Caramelized vegetables and flaky puff pastry create an impressive, rustic root vegetable tarte tatin, combining sweet and savoury flavours.
Preparation time
30 mins to 1 hour
Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour
Serves
Serves 4
Dietary
Vegetarian
By Matt Tebbutt
From Saturday Kitchen
This recipe contains beneficial nutrients from vegetables but the use of sugar, butter, and puff pastry increases its calorie and fat content. The addition of blue cheese and walnuts provides protein and healthy fats but also adds to the overall calorie count. (nutri-score)
Equipment
Ingredients
For the tarte tatin:
- Parsnips: 3, peeled and cut into 2cm/1in thick rounds
- Sweet potato: 1, peeled and cut into 2cm/1in thick rounds
- Banana shallots: 4, cut into 2cm/1in thick rounds
- Fresh thyme: 1 tbsp, chopped
- Olive oil: 2 tbsp
- Caster sugar: 100g/3½oz
- Unsalted butter: 100g/3½oz
- Sherry vinegar: 50–100ml/2–3½fl oz, to taste
- Fennel seeds: 1 tsp
- Bay leaf: 2
- Star anise: 1
- Puff pastry: 500g/1oz 2oz, ready-made
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper: to taste
To garnish:
- Walnuts: 10, halved
- Soft blue cheese: 150g/5½oz, crumbled
- Fresh tarragon leaves: 1 tbsp, chopped
Method
Prepare the Vegetables
- Preheat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/Gas 7.
- Toss parsnips, sweet potato, and shallots with oil and thyme in a large bowl.
- Season with salt and pepper.
- Roast for 10–15 minutes to soften, then set aside.
- Reduce oven temperature to 210C/190C Fan/Gas 6½.
Make the Caramel
- Heat a 23cm/9in flameproof frying pan.
- Add sugar to the hot pan and cook until it turns to dark caramel.
- Add butter and cook until melted into the caramel.
- Carefully add sherry vinegar (it will splutter).
- Allow to cool slightly before adding bay leaves, fennel seeds, and star anise.
Assemble the Tarte Tatin
- Arrange the roasted vegetables on the cooled caramel.
- Roll out puff pastry to the thickness of a pound coin on a floured surface.
- Lay pastry over the pan, tucking tightly around the sides.
Bake and Serve
- Bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
- Serve with walnuts and crumbled blue cheese on top.
- Garnish with chopped tarragon leaves.
Nutri-score Health Check
Nutri-Score: C (Moderately healthy)
This root vegetable tarte tatin receives a Nutri-Score of C, indicating it is moderately healthy. The score is based on the following factors:
- Positive components: The recipe contains a variety of vegetables (parsnips, sweet potato, shallots) which provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
- Negative components: The use of sugar and butter in the caramel, as well as the puff pastry, contributes to high saturated fat and sugar content.
- Protein and healthy fats: The addition of walnuts and blue cheese provides protein and some healthy fats, but also increases the overall calorie content.
- Portion size: The recipe serves multiple people, which helps to moderate the impact of the less healthy ingredients.
This score has been automatically calculated from the ingredients in the recipe and is only a guide. Individual portion sizes and overall diet should be considered for a comprehensive nutritional assessment.
Recipe FAQ
- Can I use different root vegetables? Yes, you can experiment with other root vegetables like carrots or beetroot.
- Is it possible to make this dish ahead of time? You can prepare the vegetables and caramel in advance, but it’s best to assemble and bake just before serving.
- Can I use store-bought caramel instead of making my own? While homemade caramel is preferred for flavour, you could use store-bought in a pinch.
- What can I substitute for sherry vinegar? Balsamic vinegar or apple cider vinegar can be used as alternatives.
- Is there a vegetarian alternative to blue cheese? You could use a vegetarian blue cheese or substitute with goat cheese or feta.
- Can I make this recipe vegan? Yes, use vegan puff pastry and replace butter with vegan butter. Omit the cheese or use a vegan alternative.
- What’s the best way to store leftovers? Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven for best results.
- Can I freeze this tarte tatin? It’s best enjoyed fresh, but you can freeze it before baking. Thaw completely before cooking.