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Red Onion Tart with Beets and Feta

Ashley Look

A slice of a red onion tart with beets and feta cheese.

Looking to make a little somethin’ somethin’ for your loved one this Valentine’s Day? Well, make this Red Onion Tart with Beets and Feta Cheese. For real. Nothing says love like the labor of working with beets. You can prove your affections via the kitchen blood bath or just chase your honey around the house later with stained hands. Seriously! These are hard times we are living through so why not go all in on the crazy, and make this Valentine’s Day a night of weird romance? Boring is boring. It’s time to shake things up!

First up, let me tell you about the crust. There is nothing boring about it. This one is made with cream cheese cause ya know what? Cream and cheese go well with beets, and if you have listened to me at all, you own the Flavor Bible, and know this already. Cream cheese is a no brainer here and the fact that you put it in the the crust should be making your mind explode right now. People think butter is what makes crusts all the rage. Little do they know… Cream cheese yo!

Second on the crust is that this recipe makes two shells. Do you need two? No. Just archive that extra pup to the freezer and save it for next year when you make this recipe again! JK! This Red Onion Tart with Beets and Feta recipe is not exclusive for Valentine’s Day celebrations. I made this tart two weeks ago. How do you think I got these photos? Dur… The truth is this extra crust is my gift to you because love is love, and pies and tarts and quiches… It’s all the same and this one is GOOD so why not have two? If you are stuck at home as a caregiver, a victim of the pandemic, or just going through a weird in-between phase, know that getting your bake on is a good waste of time.

Ok, next up is the filling. What can I say? It’s good and hot pink, and screams “notice me” like a red hot mama. It’s mostly just a color thing but it tastes good too. Beets are loaded with nutrition. They improve blood flow and lower blood pressure helping to make a heart happy. See? Valentine-y! Just make the dang tart, ok? Ok!

The Crust

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups flour
  • Pinch of salt
  • Pinch of sugar
  • 1 cup butter (unsalted)-softened
  • 8 oz package of cream cheese- softened

Directions:

  1. In a bowl combine the flour, salt and sugar and set aside.
  2. In another bowl add the butter and cream cheese and mix thoroughly till combined.
  3. Once mixed, slowly add your dry ingredients to the butter/cream cheese mixture, working it together to form the dough.
  4. After the dough is formed and all the ingredients are fully incorporated, divide the dough in half and form two round disks.
  5. Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or until you are ready to use.
  6. Remove one dough disk and roll it out to fit your pie pan or skillet.
  7. Bake it at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes until it becomes lightly golden brown. Be sure to weight the top with pie weights or an alternative to keep the crust from puffing up.
  8. When the crust begins to slightly brown, remove it from the oven and let cool in the pan.

The Tart

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp oil
  • 1 red onion sliced thin
  • 1 large or 2 small beets grated
  • 2 springs of thyme
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup of water
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • splash of heavy cream

Directions:

  1. Add the oil to a hot skillet and sautee the red onions still soft.
  2. Then add the grated beets and the thyme sprigs, sauteing the items together in the pan.
  3. Carefully add the balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, and water and let it all cook together until the liquid has evaprated and then allow it to cool. This could take 15-20 minutes.
  4. When the filling is cool, transfer it into your tart shell and discard the thyme sprigs in the process.
  5. Sprinkle the feta cheese on top.
  6. In a seperate bowl, mix the eggs with a splash of heavy cream.
  7. Pour the egg mixture into the tart shell with the other ingredients and carefully transfer the tart to the oven.
  8. Allow it to cook at 350 degrees F for 30 or so minutes or until the center is firm.
  9. Then remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly before slicing and serving. It's great served either warm or cold and will last several days in the fridge in an air tight container.

Senior Nutrition Tips:

A final word on this tart recipes for anyone preparing meals for seniors is consider making this recipe as a frittata instead of a tart. You can skip the crust entirely if your elderly loved one has difficulty chewing. I find the crust be be quite soft and flaky but seniors can be picky eaters and if you are a caregiver to one, with aging teeth, it might be better not to chance it. The frittata version is easy. If you saute the filling in an oven safe skillet that’s roughly the size of a pie pan you can just pour the egg mixture into the pan and bake it directly. If not, just transfer the filling into a pie pan or an oven dish of your liking and add the egg mixture to the top. It bakes up the same way.

I know it can be frustrating when you must prepare different foods for different eaters so if you are looking for a crowd favorite, skip the crust unless you know its a meal your senior will eat. Elders do love a good pie but this is a personal call. Either way, it will be delicious!