A Collaboration with Meliz Berg and AEG Kitchen Appliances
We’re excited to share our latest recipe collaboration with Meliz Berg and AEG Kitchen Appliances. Meliz Berg is an award-winning cookbook author, creator of Meliz Cooks, and one of our celebrated talents from The Maldon 50. Known for her vibrant, flavour-driven dishes inspired by her Turkish-Cypriot heritage, Meliz brings here signature warmth and creativity to this Slow-Roasted Vegetables, Creamy Garlic Yogurt & Garlic Butter recipe. Using Maldon Garlic Sea Salt throughout, she creates a beautifully balanced dish that’s perfect for effortless hosting. This collaboration highlights just how transformative great seasoning and clever cooking techniques can be in elevating simple ingredients.
Meliz Berg seasoning the dish with Maldon Garlic Sea Salt
Crafted With AEG
Maldon Garlic Sea Salt and AEG Built-in-OvenAEG 8000 MealAssist Microwave and Build-in-Oven
To bring every element of this recipe to life, Meliz cooked using premium AEG Kitchen Appliances, including the AEG 7000 MealAssist Oven with SteamCrisp, featured throughout the cooking videos. This innovative oven uses a combination of 25% steam and 75% heat for perfectly even cooking – ideal for slow-roasting vegetables with crisp, caramelised edges. With it’s CookSmart Touch display telescopic runners and pyrolytic self-cleaning, it offers precision, ease and outstanding performance. Also used in the kitchen setup are the AEG 8000 MealAssist Combination Oven & Microwave, known for it’s energy-saving residual heat cooking, and the sleekAEG 6000 Gas on Glass 90cm Hob, completing a modern workspace designed for flavour, efficiency and fuss-free cooking.
How to Make Slow-Roasted Vegetables, Creamy Garlic Yoghurt & Garlic Butter
This recipe is the perfect sharing dish! Instead of preparing individual starters, this vibrant platter of Mediterranean roasted vegetables, silky garlic yogurt and a rich homemade garlic butter offers maximum flavour with minimal effort. Everything can be made ahead – the roasted aubergine, courgette and pepper to the yogurt and butter – making it ideal for dinner parties, Spring lunches, or relaxed weekend gatherings.
Remember to finish with an extra pinch of Maldon Garlic Sea Salt for that perfect seasoning.
Method:
To make the garlic yoghurt, add the yoghurt, lemon zest, garlic and Maldon Garlic Sea Salt flakes to a small bowl. Halve the zested lemon, and squeeze half of it into the yoghurt mixture. Save the other half for the dressing. Stir the garlic yoghurt and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Mix together the butter and Maldon Garlic Sea Salt, spread into a small ramekin, and leave to one side. Preheat oven to 200c fan.
Add the peppers to a large bowl along with half of the olive oil. Mix well, then add the aubergines, courgettes and Maldon Garlic Sea Salt and toss well.
Brush a large shallow non-stick baking tray with the remaining olive oil, and place in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.
Carefully add all of the vegetables to the hot oiled baking tray, and place on the middle shelf of the oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the vegetables have fully softened and the skins and edges are slightly charred. Turn half way through, if necessary.
Whilst the vegetables are cooking, mix together all the dressing ingredients and add the hot, cooked vegetables straight into the dressing and toss well until they are all fully coated.
Sprinkle a little more Maldon Garlic Sea Salt over the potted butter before serving.
Spread the garlic yoghurt over a platter, top with the dressed vegetables, sprinkle over the remaining sumac, pul biber and parsley, drizzle over a little more extra virgin olive oil, and serve with hot crusty bread slathered in the Garlic Sea Salt butter.
Have You Tried It?
Meliz Berg seasoning the tray of vegetables with Maldon Garlic Sea SaltFresh crusty bread coming out of the AEG OvenHomemade Garlic ButterThe finished plate: Slow-roasted vegetables, creamy garlic yogurt and garlic butter
We hope you enjoyed this flavour-packed recipe as much as we loved creating it. This dish is the first in ourspecial series with Meliz Berg and AEG, where we’re be teaming up to bring you a delicious starter, main and dessert designed for the ultimate sharing menu. If you try this recipe at home, we’d love to see it – tag us in your creations so we can share your wonderful cooking with our community. And if you’re feeling inspired to upgrade your kitchen, you can explore more AEG appliances here, and discover how their innovative technology can transform your everyday cooking.
Cabbage has become one of the biggest trends in modern cooking – loved for it’s affordability, versatility, and incredible ability to transform under high heat. When roasted, Savoy cabbage turns golden at the edges, rich and buttery at the core, and the perfect canvas for bold flavours. It’s no surprise that cabbage steak recipes are trending across Instagram and TikTok as cooks rediscover this once-humble vegetable.
Why are cabbages becoming popular again in food?
Cabbage is experiencing a major comeback as one of the biggest food trends of 2026, and there are several reasons for it’s rise in popularity.
It’s highly budget-friendly – Food prices have pushed home cooks towards ingredients that are affordable, versatile, and yield a lot per purchase. Cabbage fits this perfectly, making it a hero for cost-conscious cooing.
It’s an incredibly versatile ingredient – Chefs and creators highlight that cabbage can be roasted, sautéed, braised, fermented, grilled or served raw, making it one of the most adaptable vegetables available.
Social media trends are boosting it’s appeal – Pinterest Predicts and TikTok have reported major strikes in searches for cabbage dishes – from cabbage dumplings to fermented cabbage. Home cooks are incredibly inspired by visually striking cabbage steaks and charred wedges.
It offers strong nutritional benefits – Cabbage is a nutrient-dense cruciferous vegetable rich in vitamin C, folate, and potassium. It also has anti-inflammatory and gut-supportive properties, making it a go-to ingredient for health-focused cooks.
‘Simple Ingredients Done Well’ trend = Food analysts say the cabbage trend reflects a cultural shift toward everyday ingredients that deliver comfort, flavour, and a sense of home.
How to Cook Cabbage Steaks?
Raw Savoy cabbage steaks on a trayClose-up of the roasted edges + Maldon Sea Salt flakesFinal plated dish with tahini drizzle and toppings
This recipe brings together deeply caramelised roasted cabbage, a silky tahini sauce, and the clean, crisp finish of Maldon Original Sea Salt flakes. Topped with almonds and parsley, it’s a modern, plant-forward dish that punches fat above it’s simplicity.
Perfect as a side, centrepiece, or a hearty weeknight vegan dish – and ideal for sharing on Instagram thanks to those charred, crinkled Savoy leaves.
1. Prepare the cabbage steaks
Preheat the oven to 180c.
Take each savoy cabbage and slice into 1inch (roughly 2cm) ‘steaks’ to make 4 individual cabbage steaks. Discard the smaller pieces of cabbage from the ends – this can be used in another dish.
2. Roast until golden
Place the 4 cabbage steaks onto a baking tray and drizzle with the olive oil, some Maldon Original Sea Salt and cracked black pepper. Add some sprigs of thyme to the tray and then place into the preheated oven to roast for 25 minutes.
3. Make the tahini sauce
To make the tahini sauce, add the tahini to a mixing bowl along with the olive oil, lemon juice and Maldon Original Sea Salt flakes and pepper. It will be very thick so gradually add the water until it reaches a thick creamy consistency – you can add more water if you want it to be looser.
4. Plate and finish
To serve, place some of the creamy tahini sauce onto a place and then top with a roasted cabbage steak.
Garnish with some roasted chopped almonds and some parsley.
What to serve with cabbage steaks
A gain base: quinoa, bulgur, couscous, or wild race
Savoy cabbage works beautifully because it’s crinkled leaves roast into crisp, caramelised layers with soft centres. You can also use a classic green cabbage for a more neutral flavour. For a more vibrant, festive colour, you can use a red cabbage, but it may take slightly longer to cook and has a firmer texture.
Why are my cabbage steaks not crispy?
Make sure the steaks are well coated in oil and have space on the roasting tray – overcrowding causes steaming, not browning. More steam being produced means the cabbage is getting wet and will not get crispy.
Can I make cabbage steaks ahead of time?
You can part-roast cabbage steaks and finish just before serving. Add the tahini sauce and additional garnishes only at the end.
How do I store leftovers?
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven to restore crispness.
Can I make this recipe vegan and gluten-free?
This cabbage steaks recipe is naturally vegan and gluten-free – just make sure the topping (like nuts) are suitable for your guests.
How thick should I cut cabbage steaks?
We recommend cutting your cabbage steaks 2-3cm in thickness. This ensures a nice crispy edge and tender centres.
Make It, Taste It, Love It!
We’d love to see how you cabbage steaks turned out. Share your creation and tag us on Instagram at @maldonsalt so we can celebrate your seasoning mastery.
Originating from the French city of Lyon, this classic side dish transforms humble ingredients into a restaurant-quality centrepiece. Lyonnaise potatoes are the perfect marriage of textures and flavours: waxy potato slices pan-fried in butter and olive oil until golden and crisp, tossed together with deeply caramelised, sweet white onions. To elevate this traditional recipe, we finish the pan with a generous pinch of Maldon Garlic Sea Salt flakes, perfectly complementing the sweet onions and rich butter with a burst of savoury, roasted garlic flavour.
Why You’ll Love This Lyonnaise Potatoes Recipe
The Perfect Texture: Parboiling the potatoes first ensures they are beautifully tender on the inside, while frying them in batches guarantees a golden, crispy exterior.
Incredible Flavor: Slowly caramelising the onions in the leftover potato cooking oils creates a sweet, savory depth that coats every single bite.
Elevated Simplicity: It requires only a few basic pantry staples to create an impressive, classic French dish that pairs perfectly with almost any main course.
How to Make Lyonnaise Potatoes (Step-by-Step)
Step 1 – Parboil the potatoes
Start by slicing the waxy potatoes into 2cm thick slices, discarding the very small, uneven ends.
Place the slices into a pot of cold water and bring to the boil. Let the potatoes boil for just 2 minutes—you want them to start becoming tender but remain uncooked and firm in the middle. This crucial step ensures they won’t break down and turn to mash when sautéed later.
Step 2 – Dry and fry in batches
Drain the potatoes well and allow them to sit for a few minutes to ensure they are fully dry. In a large frying pan, add half of the butter and olive oil.
Once hot, begin frying the potato slices in batches to ensure they all get nice and golden crisp on each side.
Remove the slices from the pan as they finish cooking.
Step 3 – Caramelise the onions
Once all the potato slices are fried and set aside, add the remaining butter and olive oil to the pan.
Toss in the finely sliced white onions along with the Maldon Garlic Sea Salt flakes. Fry over medium heat for about 8 minutes until the onions are soft, golden, and beautifully caramelised.
Step 4 – Combine and serve
Finally, add the golden potatoes back to the pan with the onions to warm them through. Season with cracked black pepper.
Transfer the Lyonnaise potatoes to a serving dish and garnish with an extra sprinkle of Maldon Garlic Sea Salt flakes and the freshly chopped parsley.
Tips for the Perfect Potatoes a la Lyonnaise
Use Waxy Potatoes: It is vital to use waxy potatoes (like new potatoes, Charlotte, or Yukon Gold) rather than floury baking potatoes. Waxy potatoes hold their shape when boiled and fried; floury ones will disintegrate in the pan.
Dry Thoroughly: Moisture is the enemy of a crispy crust. After draining your parboiled potatoes, let them steam dry completely before they hit the hot fat.
Don’t Rush the Onions: The magic of a true recipe for potatoes Lyonnaise comes from the sweet, jammy onions. Take your time during the 8-minute frying stage to ensure they caramelise properly without burning.
This rich, buttery side dish is incredibly robust and pairs beautifully with classic, protein-heavy mains. It is the ultimate side dish for a perfectly seared steak, a roasted rack of lamb, or crispy-skinned roast chicken.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Lyonnaise potatoes?
Lyonnaise potatoes (or pommes de terre à la lyonnaise) is a traditional French dish originating from the city of Lyon. It consists of sliced, pan-fried potatoes mixed with thinly sliced, butter-caramelised onions, typically finished with fresh parsley.
Do I have to peel the potatoes first?
This comes down to personal preference. Traditionally, the potatoes are peeled. However, if you are using thin-skinned new potatoes, you can absolutely leave the skins on for extra texture and rusticity.
Can I make Lyonnaise potatoes ahead of time?
While they are best served fresh and crispy straight from the frying pan, you can do the prep work ahead of time. You can parboil the potatoes and slice the onions hours in advance, leaving only the frying and caramelising for right before dinner.
When you need an elegant, restaurant-quality vegetable side dish but are short on time, this sauteed asparagus with mushrooms is the perfect solution. Earthy, wild mushrooms meet vibrant, tender-crisp asparagus in a hot pan, soaking up rich olive oil and aromatic crushed garlic. The entire dish comes together in under 15 minutes from prep to plate. The secret to elevating this simple pan-fry? A generous pinch of Maldon Smoked Sea Salt flakes tossed through right at the end to enhance the savoury, umami flavours of the mushrooms.
Why You’ll Love This Sautéed Asparagus Recipe
Lightning Fast: With just 5 minutes of prep and 10 minutes in the pan, this is the ultimate speedy side dish for busy weeknights or stress-free dinner parties.
Incredible Texture: Pan-frying the mushrooms on a high heat gives them a beautiful, golden-crisp edge, while the asparagus stays perfectly vibrant and tender-crisp.
Earthy & Smoky: Using a blend of wild mushrooms (like shiitake or chanterelle) paired with our signature smoked sea salt creates a deep, complex flavour profile that punches far above its simple ingredients.
How to Make Sauteed Asparagus with Mushrooms (Step-byStep)
Step 1 – Prepare the vegetables
Start by preparing your asparagus. Remove the tough, woody ends from the spears, then cut the remaining tender stems in half to create two shorter pieces per spear. Next, take your mixed mushrooms and brush them clean. Keep any smaller mushrooms whole, but cut larger varieties in half so everything cooks at the same rate.
Step 2 – Fry the mushrooms
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over a high heat. Add the prepared mushrooms and fry until they soften, release their moisture, and develop a nicely golden, crisp exterior.
Step 3 – Add the asparagus and garlic
Once the mushrooms are golden, toss the prepared asparagus pieces into the hot pan. Sauté the asparagus in the olive oil alongside the mushrooms for a couple of minutes until they turn bright green.
Step 4 – Finish and season
Add the crushed garlic cloves to the pan. Fry for another minute or so until the garlic becomes beautifully fragrant and the asparagus is perfectly tender. The whole cooking process should take 10 minutes or less. Remove the pan from the heat, season generously with Maldon Smoked Sea Salt flakes, and serve immediately.
Tips for the Perfect Pan-Fried Vegetables
Brush, Don’t Wash: Mushrooms are like sponges. If you rinse them under water, they will absorb it and steam in the pan rather than getting crispy. Always use a dry pastry brush or a damp piece of kitchen paper to gently brush away any dirt.
Keep the Heat High: To get that lovely golden-brown sear on the mushrooms without overcooking the asparagus, make sure your frying pan and olive oil are nice and hot before you start.
Add Garlic Last: Crushed garlic burns very quickly over high heat, turning bitter. By adding the garlic during the final minute of cooking, you infuse the dish with its fragrant flavour without risking a burnt taste.
What to Serve with Sautéed Asparagus
This garlicky, earthy side dish is incredibly versatile. It is a classic pairing for a pan-seared steak, a juicy roast chicken breast, or a thick-cut pork chop. For a vegetarian option, try serving these savoury vegetables stirred through a creamy Parmesan risotto or simply tossed with fresh pasta and an extra drizzle of good quality olive oil.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use butter instead of olive oil
Yes, you can absolutely use butter instead of olive oil! While our recipe calls for asparagus sautéed in olive oil for a lighter, Mediterranean finish, you can absolutely substitute it with butter. Butter will add a rich, nutty flavour that pairs beautifully with the mushrooms.
How do I know where to trim the asparagus
The easiest way to find where the tough, woody end stops and the tender stem begins is to take one spear of asparagus and gently bend it near the bottom. It will naturally snap at the exact point where it becomes tender. You can use that snapped piece as a length guide to slice the rest of your bunch with a knife.
Can I use standard button mushrooms?
You certainly can use button mushrooms instead of mixed mushrooms. However, we highly recommend using a “mixed wild” pack (containing varieties like shiitake, oyster, or chanterelle) if you can find them. They offer a much meatier texture and a deeper, more complex flavour than standard white button mushrooms.
If you have never tried cooking radishes before, you are in for a treat. While raw radishes are famous for their sharp, peppery bite, learning how to roast radishes completely transforms them. The oven mellows their heat, turning them incredibly sweet, tender, and juicy. Paired with earthy, vibrant baby rainbow carrots and a drizzle of honey, this dish is the ultimate celebration of seasonal root vegetables. We finish the whole tray with a generous pinch of Maldon Pepper Sea Salt flakes to perfectly balance the natural sweetness with a subtle, savoury, peppered flavour.
Why You’ll Love This Roasted Radishes and Rainbow Carrots Recipe
A Transformation of Flavor: Roasting radishes is a revelation, swapping their raw spice for a mellow, turnip-like sweetness that pairs flawlessly with caramelised carrots.
Visually Stunning: The mix of vibrant pinks, purples, oranges, and yellows makes this a beautiful side dish that will elevate any dinner table or Sunday roast.
Minimal Prep: With only 5 minutes of prep work required, you simply toss the vegetables on a tray and let the oven do the hard work.
How to Make Roasted Radishes and Rainbow Carrots (Step-by-Step)
Step 1 – Preheat the oven
Preheat your oven to 180°C.
Step 2 – Prepare the vegetables
Lightly scrub the rainbow carrots to remove any dirt and place them whole onto a large baking tray. Take your mixed radishes and keep the smaller ones whole, while halving any larger ones so everything cooks evenly. Add them to the tray.
Step 3 – Prepare the garlic
Cut the whole garlic bulb in half horizontally right through the middle, creating two cross-sections. Nestle both halves onto the baking tray among the vegetables.
Step 4 – Season and toss
Drizzle the carrots, radishes, and garlic generously with the olive oil. Season well with Maldon Pepper Sea Salt flakes and cracked black pepper. Give everything a light toss on the tray to ensure the vegetables are evenly coated, then place into the preheated oven.
Step 5 – Roast and garnish
Roast the vegetables for 35 minutes, or until they are fork-tender and beautifully caramelised around the edges. Remove from the oven, arrange on a serving platter, and finish with fresh thyme leaves and a sweet drizzle of honey.
Tips for the Perfect Roasted Root Vegetables
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: Make sure your radishes and rainbow carrots have plenty of space on the baking tray. If they are piled on top of each other, they will steam instead of caramelising and getting those delicious, crispy edges.
Squeeze the Garlic: Once roasted, those halved garlic bulbs become incredibly sweet and spreadable. Squeeze the soft garlic cloves out of their papery skins directly over the vegetables before serving for an extra punch of flavor.
The Pepper Salt is Key: Because the carrots and radishes both become quite sweet in the oven—especially with the honey drizzle—the Maldon Pepper Sea Salt is vital. It cuts through the sweetness and adds a complex, savoury depth.
What to Serve with Roasted Radishes
This vibrant mix is incredibly versatile. It serves as a fantastic, colourful side dish for a classic Sunday roast chicken or beef. It also pairs beautifully with grilled fish, thick-cut pork chops, or as part of a larger vegetarian feast alongside grains like quinoa or farro.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you roast radishes?
You can absolutely roast radishes! While often eaten raw in salads, roasting is arguably the best way to eat radishes. The heat breaks down their spicy compounds, turning them mild, juicy, and deliciously sweet.
Do I need to peel baby rainbow carrots?
No, there is no need to peel baby rainbow carrots! Their skins are very thin and hold a lot of nutrients. Simply give them a good scrub under cold water to remove any dirt before tossing them on your baking tray.
Can I use regular carrots or standard red radishes?
Yes. While the mixed colours of rainbow carrots and mixed radishes look stunning on a platter, the recipe works exactly the same with standard orange carrots and classic red globe radishes. Just ensure you cut any larger standard carrots into batons so they cook at the same rate as the radishes.
Preheat the oven to 180c. Start by roasting the cauliflower and sweet potato. Place the cauliflower florets and the sweet potato cubes into a roasting tray and drizzle over the olive oil. Then add the turmeric, some Maldon Sea Salt and cracked black pepper. Toss this around in the tray so all the pieces are evenly coated.
Place into the preheated oven and roast for 30 – 40 minutes until soft, and lightly charred.
While the vegetables are roasting, get a small bowl and add the lime juice, rice vinegar and caster sugar. Mix until the sugar dissolves. Then add the finely sliced radishes to the bowl and toss. Set aside and allow this to pickle and turn a beautiful pink colour as you prepare the rest of the bowls.
To make the dressing, simply add all the ingredients to a bowl and whisk together. Set aside to use later.
Fry two Burford brown eggs until just set but not too crispy on the edges, adding a splash of water to the frying pan near the end of the cooking can help achieve this.
Prepare the packet rice according to the packet instructions. Then divide between the two bowls. Add some of the roasted cauliflower and sweet potato. Then top with some sliced avocado, a fried egg, some cucumber and carrot ribbons and the pickled radishes.
Drizzle over some of the ponzu dressing and then garnish with finely chopped chives and furikake.
Preheat the oven to 180c.
Cut the butternut squash down the middle from the stem to base. Scoop out the seeds using a spoon. Then use a sharp knife to score the butternut squash flesh in a crisscross pattern. Place each half into a roasting tray with the flesh facing up, and drizzle both with half of the olive oil. Season with Maldon Garlic Sea Salt, black pepper and the smoked paprika. Then place into the oven for 40 minutes until soft and tender but still holding its shape.
While the squash is roasting, prepare the rice filling. Start by adding the remaining olive oil to a small frying pan, and place onto a medium heat to heat up. Then add the sliced red onion and fry for 8 – 10 minutes, stirring consistently until the onions are very soft and starting to caramelise. Remove from the heat and set aside.
Prepare the rice according to the packet instructions and then tip into a large bowl.
Add the finely chopped dill and the caramelized onions and stir through. Then season with Maldon Garlic Sea Salt and black pepper. When the butternut squash has cooked, remove it from the oven and divide the rice between the two halves, pressing the rice into the cavity. Then top with some crumbled feta, pomegranate seeds and chopped pistachios. Drizzle over a little pomegranate molasses and a final sprinkle of Maldon Garlic Sea Salt.
Preheat the oven to 180c.
To make the cauliflower steaks, remove the leaves from the cauliflower and then cut into thick 1-inch slices – the end pieces won’t hold together to they need to be closer to the root. Any leftover cauliflower pieces or leaves can be saved for roasting another time!
Place the cauliflower steaks onto a roasting tray. In a small bowl mix together the olive oil, ground coriander, sumac and Maldon Chilli Sea Salt. Then use a pastry brush to brush the spiced oil across the steaks, making sure they are evenly coated. Place them into the preheated oven to roast for 40 minutes until soft and tender and starting to char on the edges.
To make the romesco sauce, place the toasted nuts into a food processor along with the roasted red peppers, crushed garlic, paprika, Maldon Chilli Sea Salt and sherry vinegar. Blitz this and then while the motor is running drizzle in the olive oil until you have a lovely smooth sauce. Set aside.
Once the cauliflower steaks are cooked, remove from the oven.
To serve, spread the romesco sauce on the base of a large platter. Then top with the cauliflower steaks and garnish with some mint leaves.
Preheat the oven to 140c.
Place the thinly sliced sweet potato on tray and spread the out in an even layer. Do the same on a separate tray for the beetroot (otherwise it will stain the other vegetables), and the carrots. Place these into the oven for about 2 – 2.5 hours, add the parsnip ribbons for the final 45 minutes. Bake the vegetables until they have dried out and gone crisp. They will go darker in the oven but make sure they don’t burn or catch too much.
While the vegetables are baking, make the beetroot dip. Place the cooked beetroot into a food processor along with the Greek yoghurt, grated garlic and Maldon Pepper Sea Salt. Then blitz until smooth and vibrant pink. Tip this into a bowl and set aside.
When the vegetable crisps are done, remove from the oven and pile into a large bowl. Sprinkle over some Maldon Pepper Sea Salt and serve alongside the beetroot dip.
Although it’s pretty easy to make your own puff pastry, shop-bought is a good vehicle for piling high with an assortment of delicious toppings, and you can get it in most supermarkets. A tart made with this is also a great snack or starter for when you have friends around as you can make something relatively easy but impressive. Just cut it up into smaller wedges and serve it. I don’t know why, I always want puff pastry to be cold before cooking it, as this will give you the best puff, so leave it in the refrigerator until just before you need it.
How to Make Wild Mushroom, Ricotta and Caramelised Onion Tart
Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and line a baking sheet with baking parchment (use a drizzle of oil under the parchment to secure it).
Put 2 tablespoons of the oil, the balsamic vinegar and onions into a frying pan over a low heat, season with salt and cook for 20–30 minutes until very soft and sweet. The key is to keep your heat low as the onions will want to catch and burn. If the onions start to burn, add about 1 tablespoon of water and give them a stir.
While the onions are cooking, clean, trim and slice the mushrooms into halves or thirds – you want to keep the mushrooms quite big to give the tart some body and texture. Put the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil into a heavy-based frying pan over a medium heat along with the garlic, mushrooms and wine vinegar. Season with sea salt and pepper, then cook for around 10 minutes until the mushrooms have softened and reduced in size.
Once everything is ready, lightly flour a surface and roll out the pastry slightly, just one roll on all four sides. Slide the pastry onto the prepared baking sheet, then spread the ricotta onto the pastry, leaving a border of about 3cm (1¼ inches) on all sides. Score a border of about 1cm. Top the ricotta with the caramelised onions, followed by the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper. Brush the beaten egg onto the scored pastry borders, then bake the tart in the oven for 10–15 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Slice and serve immediately.
