Grilled Pitas With Caramelized Onions And Goat Cheese Recipes

GRILLED CHEESE WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS

Steps:

• Heat the canola oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large saute pan over medium heat. When the butter is melted, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until dark brown and caramelized, about 25 minutes. Add the vinegar, sugar and 2 tablespoons water, scrapping up any dark bits that have accumulated on the bottom of the pan. Continue to cook until all the liquid has evaporated. Transfer the onions to a bowl and reserve.
• Butter 1 side of each bread slice. Lay 6 slices butter-side down on a work surface. Top each with 2 slices of Gruyere, a dollop of the onions and 2 more slices of Gruyere. Top with another slice of bread, butter-side up.
• Heat a cast-iron griddle over medium heat. Add the sandwiches and cook until the cheese begins to melt and the bread is golden brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until golden brown and the cheese is melted through, 2 to 4 minutes. Cut in half and serve immediately.

CARAMELIZED ONION AND GOAT CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• In a large heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, add the oil and butter. When the butter is melted, add the onions, sugar, and salt, to taste. Cook until the onions begin to brown. Adjust the heat to low and cook slowly, turning often, until the onions are golden brown and caramelized, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove the onions from the heat and set aside to cool.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl combine the goat cheese, egg, cream, and thyme. Pour the mixture into a small resealable plastic food storage bag. Snip off a corner of the bag to use it for piping.
• Lay the pie crusts out flat on a clean surface and with a 2 1/2-inch round cutter cut out 12 circles from each crust. Press them into the cups of the mini-muffin tin. Fill each cup 1/2 way with the cooled onions. Pipe the cheese mixture on top of the onions, filling the cups. Bake the tarts until the filling is set, about 15 to 20 minutes. Let the tarts cool slightly, and then remove them from the muffin tin and serve.

GRILLED PITAS WITH TOMATOES, OLIVES, AND FETA

Steps:

• Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Stir tomatoes, olives, onion, 2 tablespoons oil, and mint in small bowl to blend.
• Brush 1 side of each pita with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; place pitas, oiled side down, on grill. Cook until lightly charred, about 2 minutes. Turn pitas over; top with tomato mixture, spreading almost to edges. Sprinkle with cheese.
• Cover barbecue and grill pitas until topping is warm, about 2 minutes. Transfer pitas to plates and serve.

GOAT CHEESE AND CARAMELIZED ONION TARTS

Steps:

• Cut thawed puff pastry into six 3- to 4-inch rounds using a cookie cutter. Roll edges of each pastry slightly to form 6 small tarts. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat; stir in sweet onion. Cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low and continue cooking and stirring until onion is very tender and dark brown, about 40 minutes more. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bring 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat and let simmer until thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar and brown sugar. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Divide cooked onions between the 6 tart shells and place on a baking sheet. Sprinkle goat cheese evenly on top of each tart.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and drizzle each with balsamic vinegar reduction.
• Return tarts to the oven and continue to bake until cheese is bubbly and tarts are golden brown, about 8 minutes more.

POTATO, CARAMELIZED ONION, AND GOAT CHEESE GRATIN

Steps:

• In a heavy 5- to 6-quart kettle heat oil over moderate heat until hot but not smoking and cook onions with thyme and salt and pepper to taste, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to moderately low and cook, stirring frequently to keep from scorching, until golden brown.
• Remove kettle from heat.
• While onions are cooking, bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil for potatoes.
• Peel potatoes and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.
• Add potatoes to boiling water and cook 5 minutes from time water returns to a boil.
• Drain potatoes well in a colander.
• Preheat oven to 425°F and lightly oil a 2- to 2 1/2-quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish.
• Arrange half of potatoes, overlapping slightly, in dish and season generously with salt and pepper.
• Cover potatoes with onions, spreading evenly, and top with goat cheese.
• Arrange remaining potatoes, overlapping slightly, over cheese and season generously with salt and pepper.
• Dot gratin with butter.
• Gratin may be prepared up to this point 2 hours ahead and kept at room temperature, covered.
• Pour milk evenly over potatoes and bake 35 minutes, or until potatoes are tender and top is golden.
• Gratin may be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.
• Reheat gratin before serving.

GRILLED PITAS WITH CARAMELIZED ONIONS AND GOAT CHEESE

Steps:

• In a large nonstick skillet, warm 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium heat.
• Add onions, sugar, salt, and cook stirring frequently, until onions are very soft, about 15 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring often until onions are golden brown, about 20 minutes longer.
• Preheat grill.
• In a cup stir together the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, tarragon, and thyme.
• Brush cut sides of pitas with the herb mixture.
• Sprinkle the goat cheese crumbs over the pitas and top with the caramelized onions.
• Place pitas on grill rack over low heat, and grill until bottoms are crisp and topping is heated through, about 3 minutes.
• To serve sprinkle with parsley and cut into wedges.