savoury tart recipe and a giveaway winner

Many of you will be familiar with the traditional French upside down apple tart called Tarte Tatin, but you may not know that the same principal can be used to make a delicious savoury tart as a first course, or to accompany a meat dish.  Le Tatin aux Echalotes  - a shallot tatin!

When cooked slowly in a pan, the shallots develop a deep sweet caramelised flavour that is quite delicious.   The tarts can either be made individually and served as a first course as above, or made as a large tart and slices served to accompany a meat such as a roast lamb.

This recipe works just as well with onions, I have a preference for the long red shallots, mostly  because they are so pretty!

To make the tart you need a pastry base, (either short or flaky, depending which you like best);  enough shallots or onions to cover the base of a heavy pan; olive oil and seasoning.

Peel and cut in half the shallots or onions.  Cook gently in a pan with plenty of olive oil, salt,  pepper and  a little sugar to help them caramelise.

When they are turned a deep rich brown and smelling totally delicious, place the onions into a deep tart mould, or several small moulds and cover with your pastry.  Pop the tarts into the oven at 190° and cook until the pastry is golden brown.  Remove from the oven, and turn them upside down onto your serving plates.  You serve the tart pastry side down, the tops can be decorated with some fresh herbs if you wish.

Another very simple recipe that looks chic and oh so French!  Bon appetit!

And now to the winner of the beautiful oil painting, generously donated to the giveaway by Carolina Elisabeth,   who painted this lovely rose picture especially for readers of my French Country Home.

The lucky name to have emerged from the random draw is Sarah, who writes the blog Hyacinths for the Soul   congratulations Sarah!  If you would like to contact me with your address I shall pass it on to Carolina.  And for everybody who longed to win the giveaway, don't forget it is always possible to order one of Carolina's beautiful paintings from her site.