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Vegetarian, Northern, Eastern and Western France

Alsatian onion tart with green salad

Alsatian onion tart, or zewelkueche, is a savory tart for 4 people, ready in 65 minutes, easy to make, for €1.50 per person. Its success comes from cooking the onions very slowly so they soften and caramelize without burning or turning bitter, before being topped with a creamy egg filling.

Tonight, a zewelkueche, an Alsatian onion tart, soft, golden and very mild.

Alsatian onion tart with green salad
Total time
1 h 05
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.50
Calories per person
510 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach
Season
Winter, Fall
The kids
They generally like it

Under a golden crust, soft cooked onions blend into a creamy egg filling lightly scented with nutmeg. The texture is mellow, almost melting, with no bitterness at all, thanks to a very slow covered cooking of the onions. It is a hearty tart that recalls winter tables in Alsace, simple in its ingredients but full of character.

This recipe is perfect for a weeknight, since it comes together in a bit over an hour with no tricky steps. It also works well as a Sunday lunch main course with the green salad on the side, and kids tend to like its soft texture. Mon Chou suggests it for evenings when you want a comforting dish without spending hours on it.

The ingredients

4 people

Dairy

  • Shortcrust pastry 1
  • Butter 30 g
  • Eggs 3
  • Heavy cream 20 cl
  • Milk 10 cl

Fruits and vegetables

  • Onions 800 g
  • Green salad 1

Pantry

  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Vinaigretteoften in the pantry 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Pepperoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs

The step by step recipe

  1. Thinly slice the onions and cook them in the butter over low heat, covered. 25 min

    Add a spoonful of water if the onions stick, they keep softening without burning.

  2. Roll out the dough in a tart pan and prick the base with a fork.

    Let the dough overhang the edges a bit, it shrinks during baking.

  3. Whisk the eggs with the cream, milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper.

    Don't overbeat, this keeps bubbles out of the tart.

  4. Spread the onions over the dough and pour the egg mixture on top.

    Let the onions cool a bit first, so the filling doesn't cook too fast.

  5. Bake at 180°C and serve with the green salad. 35 min

    The tart is ready when the center barely jiggles.

Our tips to get it right

  • Slice the onions into even strips so they all cook at the same pace.
  • Drain the onions briefly before spreading them on the dough if they look very watery, the filling will set better.
  • Bake the tart on the lower rack so the crust cooks through without getting soggy.

The variations

  • Add smoked bacon bits cooked with the onions for a heartier version, common on many Alsatian tables.
  • Swap the heavy cream for a plant based cream and the butter for oil for a dairy free version.
  • For impatient kids, cut the tart into small square portions and serve the salad on the side as a simple extra.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with vinaigrette, already part of the recipe
  • A glass of Alsatian white wine
  • A light soup to start in winter

Storage

The tart keeps for 2 to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container. It freezes well once baked and cooled, and reheats best in the oven rather than the microwave to keep the crust crisp.

Questions about this dish

Can you make onion tart ahead of time?

Yes, you can cook the onions and mix the filling the day before, then assemble and bake the tart right before serving. This saves time on a busy weeknight.

Can you use puff pastry instead of shortcrust?

Yes, puff pastry works well and gives a lighter, crispier tart. Prick the base well so it doesn't puff up too much under the filling.

Why do the onions need to cook so long before baking?

Slow covered cooking lets the onions soften and release their water without browning or turning bitter. This step is what gives the tart its signature mild sweetness.

Is this tart good for kids?

Yes, its soft texture and mild flavor, with no strong spices, generally appeal to kids. You can reduce the nutmeg slightly if serving it to very young children.

How long does it take to make an Alsatian onion tart with a green salad?

Count 1 h 05 in total, prep and cooking included. The recipe is rated “easy”.

How many calories are in an Alsatian onion tart with a green salad?

About 510 kcal per serving, for a recipe meant for 4 people. Calories are calculated by Kiloach, your weight coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does an Alsatian onion tart with a green salad cost?

About €1.50 per serving, or €6.00 for 4 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs. Always check the labels of the products you buy.

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