A savoury, irresistible twist on a French treat: shallot tarte tatin brings together shallots caramelized in a skillet with butter and balsamic for a showstopping appetizer.
Equipment
Everything you need to make shallot tarte tatin at home:
- small bowl
- large cutting board
- 10″ oven-safe skillet with matching lid (I’m using stainless steal)
- chef’s knife
- small cutting board
- flipping spatula
- silicone spatula
- fork
Note: you can find the full recipe instructions and ingredients list below!
Cooking Tips
- Don’t forget to thaw your puff pastry. Every brand is different, but most require at least 2 hours at room temperature, or 12 hours refrigerated. Check the package instructions before you start the recipe.
- Let your goat cheese sit at room temperature while you make the tarte tatin. Doing this will make the cheese extra creamy and help match the temperature of the tart, so you’re not biting into a warm tart that’s topped with cold cheese – no thanks! It will also make the cheese a lot easier to scoop.
- Make ahead…Simply bake the tart in advance (but don’t add the toppings yet!). Let cool completely then cover in foil. When ready to serve, carefully transfer the tart to a parchment-lined baking sheet and warm in a 350°F oven until hot to the touch. If the tart is looking dry, brush on a little melted butter to bring back the shine. Transfer to a cutting board, cut and top with goat cheese and chives. The tart can also be served at room temperature, and can sit out for several hours. When you’re ready to serve, just add the toppings and enjoy!
- Serve it with…french onion braised short ribs and squash salad.
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Transfer goat cheese to a small bowl and place near stove top to warm slightly.
- Dust a large cutting board with flour. Roll out your pastry sheet and sprinkle with a little more flour. Take a 10″ skillet and flip it over onto the floured pastry. Using a knife, trace a line around the pan. Peal away the excess pastry and discard. You should be left with a 10″ round of dough. Set aside.
- Halve 10-15 small shallots length-wise from root to tip. Peel back the skin and trim the dirty part of the root end. The root should still be in tact but look neat and pretty.
- Heat your 10" skillet on medium-low. Add 2 tbsp olive oil and arrange your shallot halves open-side down in the oil. Increase heat to medium-high and let cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip, season with 1/2 tsp salt and add 1/3 cup water. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and let cook for another 5-10 minutes, or until the shallots are soft and a knife can easily slide in and out without resistance. Remove and set aside. There might be a few shallots with dried and craggily outer layers. Peel those dry layers off and discard.
- Back in the skillet, wipe away any excess water and heat on medium. Add 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar and 2 tbsp brown sugar, whisk until the sugar has dissolved. Add 1 tbsp dijon and the leaves of 4 sprigs of fresh thyme. Whisk until combined, then slowly whisk in cold butter until a glossy, thick sauce forms. It should be able to coat the back of a spoon. Season with a pinch of salt, then taste and adjust.
- Add your shallots back in and arrange them open-side down, so they each have a cozy little spot in the sauce. Using a fork, prick several holes in the pastry round. Transfer the hole-y dough to the skillet to cover, and gently press down around the edges. Bake at 375°F for 40-45 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbling around the edges.
- Let the pan cool slightly (enough that you can hold it without burning, then flip it over unto a cutting board. If some of the shallots stick to the bottom of the pan, don't fret! Use a spatula, or spoon, to scoop them up and place them back on the tart. No one will ever know. Cut the tarte tatin into 8 slices and top with a scoop of room temperature goat cheese and freshly sliced chives.
Notes
Flipping the tarte tatin is easily the hardest (and most intimidating) part of this recipe. But you can do it! I have faith!! My suggestions would be to 1) use an oven mitt, or kitchen towel, to hold the skillet handle 2) use the lightest cutting board you have, bonus points if it is a similar size to the skillet, bonus bonus points if it is also round and 3) have confidence and don’t hesitate!
Tag me @stefsdinnerdate on Instagram and TikTok if you make it! I love seeing your creations.
Can I serve this cold or does it need to be warm?
I would say warm or room temperature! Cold would probably be OK, but not the best.
I just made this and my friends were all upset that there was not more of it! Absolutely delicious
So happy to hear it!! I guess you’ll just have to make another one haha <3
Question: when flipping the tarte tatin onto the board, I’m concerned that the puff pastry will stick to the edges of the pan that it was pressed on…does it just separate with no problem or should I run a knife tip carefully around the edge to prevent a mess?
I haven’t had issues with the edges sticking. But you could run a knife edges just to be sure. You might notice after flipping that some of the onions have stayed in the pan. Don’t worry! Just use a knife, or an off-set spatula, to transfer then back to the tart.
Thank you for your reply! We are going to make it for ourselves today and then make it for Christmas!
No problem! Let me know how it goes <3
I should have listened to my gut that 1/4 cup of balsamic was way too much. Maybe you’re supposed to cook it down way more after you put the butter in? That wasn’t too clear in the instructions (“until glossy”… it was glossy right away, so I didn’t cook it down too much after putting butter in. Soggy and too vinagery.
Hey Megan, sorry the recipe didn’t work out for you! I’ve gone back in and added a bit more guidance on how long to cook down the vinegar. Thanks so much for the feedback.
When do you add the salt?
You can add some with the water when steaming the shallots. Or after mixing the sauce, you could taste and adjust with some salt. But not 100% necessary.
Is there a cheese other than goat cheese that would pair well?
I think some brie or blue cheese would pair really well!
Just finished the tart as a light dinner. 10/10 no notes. Absolutely delicious
Ahhh!! So happy to hear that <3
Two questions: #1) Why is it necessary to place the pastry on top before baking, rather than transfer the cooked shallots and balsamic auce into a pie pan with the pastry lined pie pan, or pastry lined cast iron skillet and bake it that way? #2) I’m gluten-free and, although the are gluten free flours and pre made gluten-free pastry dough I can use, I’m wondering about how this tarte might work with a crust made of pre-cooked “smashed potatoes “. Any thoughts on this?
How to store the leftovers and reheat them?
Good question! I haven’t tested this, but I would store it in an airtight container and reheat at 350°F on a wire rack-lined baking sheet until warm. Hope that helps!
Made this previously and everyone loved it! Do you thunk this would work with leeks as well?
Incredible!! I’m not sure the flavours of this sauce would go well with leeks, but I think the method would work! You could try it with a white wine sauce instead.