Onions are an uncommon main ingredient, but there are a few outstanding dishes that highlight this simple vegetable. For example, French onion soup, onion dip, fried onions, pickled onions, and the onion tart! My husband and I love onions and cook with them often because they are tasty and very healthy (read more about onions here). 

Tart vs. Pie 

Tarts and pies are very similar; both of them are shallow open pastries containing a baked filling and can be sweet or savory.  Pies usually have thicker crusts, and they also differ in the containers they are made in.  Pies are served directly from the dish in which they were baked.  Tarts are baked in a pan with a removable bottom or a pastry ring that can be unmolded before serving.  Pie dishes have slanted sides while tart pans have straight sides. Onion tart is very easy to make. The sautéed onions can be made a day ahead, and the pie crust can be prebaked for a quick dinner or an easy Sunday brunch. The whole tart can be stored in the fridge for a couple of days and reheated. 

Onion tart on a counter

Onion Tart

Magda Born
Onions are an uncommon main ingredient, but there are a few outstanding dishes that highlight this simple vegetable. For example, French onion soup, onion dip, fried onions, pickled onions, and the onion tart! My husband and I love onions and cook with them often because they are tasty and very healthy.
Course Main Course

Equipment

  • Pie weights or dry beans

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Premade pie crust
  • 1 1/2 lb Variety of onions thinly sliced 
  • 2 Tbs Olive oil
  • 2 Tbs Butter
  • 2 Eggs
  • 1/2 c Cream
  • 4 slices Bacon diced
  • 1 pinch Nutmeg

Instructions
 

  • Place pie weights or dry beans inside the pie crust and bake it per instructions on the package. 
    Raw pie crust with pie weights inside
  • To save time, I used a pre-made pie shell, which can still go wrong. It cracked in the oven, but remember, the food does not have to look perfect to taste good! 
    Baked pie crust
  • While the pie shell is baking, on low heat, render the bacon until slightly crisp. 
    Bacon cooking in a cast iron skillet
  • Slice the onions. I like to use several varieties for a more complex flavor. 
    Onions partially sliced
  • Add the onions, butter, and olive oil, and sauté slowly. 
    Sliced onions in the skillet with the bacon
  • Sautee onions until caramelized.
    Cooked onions and bacon in a cast iron skillet
  • Grate nutmeg. 
    Nutmeg in the process of being grated over a bowl
  • Mix onions, add nutmeg and cream, and combine with the sautéed onion and bacon mixture. 
    Cream and nutmeg in a bowl mixed with some cooked onions
  • Pour your mixture into your pie shell and bake until golden brown. If the sides of the pie shell are browning too fast, cover them with foil. 
    Cream and onion mixture poured into a pre-baked pie shell
  • For a balanced meal, serve with a side dish of vegetables
    A slice of onion tart on a plate with beets and brocolli.

Disclaimer:

Information contained here is not intended to treat or cure any diseases or provide medical advice.

Magda Born

mborn@kckpl.org

Community Services Librarian

Kansas City, Kansas Public Library

625 Minnesota Ave.

Kansas City, KS 66101

913-295-8250 ext 1103

Resources:

book cover Maman the Cookbook

Maman: the cookbook: all-day recipes to warm your heart  by Elisa Marshall, Benjamin Sormonte, Lauren Salkeld and Linda Xiao

Format: Book

Call Number: 641.5944 MARSHALL

Publication Date: 2021

book cover Onions Condiment Nutrition Medicine

Onions: condiment, nutrient, medicine by Clarence Meyer and David Meyer

Format: Book

Call Number: 641.6525 MEYER

book cover Onions Etcetera

Onions, etcetera : the essential allium cookbook: more than 150 recipes for leeks, scallions, garlic, shallots, ramps, chives and every sort of onion  by Kate Winslow and Guy Ambrosino

Format: Book

Call Number: 641.6525 WINSLOW

book cover Magnolia Table

Magnolia table: a collection of recipes for gathering  by Joanna Gaines, Marah Stets and Amy Neunsinger

Format: Book

Call Number: 641.5975 GAINES