Labrador Tea and Cheese Tartlets

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup (60 ml) Labrador tea jelly
• 7 oz (200 g) shortcrust pastry
• 2 tbsp (10 g) soft butter
• 1 tbsp + 2 tsp (10 g) flour
• 1 lb (500 g) onion, sliced thickly
• 2 tbsp (30 g) butter
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) honey
• 3 tbsp (40 ml) honey vinegar
• ¼ cup (60 ml) mead
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste
• 4½ oz (120 g) semi-firm cheese such as Rayon d’Or or Migneron
• 12 arugula leaves (optional)

Method:

Crust

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Butter a tart tin and sprinkle with flour.
3. Press shortcrust pastry into tart tin and prick with fork.
4. Bake for 15 minutes.

Filling

1. Sauté onions in pan with butter until soft.
2. Add honey and keep stirring until golden brown.
3. Deglaze with honey vinegar and mead.
4. Simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes until liquid has evaporated.
5. Season to taste and refrigerate.

Assembly

1. Place 1 teaspoon of caramelized onion in each tartlet.
2. Garnish with slice of cheese and a spoonful of Labrador tea jelly.
3. Broil in oven at 400°F for 5 minutes until cheese and jelly soften.
4. Garnish with arugula leaf (optional) and serve.

• July 20, 2011, 11:28 a.m.
  The Québec maritime team

  Comments by the chefs of the month

  «  This recipe is easy to make but looks impressive. We decided to make mini-tartlets (even smaller than what the recipe called for). We also replaced the honey vinegar with maple vinegar, which is cheaper. It’s important to cook the onions at low heat and to stir them often to avoid sticking or burning. As this recipe only called for a small quantity of honey wine (we bought a Vieux Moulin from Sainte-Flavie), it was also the perfect opportunity to share the rest of the bottle with our guests. Yum! Cost (before taxes): About $1.80 per person. »
• July 20, 2011, 11:28 a.m.
  The Québec maritime team

  Comments by the taste testers

  «  These tartlets were delicious! Their flavour is a rich and tasty blend of sweet caramelized onions and salty cheese—a perfect combination. We would have happily eaten more.  »

Preparation time

25 minutes

Cooking time

15 minutes

Servings

12 bits

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