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Vegetarian, Busy evenings

Onion tart with green salad

Onion tart with green salad is a savory French tart for 4 people, ready in 65 minutes, easy to make, for about €1.50 per serving. Its success depends on cooking the onions slowly until soft and lightly caramelized in butter before adding the cream and egg filling. The crisp green salad balances the richness of the tart.

Onions slow cooked in butter, a splash of cream, a golden crust, that's an onion tart the way Alsace makes it.

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

Onion tart starts with a smell, onions slowly softening in butter for half an hour. They lose their sharp bite, turn golden, and become almost sweet. Spread over a baked crust and covered in a cream and nutmeg custard, they turn tender and mellow, nothing like the raw onion you might expect.

It's a weeknight tart that feels like a Sunday treat, simple enough to make often, familiar to kids, and generous enough to surprise guests. The well dressed green salad on the side isn't just a garnish, it cuts through the richness of the cream and keeps you reaching for another bite.

The ingredients

4 people

Dairy

  • Pie crust 1
  • Butter 40 g
  • Eggs 3
  • Heavy cream 20 cl
  • Milk 10 cl

Fruits and vegetables

  • Yellow onions 1 kg
  • Thyme 2 sprigs
  • Green salad 1

Pantry

  • Nutmegoften in the pantry 1 pinch
  • Vinaigretteoften in the pantry 4 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 with the thyme. 30 min

    Add a spoonful of water if the onions stick, they should stay pale golden.

  2. Roll out the crust in a tart pan, prick it, then pre bake it at 180°C. 10 min

    Cover it with parchment paper and dried beans so it doesn't puff up.

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

    A little nutmeg makes all the difference with the onion.

  4. Spread the onions over the crust, pour in the custard and bake. 30 min

    Remove the thyme first, its little stems are tough to bite into.

  5. Let it rest for five minutes and serve with the dressed green salad. 5 min

    The bright, sharp salad balances the richness of the tart.

Our tips to get it right

  • Slice the onions thin and even so they cook at the same rate and turn soft without any staying crunchy.
  • Let the pre baked crust cool for a few minutes before adding the onions, this keeps the bottom from turning soggy in the oven.
  • If you use a tart pan with a removable bottom, set it on a hot baking sheet in the oven, the base will brown more evenly.

The variations

  • Swap part of the yellow onions for red onions, the tart gets more color and a touch more sweetness.
  • Add smoked bacon bits cooked with the onions for a heartier, less vegetarian version.
  • For a quick kid friendly version, use a store bought pre baked crust and skip the blind baking step, it still turns out well.

What to serve it with

  • Green salad with vinaigrette, already part of the recipe
  • A glass of dry 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 can go straight from the freezer into a low oven to reheat. Avoid the microwave, which softens the crust.

Questions about this dish

Can you make onion tart ahead of time?

Yes, bake it the day before and reheat it gently in the oven before serving. The soft onions actually taste even better after a night in the fridge.

Can you use light cream instead of full fat cream?

You can, but the filling will be a bit less creamy and may release more water during baking. Keep at least part of the filling as full fat cream so the tart holds together.

Why do you need to pre bake the crust?

Without pre baking, the crust stays damp under the onions and custard, especially since the onions release moisture. Blind baking first gives you a crisp base once the tart is done.

How do you keep the onions from burning while they cook?

Cook them over low heat, covered at first, stirring regularly. If they start to stick, add a spoonful of water instead of turning up the heat.

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

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

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

About 500 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 onion tart with 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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