised Red Onion & Goat Cheese Tarts~ […]

      Reply
    3. Caramelised Red Onion & Goats Cheese Tarts – Medi Idea says:
      December 4, 2017 at 8:17 am

      […] show more… […]

      Reply
    4. Christmas Dishes That Will Impress Everyone says:
      December 21, 2017 at 7:36 am

      […] Caramelised Red Onion & Goats Cheese Tarts   […]

      Reply
    5. Caramelised Red Onion and Goats Cheese Tarts | Ony Sentot says:
      January 25, 2019 at 9:27 am

      […] Source>>Caramelised Red Onion & Goats Cheese Tarts@domesticgothess.com […]

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hannah Hossack-Lodge (Domestic Gothess)

    Hi, I'm Hannah! I'm a UK based vegan food blogger, recipe developer and food photographer specialising in the best vegan baking. Welcome to Domestic Gothess!

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Curried Vegetable Pasties (Vegan)
    • Vegan Fruit And Nut Flapjacks
    • Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake
    • Vegetable Tagine With Almond And Chickpea Couscous

    Buy Me a Coffee

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Hannah
    • Disclosure and Privacy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    Copyright © 2021 Domestic Gothess. All rights reserved.