Caramelized Onion Pie
A deeply savory vegetarian pie featuring sweet, slow-cooked onions and rich melted cheese in a buttery flaky crust.
Ingredients
- •1 sheet prepared pie crust, thawed if frozen
- •3 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
- •3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- •1 tablespoon olive oil
- •1 teaspoon sugar
- •2 cloves garlic, minced
- •3 large eggs
- •1 cup heavy cream
- •1.5 cups shredded Gruyère or Swiss cheese
- •1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- •0.5 teaspoon salt
- •0.25 teaspoon black pepper
- •0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
- 2
Fit the pie crust into a 9-inch pie dish, crimp the edges, and prick the bottom lightly with a fork.
- 3
Bake the crust blind for 12 minutes until lightly golden, then remove from the oven and set aside.
- 4
Heat the butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat.
- 5
Add the sliced onions and sugar, stirring to coat.
- 6
Cook the onions slowly, stirring frequently, for about 30 to 35 minutes until they are deeply browned, soft, and sweet.
- 7
Stir in the minced garlic and fresh thyme during the last 2 minutes of cooking, then remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- 8
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, salt, black pepper, and ground nutmeg.
- 9
Spread the caramelized onions evenly across the bottom of the pre-baked pie crust.
- 10
Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the onions.
- 11
Pour the egg and cream mixture evenly over the onions and cheese.
- 12
Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 to 35 minutes until the filling is set and the top is golden brown.
- 13
Let the pie cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving warm.
💡 Chef tips
- Do not rush the onions; low and slow cooking is the secret to deep caramelization.
- You can caramelize the onions a day ahead and store them in the refrigerator until ready to assemble the pie.
- Store leftover pie covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat gently in the oven before serving.
✅ How it should turn out
The finished pie features a golden, flaky crust filled with melt-in-your-mouth sweet onions, rich custard, and gooey melted cheese with a wonderful savory aroma.