Tarte Flambée With Summer Squash Recipe

If there's one simple French dish you master, let it be tarte flambée. This traditional Alsatian recipe from Chef Michael Toscano of New York City's Montmartre restaurant features crispy bits of fatty bacon called lardons, plus sweet, seasonal summer squash, caramelized onions and tangy crème fraîche. It's a savory treat not to be missed.

Says the chef, "The tarte flambée is a blank canvas for amazing summer vegetables. It's a total crowd pleaser that's great for snacking on at a picnic or party."

In New York this weekend? Don't miss La Fête Montmartre, a Bastille party where you just might find a great tarte.

Tarte Flambée With Summer Squash Recipe
No Ratings
Prep Time
2
hours
Cook Time
1.5
hours
Servings
4
Tarte Flambée With Summer Squash Recipe
Total time: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Ingredients
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 3/4 teaspoon dry yeast
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • pinch of salt
  • 1/2 pound slab bacon
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • 3 large Spanish onions
  • kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup creme fraiche
  • 1/2 cup fromage blanc
  • 1 bunch fresh chives
Directions
  1. Activate the yeast by combining the 105°F water, yeast and sugar. Stir together and let sit until the mixture becomes frothy, about 10 minutes.
  2. Put the flour in a mixing bowl and make a well in the center.
  3. Add the olive oil, salt and the activated yeast mixture. Stir until the dough comes together and forms a ball.
  4. Dust a clean work surface with flour and knead the dough until it is tight and firm, 7 minutes.
  5. Place the dough back in the mixing bowl, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.
  6. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  7. Place the bacon in a large, wide pan and give it a couple drops of olive oil.
  8. Bring the pan to a medium heat and cook the bacon until it is brown and crispy.
  9. Remove the bacon from the pan and reserve on paper towels.
  10. Add the onions to the pan, season with salt, cover and cook until the onions have wilted and are very soft, about 10 minutes.
  11. Remove the lid and cook the onions until they are very soft and caramelized. This will take awhile, maybe up to 45 minutes. Stir the onions occasionally paying attention not to let them burn.
  12. When the onions are deep brown, remove them from the heat and reserve.
  13. Combine the creme fraiche and fromage blanc.
  14. Divide the dough into 4 even balls and roll them out until they are 1/8-inch thick.
  15. Place them on a sheet tray and bake them in the oven for 4 minutes.
  16. Remove the dough from the oven. Schmear each dough evenly with the cheese mixture, place an even layer of sliced squash & caramelized onions on the cheese and sprinkle the bacon on top of the onions.
  17. Return the assembled tartes to the oven until the dough is crisp on the bottom and the toppings are bubbly, 8 minutes. Sprinkle with chives and serve.
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