CARAMELIZED ONION AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Caramelized Onion and Goat Cheese Tarts image

Yield Serves 2 as a first course

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 large onion
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/4 cup water
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 puff pastry sheet (from a 17 1/4-ounce package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed according to package instructions)
1 ounce soft mild goat cheese at room temperature
Garnish: fresh thyme sprigs

Steps:

Preheat oven to 450°F. and butter a baking sheet. Cut onion into very thin slices. In a heavy skillet heat butter over moderately high heat until foam subsides and sauté onion, stirring occasionally, until golden. Add water and deglaze skillet, scraping up any brown bits and cooking until water is evaporated. Stir in thyme and cook mixture until onion is deep golden.
While onion is cooking, cutting lengthwise along a fold line, cut off one third of pastry sheet, about 10 by 3 inches, and reserve remaining pastry for another use. Halve pastry strip crosswise and transfer pieces to baking sheet. Prick pastry all over with a fork and bake in middle of oven until deep golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer a pastry piece with a spatula to each of 2 plates and immediately press down centers to form an indentation for goat cheese and onion. Spread goat cheese in middle of pastry pieces and top with caramelized onion.
Garnish tarts with fresh thyme sprigs and serve immediately.