CAULIFLOWER, RED ONION, AND CHESTNUT TART

Cauliflower, Red Onion, and Chestnut Tart image

A blue cheese bechamel makes this tart deliciously rich, so you need only a small piece. It's a good starter or side dish for a holiday meal, but it works just as well for lunch or a light dinner with a green salad.

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 3h35m

Yield Makes one 4-by-13-inch tart

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1 rectangle Hazelnut Pastry Dough
All-purpose flour, for surface
4 ounces red pearl onions
1 small head cauliflower, separated into florets
Coarse salt
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese (2 ounces)
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
Coarse salt
1/3 cup coarsely chopped chestnuts

Steps:

Make the tart: Roll out pastry dough to a 6-by-16-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Fit dough into a 4-by-13-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim edges flush with top. Prick bottom of tart all over with a fork. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line crust with parchment, leaving an overhang on all sides. Fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until crust is set and edges are just starting to turn golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven, and remove pie weights and parchment. Bake until bottom of tart shell is pale gold, about 10 minutes more. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees.
Meanwhile, make the filling: Prepare an ice-water bath. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Cook onions for 2 minutes. Transfer to ice-water bath. Drain. Peel onions, and cut each in half. Meanwhile, steam cauliflower in a basket insert set over a pan of simmering water until almost tender, about 3 minutes. Season with salt. Let cool.
Heat oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook onions, stirring, until browned, about 12 minutes.
Make the bechamel: Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add flour, and cook, whisking, for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in milk, and cook, whisking, until mixture is thick and just starts to boil. Add 1/4 cup blue cheese, the thyme, and 1 teaspoon salt, and whisk until cheese melts. Stir in cauliflower, half the onions, and half the chestnuts.
Spread cauliflower mixture onto tart shell. Scatter remaining onions and chestnuts over filling, and dot top with remaining 1/4 cup blue cheese. Bake tart on a baking sheet until filling is bubbling, about 45 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.