A crispy puff pastry base, sweet caramelized onion, and Cantabrian anchovies on top: this savory tart looks very elaborate but practically makes itself. The contrast between the sweetness of the onion and the salty touch of the anchovy, on golden puff pastry, makes it a brilliant appetizer to impress without spending hours in the kitchen.
This tart is the most elegant appetizer you can serve with 3 ingredients and 30 minutes. The crispy puff pastry serves as a base for a thick layer of slowly caramelized onion — sweet, smooth, almost like jam — and on top, anchovy fillets arranged diagonally in a pattern that looks like a pastry chef's creation. Black olives and fresh thyme provide the final touches. The trick is to add the anchovies after baking, never before: the heat dries them out and turns them into something gummy and unrecognizable.
Ingredients
- 1 sheet of butter puff pastry (we use Cantabrian Anchovies "0" Gourmet Selection)
- 16 Cantabrian anchovy fillets
- 3 large onions, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 30 g butter
- Black olives from Aragon (pitted)
- Fresh thyme (or rosemary)
- Olive oil
Step-by-step preparation
- Caramelized onion: 25 minutes Melt the butter with a tablespoon of oil over low heat. Add the sliced onions and sugar. Cook for 25 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes. The onion should be completely soft, golden, and sweet, almost like jam. This step has no shortcuts: patience is the technique.
- Oven at 200 C Spread the puff pastry on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Prick the base with a fork (to prevent it from rising). Spread the caramelized onion, leaving a 1 cm clean border. Bake for 15-18 minutes until the puff pastry is golden and crispy.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Now place the anchovy fillets diagonally, forming parallel lines on the onion. The residual heat from the puff pastry slightly warms the anchovies without cooking them.
- Add the black olives between the anchovy lines and some fresh thyme leaves. Cut into rectangles and serve warm.
Our secret tip
This tart can be prepared in two phases: the caramelized onion the day before (store it in a jar in the fridge) and the baking just before serving. That way, on the day of the event, you only have 15 minutes of oven time and 2 minutes of assembly. Perfect for dinner parties where you don't want to be stuck in the kitchen.
Buy it at BacalaloCantabrian Anchovies "0" Gourmet Selection€38.90 · 24-48h refrigerated delivery →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I caramelize onion well?
Over low heat and with patience (20-30 min), with a little oil and a pinch of salt. Take your time, and the onion will release its sugar and become smooth.
Do anchovies go before or after baking?It's best to add them after, right out of the oven, so they retain their texture and don't dry out with intense heat.
Homemade or store-bought puff pastry?A good store-bought butter puff pastry gives excellent results and saves a lot of work. Brush it with egg to make it brown beautifully.
