Onion and Bacon Tart by Raymond Blanc

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4.

Step 2

To prepare: halve the onions and finely slice them. Finely slice the bacon into very small lardons.

Step 3

In a large sauté pan and on a medium heat, melt the butter, add the sliced onion and cover with a lid. Sauté the onion in the butter for a total of 10–12 minutes, until soft and lightly golden, but not browned.

Season with the salt, pepper and nutmeg.

Step 4

Meanwhile, place the lardons in a dry frying pan (no oil or fat) on a low- medium heat, and gently sauté them for 3–4 minutes, or until they are slightly browned.

Step 5

Back to the onions…When they are soft and lightly golden, add the flour, stir, and continue to sauté for 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat, pour in the cold milk, add the crème fraîche, and stir.

Return the pan to the heat, bring it back to a gentle simmer, stir, and cook for 3–4 minutes.

Step 6

Remove the pan from the heat and leave it to cool for 5–10 minutes. Beat the eggs and stir them into the mixture in the pan. Add half the bacon lardons, and stir again.

Step 7

Pour the mixture into the precooked pastry case. Top with the remaining bacon lardons and bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes, until the tart is perfectly browned on top.

Step 8

Before serving, allow the tart to cool slightly – that is when it’s the best.