SWEET POTATO TARTE TATIN
Hands-on time: 15 minutes Total time: 1¼ hours Makes: 8 servings
Guests will never know how simple this elegant appetizer is to make! The secret is our shortcut ingredient: prepared puff pastry. For the prettiest presentation, use sweet potatoes that are even in width.
600 g sweet potatoes (about 2), peeled and sliced in generous ¼-inch (5 mm) rounds 2 tsp olive oil ¼ tsp each salt and pepper ⅓ cup granulated sugar 2 tsp balsamic vinegar 6 fresh sage leaves, chopped 2 tsp chopped fresh thyme ¾ cup shredded Gruyère cheese 30 g soft goat cheese (chèvre), crumbled 1 sheet (half 450 g pkg) frozen butter puff pastry, thawed 4 tsp Dijon mustard
In bowl, drizzle sweet potatoes with oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Arrange in single layer on parchment paper–lined rimmed baking sheet. Bake in 400°F (200°C) oven until tender, about 25 minutes. Let cool slightly. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.) While sweet potatoes are cooling, in tall saucepan, cook sugar and 2 tbsp water over medium heat, swirling pan occasionally, until sugar is dissolved and mixture bubbles and becomes light amber, about 7 minutes. Remove from heat. Standing back and averting face, stir in vinegar and 1 tsp water. Immediately pour into lightly greased 9-inch (2.5 L) square cake pan, swirling to coat. Arrange sweet potatoes in rows over top of sugar mixture, overlapping slightly (do not touch hot sugar mixture). Sprinkle with sage, thyme and Gruyère; dot with goat cheese. Gently unroll puff pastry; brush 1 side with mustard. Place over sweet potatoes, mustard side down, tucking edges between pan and sweet potatoes. Cut 4 steam vents in centre of pastry. Bake on rimmed baking sheet in 400°F (200°C) oven until crust is golden, about 35 minutes. Wearing oven mitts, carefully invert onto heatproof platter. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Tarte tatin is a classic French dessert. We’ve reimagined it as a savoury starter, rich with cheese and the tang of Dijon mustard.
PER SERVING: about 270 cal, 8 g pro, 14 g total fat (6 g sat. fat), 32 g carb (3 g dietary fibre, 14 g sugar), 24 mg chol, 260 mg sodium, 179 mg potassium. % RDI: 12% calcium, 9% iron, 119% vit A, 15% vit C, 3% folate.