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Puff Pastry Pissaladière

A pissaladière is a crisp, flaky pizza-like pastry popular in the south of France. This version is made with prepared puff pastry, then topped with the traditional olives and anchovies. Here it is made as one rectangular tart, though you can make individual ones as well. The onions are roasted in the oven until soft, jammy, and a bit smoky. If you don’t have oven-roasted tomatoes in your pantry, sun-dried tomatoes packed in olive oil can be substituted. My favorite element is the grated dried goat cheese at the end.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    makes one 10- to 11-inch tart; serves 8-10 as a first course

Ingredients

Melted Onions

1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 pounds yellow onions, cut into wedges 1/8 inch thick
3/4 cup white balsamic or Champagne vinegar
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
Freshly ground white pepper
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator
1 large egg yolk beaten with 1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 cup Oven-Roasted Tomatoes (page 187), cut into narrow strips
4 cloves roasted or blanched garlic (page 192), minced
1/2 cup niçoise olives, pitted and sliced
2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
Kosher salt
Anchovy fillets, drained and soaked in milk (optional)
1/2 cup grated aged goat cheese, such as crottin

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Prepare a medium heat fire (375°F) in a wood-fired oven or cooker.

    Step 2

    To make the melted onions, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sauté the onions until translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the vinegars and a pinch of white pepper. Decrease the heat, stir in the sugar, and cook until the liquid is almost completely reduced and the onions have “melted” into a jam, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the thyme. Set aside.

    Step 3

    Place the puff pastry on a floured surface and roll out 1 inch larger all around. Lay on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Cut 3/4-inch-wide strips off each side of the puff pastry. Brush the edges of the pastry with the yolk mixture and place the cut strips on the edges to make a pastry rim. Cover the inside evenly with the toppings, starting with the melted onions and ending with the anchovies. Brush the rim with the yolk mixture. Place on a grate in the oven and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes.

    Step 4

    Remove from the oven and immediately dust with the grated goat cheese. Cut into portions and serve warm.

Reprinted with permission from Wood-Fired Cooking: Techniques and Recipes for the Grill, Backyard Oven, Fireplace, and Campfire by Mary Karlin, copyright © 2009. Photography copyright © 2009 by Ed Anderson. Published by Ten Speed Press.
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