Flour Arrangements

Tomato & Onion Tart

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Roasted tomatoes really shine against a backdrop of rich caramelized onions, nutty Gruyere cheese, and flaky pastry crust in this Tomato & Onion Tart recipe.

Tomato & Onion Tart | Flour Arrangements
Every time I bite into a juicy, luscious home grown tomato, the chorus from Guy Clark’s “Home Grown Tomatoes” plays in my head like a soundtrack:  Home grown tomatoes, home grown tomatoes What would life be without home grown tomatoes? Only two things that money can’t buy That’s true love and home grown tomatoes.

It’s playing on a constant loop right now since I’m popping little tomatoes in my mouth just as quickly as the plants produce them in these golden days of summer.

Tomatoes are like candy, only better, since you can eat them all you want without any of the sugary guilt. While the zucchini harvest sometimes requires creativity, disposing of an abundance of tomatoes poses no such challenges.

Tomato & Onion Tart | Flour Arrangements

There’s no scarcity of dishes that give summer tomatoes’ sweet, bright flavor center stage.  On bread or pasta, there’s really nothing finer than chopped fresh tomatoes tossed with basil and olive oil.  And as far as lunch goes, what’s better than thick tomato slices tucked in a sandwich along with bacon and lettuce? When I’m feeling the need to get more elegant, though, I make tomato & onion tart.

The mere thought of rolling out buttery pastry crust, layering it with caramelized onions, sprinkling on Gruyere cheese, and topping it all off with tomato wedges gets my mouth watering. As the tart bakes, the tomatoes roast slowly, intensifying their already brilliant flavor.  With the sweet, deep richness of caramelized onions, the nutty, complex flavor of Gruyere cheese, and a delicate, flaky pastry crust, this tomato tart pretty much puts anyone who eats it in a state of unmediated bliss.

Tomato & Onion Tart | Flour Arrangements
The recipe seems involved, but it’s easily prepped in stages.  And really, is caramelizing onions or making pastry dough really such a chore if the potential for unmediated bliss hovers on the horizon? When you break up the tasks, this tart actually feels like a quick, easy meal since prep and clean-up take place in small bursts over an extended period.
 
When I made it this week, I caramelized the onions and grated the cheese in the morning.  In the afternoon, I prepped the pastry and rolled it out while my kids were at camp.  When the time finally came to assemble the tart, I had it in the oven in about five minutes.
 
There’s something so satisfying about slicing tomatoes into wedges and arranging them in concentric circles atop the onions and cheese, especially when this task occurs in a nearly spotless kitchen.
 
This tart will only taste as good as the tomatoes you use to make it, so don’t even think about trying it with any of those pale, gummy varieties that are always available at the grocery store. If you don’t have access to home grown tomatoes — in your yard, or from some neighbor, friend or relative’s  bumper crop — take heart.  While you can’t buy home grown tomatoes, you can find flavorful tomatoes at farmers’ markets and specialty produce stores in the summer time.
 
Whatever you do, make this tart before summer-time tomatoes disappear;  if you’ll don’t, you’ll have to wait a whole year to taste it.

Tomato Onion Tart | Flour Arrangements

 

Print Recipe

Tomato & Onion Tart

Adapted from Epicurious.
Course: Brunch, Dinner, Lunch
Keyword: cream pie, savory pie, savory tart, tomatoes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Pastry Dough

  • 1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 3/4 cups unsalted butter cut into slices
  • 1/4 cup ice water strained

Filling

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 large onions thinly sliced
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 pound Gruyere cheese grated
  • 1 pound ripe tomatoes sliced in 1/4 to 1/2-inch wedges
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Pastry Dough

  • Whirl dry ingredients for crust in the bowl of a food processor. Add half the butter and process until you no longer see chunks. Add remaining butter and process briefly, leaving chunks the size of peanuts.
  • Working quickly, turn on the food processor and pour the ice water through the feed tube, stopping before the dough comes together. Pinch a bit of the dough between your fingers. If it does not stick together, add a couple of teaspoons more water and whirl briefly.
  • Turn out the dough onto a large piece of plastic wrap. Use the plastic wrap to help you create a large, flat disk: fold the edges of the dough toward the center and press down to smooth out the roughness. Refrigerate dough for at least 30 minutes.

Tart Filling and Assembly

  • Preheat oven to 375° F.
  • Heat olive oil over moderate heat in a large, heavy skillet. Add onions and ½ teaspoon salt, stirring to combine. Cook, covered, until softened, about 20 minutes, lifting the lid occasionally to stir.
  • Remove the lid and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the onions are pale golden and any remaining liquid evaporates. Remove skillet from heat to cool onions slightly.
  • Roll out the dough into a 14-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Fold the overhanging edge down inside the tart pan, pressing gently to help it adhere.
  • Spread onions over the dough and top with cheese. Arrange tomato wedges in concentric circles over the cheese. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Bake in preheated oven heated until the crust is golden, about 50 to 60 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Pin Tomato & Onion Tart for Later

Roasted tomatoes really shine against a backdrop of rich caramelized onions, nutty Gruyere cheese, and flaky pastry crust in this tomato & onion tart recipe.

Comments

  2. Denise | Sweet Peas & Saffron says

    This looks so delicious! I am a bit sad that I didn’t plant any tomatoes this year, (I have had too much tomato drama in my life in past years), but fresh tomatoes are worth the drama. Especially in a gorgeous tart like this 🙂

    Reply

    • Suzanne says

      Thanks, Denise. As long as you have at least one person to share tomatoes with you, you can safely avoid tomato drama in your own yard!

      Reply

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