Feuilles d'Érable Tartes Salées (Print Version)

Flaky tart with autumn vegetables, caramelized onions, goat cheese, and a touch of maple syrup.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pastry

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
03 - 1 egg yolk
04 - 2–3 tablespoons cold water
05 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Filling

06 - 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
07 - 1 small butternut squash, peeled and diced
08 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
09 - 1 large red onion, thinly sliced
10 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
11 - 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
12 - 3.5 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
13 - 2 eggs
14 - 2/3 cup crème fraîche
15 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
16 - Salt and pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Set the oven temperature to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for roasting vegetables.
02 - In a large bowl, combine flour and salt. Incorporate cold butter using your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in egg yolk and add cold water gradually until a dough forms. Shape into a disk, wrap tightly, and refrigerate for 20 minutes.
03 - Toss sweet potato and butternut squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread evenly on a baking sheet and roast for 20 to 25 minutes until tender and golden. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (180°C) after roasting.
04 - Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add sliced red onions and cook slowly for 10 to 12 minutes until soft and caramelized. Stir in maple syrup and cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - Roll out chilled dough on a floured surface and fit into a 9-inch tart pan. Prick the base with a fork and blind-bake for 10 minutes at 350°F (180°C).
06 - Whisk together eggs, crème fraîche, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl until homogeneous.
07 - Layer the roasted vegetables and caramelized onions evenly in the blind-baked pastry shell. Sprinkle crumbled goat cheese over the vegetables. Pour the egg and crème fraîche mixture uniformly on top.
08 - Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 25 to 30 minutes until the filling is set and the surface is lightly golden.
09 - Allow the tart to cool slightly before removing from the pan. Optionally, cut extra pastry into maple leaf shapes, bake until crisp, and place atop the tart before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • A beautiful seasonal tart that visually mimics autumn’s maple leaves.
  • Combines savory roasted vegetables with the sweet depth of caramelized onions and maple syrup.
  • Flaky pastry perfectly balances the creamy goat cheese and smooth filling.
  • An approachable French dish with medium difficulty that yields satisfying results for 6 servings.
02 -
  • Chill the dough thoroughly before rolling out to prevent shrinking during baking.
  • Roast vegetables evenly by cutting them into uniform pieces.
  • Caramelize onions low and slow for maximum flavor and sweetness.
  • Blind bake the crust with pie weights or beans to keep it flat and crisp.
  • Decorate with extra pastry cut-outs for a festive seasonal touch.
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