Serves 8 as a main course
Approximately 1 hour preparation time, plus time for the dough to chill
Approximately 1 hour cooking time
This tart is substantial enough to be served as a main course
with a big green salad and a slab of good bread. It would make an
excellent main course for any vegetarians at your Thanksgiving table.
Cut into smaller slices, it also could be served as an appetizer or a
side dish.
For the dough:
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into about 10 pieces
1/2 cup white wine*
1 egg, lightly scrambled
For the filling:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 small cauliflower, cut into bite-sized florets
a splash or two of white wine
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped sage leaves
4 tablespoons chives, snipped with scissors or chopped
salt and pepper to taste
4 eggs, lightly beaten
3 ounces Gorgonzola, crumbled
Make the crust:
Whisk the flour and salt together in a medium-sized bowl. Add the
butter and work it into the flour with your fingers until the butter
bits range in size from grains of sand to small pebbles. Add the white
wine and egg and mix with a wooden spoon or your hands until the egg and
wine are fully incorporated into the flour. The dough will be sticky.
Form
the dough into a ball and flatten it slightly into a disk Wrap in
plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator to chill for at least an hour
(or as long as a couple of days).
Make the filling: Heat
the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook,
stirring frequently, until the onion is translucent and has softened,
6-7 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and scrape the onion into a
large bowl. Set aside. Wipe the pan out with a paper towel.
Return
the pan to the stovetop, turn the heat to medium-high, add the canola
oil, and swirl it around the pan so that it coats the sides. After about
30 seconds, add the cauliflower and arrange it with a wooden spoon so
that it covers the bottom of the pan in a single layer. Let it sit for a
couple of minutes. Stir, and continue to cook the cauliflower, stirring
it only every few minutes so that it browns.
Cook until the
cauliflower begins to soften, but is still quite firm, about 10 minutes.
Turn off the heat and add a splash or two of white wine. Stir with a
wooden spoon, scraping up any of the browned bits from the bottom of the
pan. Pour into the bowl with the onions. Let cool for a few minutes.
Add
all of the remaining ingredients to the cauliflower except the egg and
Gorgonzola. Stir well to incorporate. Add most of the egg, but reserve a
few tablespoons to use later to brush the dough. Mix the egg in quickly
so that it fully incorporates but doesn't scramble.
Assemble the tart: Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Remove
the dough from the refrigerator and unwrap it. Generously flour the
counter and the top of the dough and roll the dough into a large circle,
at least 15 inches across, adding more flour if needed to keep the
dough from sticking. Transfer the dough to the baking sheet. It's okay
if it hangs over the sides at this point because it will be folded onto
the sheet after the filling is added.
Spoon the cauliflower
mixture onto the dough, leaving a 2- to 3-inch border around the edge.
Spread the filling out evenly. Sprinkle the Gorgonzola over the filling.
Starting on one side, fold the dough from the edge of the circle up
over the filling. Continue around the entire circle, pleating the dough
as you go and leaving a wide opening in the center.
Brush the top
of the dough with the remaining egg. If you have any left over, drizzle
it over the top of the cauliflower in the middle of the tart. Bake
until the tart's crust is golden brown, 50 minutes to an hour.
Remove the tart from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
* If
you have a decent bottle open from last night, use it. Otherwise, open
the Bedlam, use what you need for the recipe, and pour yourself a glass
to sip while you cook. But save some for dinner!