Alsatian Tarte FlambÉe Recipes

FLAMMKUCHEN/FLAMMEKUECHE (TARTE FLAMBEE)

Steps:

• Mix together the flour, oil, salt and water in a bowl. If it's too dry and won't come together, add a little more water, but it will be a relatively dry dough. Kneed for a minute then set aside while you prepare the toppings.
• Preheat the oven to 450F/230C. Line a large baking sheet/tray (half sheet) with parchment.
• Cut the bacon in to thin strips ('lardons') and cook in a small skillet/frying pan over a medium heat until they are just starting to brown. Remove from pan and set aside.
• Add the onions to the pan, along with the butter, and cook a few minutes until the onions have softened but are only just browning.
• Add the nutmeg, salt and pepper to the creme fraiche and mix well.
• Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a circle/oval as thin as you can (around 1/8in/3mm).
• Transfer the dough to the lined baking sheet then spread the creme fraiche over the top, leaving a space around the edge without any topping.
• Spread over the sauteed onions then top with the bacon, spreading them as evenly as you can. Top with the gruyere then bake for around 10 minutes until the edges are lightly brown and crisp and the toppings are just starting to color.

TARTE FLAMBEE (ALSATIAN BACON & ONION TART)

Steps:

• Place bacon in a skillet and cook over medium-high heat until cooked but not crisp and fat has rendered out, about 8 minutes. Drain in a strainer; reserve the fat.
• Place skillet back over medium heat. Add sliced onions. Cook briefly just until they lose their raw edge and soften up slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add a teaspoon or 2 of bacon fat if pan seems too dry. Remove skillet from heat and allow to cool to room temperature.
• Mix fromage blanc, creme fraiche, nutmeg, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper together in a mixing bowl.
• Place 1 ball of pizza dough on a well-floured surface. Flatten and roll out to a 10- or 12-inch thin circle. Transfer to a cold cast iron pan. Heat over medium-high heat to pre-cook the bottom of the crust. As dough heats and bubbles appear, deflate them with the tines of a fork so crust ends up thin and crisp (not chewy). When bottom is nicely browned and just about to start getting charred, 5 to 7 minutes, remove from heat. Repeat with remaining dough.
• Spread a generous amount of cheese mixture over the crust. Top evenly with some onions and then the bacon. Broil 5 or 6 minutes until edges are browned and starting to lift. Repeat for remaining tartes.

FLAMMKUCHEN (TARTE FLAMBEE)

Steps:

• Place 3 cups plus 3 tablespoons of flour in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Add yeast, 3 to 4 tablespoons of the lukewarm water, and sugar into the well and stir in a small amount of flour from the sides. Set aside until mixture is frothy, about 10 minutes.
• Pour in remaining water and olive oil. Mix with a wooden spoon until everything is well combined. Add 1 teaspoon salt and knead vigorously with your hands until dough holds together as a ball.
• Loosely cover dough with a clean dish towel and let rise in a warm, dry place until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes.
• Prepare the topping while dough rises. Stir 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of heavy cream and sour cream in a bowl until smooth; season with salt, pepper, and parsley.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Divide dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll out 2 pieces as thinly as possible into long rectangles on a large piece of parchment, so both will fit on one baking sheet. Fold the sides of the dough pieces to form a 1/4-inch edge all around. Spread cream topping evenly across the dough and top each dough piece with 1/4 of the bacon and the onion rings. Transfer the 2 flammkuchen with the parchment paper onto a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and crisp, about 20 minutes. Repeat with the other 2 dough pieces.

TARTE FLAMBEE (ALSATIAN PIZZA)

Steps:

• Put the flour and salt in a mixing bowl or in the work bowl of a food processor.
• In a measuring cup, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and stir in the sugar.
• Add to the flour all at once and stir or motor until smooth.
• Be careful not to over-process.
• Cover the dough with plastic wrap and allow it to rise, undisturbed, for 45 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees and rub two large baking sheets with a little vegetable oil.
• Divide the dough into four parts, and on a well-floured surface, roll each part into an 8-inch round.
• Put the rounds on the oiled baking sheets and set aside.
• Combine the fromage blanc or cottage cheese, the crème fraîche and the 1 tablespoon of flour and stir or process until smooth.
• Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until some of the fat is released, then add the sliced onion and cook 2 or 3 minutes, or until the onion is barely softened.
• Distribute the cheese evenly between the rounds of dough and spread it up to the edges.
• Sprinkle the bacon and onions on top.
• Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Bake 12 to 15 minutes, or until the pastry is browned.
• Serve hot.

ALSATIAN TARTE FLAMBEE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll the pastry to 1/8-inch thickness.
• Cut into disks about 3-1/4 to 4 inches in diameter and place on a wax paper-lined baking sheet.
• Leave in freezer until dough is frozen.
• Mix together quark, cream, nutmeg, salt and pepper.
• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Remove crusts from freezer.
• Poke pastry with a fork.
• Spread cheese mixture equally on each crust.
• Sprinkle with onion and bacon.
• Bake on bottom rack of oven for ten minutes, or until bottoms of pizzas are a dark, golden brown.
• Serve warm.