The holiday season is upon us and that means a whirlwind of festive gatherings, cozy dinners, and the inevitable question…what should I make?
At A Taste of Paris(tm), we’ve got you covered for the season with mighty mouthfuls of tasty goodness coming to you, two at a time over the next couple of weeks. I’ll offer elegant flavor-filled inspiration to dazzle your guests this season. Be sure you check out the ATOP Instagram account, there will be lots of videos and how-to’s there.
When planning your menu, keep in mind, that mini morsels should be loaded with a punch of flavor. I like to plan tidbits that don’t require utensils, this way they can be picked up and popped in. And last, keep it colorful, a table full of brown food is not appealing.
So let’s go! This week I’m sharing 2 of my favorite bite-sized tartlets, Caramelized Onion and Tomato Basil, they are heavenly, both begin with premade puff pastry and follow the same general guidelines for preparation. Hint, these two appetizers look amazing on one large platter!
To prepare Caramelized Onions Tartlets, start by caramelizing the onions in a large skillet. This can take some time, you want the onions to have plenty of contact with the pan to develop the rich brown color and to bring the sugars out of the onions. You can caramelize the onions several days in advance and can make enough for other recipes like my Herbed Cheesecake with Caramelized Onions.
Next, roll out the sheet of puff pastry to eliminate the creases and either use a biscuit cutter to make pastry rounds or a pizza cutter to cut squares. Dock the pastries by pricking the centers so they will not rise up in the middle when baking.
Place the pastry pieces on a baking sheet and give each one a pinch of cheese and a healthy scoop of caramelized onions. Bake to golden brown perfection and enjoy!
Caramelized Onions Tartlets
Caramelized Onions
1 tablespoon olive oil
3 medium yellow onions, sliced thin
3 Sprigs of fresh thyme
Salt and pepper to taste
Tartlet
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1 cup Gruyere cheese
½ teaspoon fresh thyme
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
Caramelize the onions in a chef’s pan, by cooking the onions and thyme in olive oil, allowing them to have plenty of contact with the pan. Toss and continue to cook until they are very soft and golden in color and season to taste.
To make the tartlets, preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Roll out puff pastry to eliminate creases. Using a sharp knife cut the pastry into squares OR make rounds using a biscuit cutter. Place pastry pieces on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Using a fork, dock the center of each pastry. Place a pinch of Gruyere cheese on each pastry. Top with a generous scoop of onions, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Dust with salt and pepper and bake for 12-14 minutes until tarts are puffed and beginning to brown.
Tomato Basil Tartlets are made in much the same way. The Roma tomatoes can be very juicy so you will want to slice them in advance and let them sit on paper towels for a bit to get some of the moisture out. Once this is done, you can proceed in the same manner as the Caramelized Onion Tartlets. I use the same Gruyere cheese for both recipes but you can experiment with other types of cheese, and let me know what you like!
Tomato Basil Tartlets
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1 cup Gruyere cheese
¼ cup fresh basil cut in a chiffonade
2-3 Roma tomatoes cut into slices
½ teaspoon fresh thyme
2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut tomatoes into thin slices, about 1/8 of an inch thick. Lay tomatoes in a single layer on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. Roll out puff pastry to eliminate creases. Using a biscuit cutter cut 12 rounds from the sheet. Place rounds on a greased baking sheet. Mix the cheese, basil, and thyme in a small bowl. Put a pinch on each pastry round. Top with tomato, salt, and pepper, and sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Bake for 12-14 minutes until tarts are puffed and beginning to brown.
Savor the season as my lineup of epic appetizers continues next week. Let me hear from you, what are your favorite appetizers??
Still working on your holiday gift list? I have big news, ATOP now has an Amazon Storefront!
Check out my top 25 gift ideas for HER in my shop and stay tuned for more A Taste of Paris(TM) recommendations coming soon!
XOXO Lorie
