Supper Onion Pie

"You're making what kind of pie for dinner?" my husband asked incredulously.  While he likes to add onions to everything, I'm the one that always says "hold the onions" when ordering a sandwich or gyro or pizza. 

But I was in the mood to make a savory pie and to use Nigella Lawson's cookbook, How to Be a Domestic Goddess.  So "Supper Onion Pie" was on the menu.

Besides, there is a big difference between raw onions on your hamburger and red onions that have been cooked in olive oil and butter for 30 minutes!

While we enjoyed trying this unusual pie, I think it's a recipe for our occasional file.  The biscuit layer was delicious with Gruyere cheese and the flavors worked well together.  It's just that, well, it's a lot of onions!

Here is a picture of the pie as it looks after it has been baked, with the biscuit layer on top.  It wasn't hard to turn it out onto a plate for slicing and serving.

We had this as our main dish, but I imagine it would go well as a hearty side with a meat entree.  If you know someone who loves onions, it's sure to be a big hit!

Supper Onion Pie
From How to Be a Domestic Goddess: Baking and the Art of Comfort Cooking, by Nigella Lawson

For the filling/topping:
4 medium red onions
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 heaping tablespoon butter
salt and pepper to taste
3-4 springs of thyme, de-stalked, or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons or 5 ounces sharp Cheddar cheese or Gruyere, grated

For the scone dough:
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 scant teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
scant 1/2 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 scant teaspoon dry English mustard
1 large egg, beaten

8- to 10-inch cast-iron skillet or 9-inch pie plate, buttered

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 F.  Peel the onions, halve them, then cut each half into 4 segments each.  Heat the oil and butter in the pan, then add the onions and cook over a medium heat, stirring regularly, for about 30 minutes; they should be soft and tinged with color.  Season with salt and pepper, and add the thyme.  Turn into a pie dish, and scatter 2 ounces of the cheese over the waiting onions.  Leave while you get on with the dough topping.

Put the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl with the remaining cheese.  Pour the milk into a measuring cup, add the melted butter, mustard, and egg, mix well and then pour onto the flour mixture in the bowl.  Mix to a dough using a fork, a wooden spoon, or your hands; it should be quite sticky.  Then tip it out onto a work surface and press into a circle about the size of the pie dish.  Transfer it to the dish, pressing it to seal the edges.

Put it in the oven for 15 minutes, then turn down to 350 F. and give it another 10 minutes, by which time the dough should be golden and crisp on top.  Let it stand for a couple of minutes, then cover with a large plate and turn upside-down so the plate's beneath and the pie dish on top.  Place on a flat surface and remove the dish.

(Nigella concludes: "I love this with brown sauce, either homemade or bought.")

Paige's note: We had it without sauce.  The onion topping prevented the biscuit from seeming too dry.  I think it was great without the sauce!  Plus, making brown sauce (which I've never eaten, let alone made) would be a whole new project!

Makes 6 generous slices.

Technorati Tag: Pie

Comments

[Tania]

Thanks for dropping by my blog, Paige, and for your sweet birthday wishes!

I must admit, I've never thought of cooking (or eating!) so many onions at once, but this sounds quite delicious. I love the idea of a cheesy biscuit topping ... yum!

[Ivonne]

Paige,

This looks fantastic! I have that book and have seen the recipe but I must admit I never though ot trying it. It looks delicious ... thanks for the inspiration!

[Amy Deik]

We just bought a vegitarian cookbook (The Accidental Vegitarian) that has an onion tart, which is highest on the list of things to try!
Will let you know how it goes when we do!
This has sent renewed inspiration

[Jenny]

Paige, funny my mother-in-law just made something similar to this, containing eggs, gouda cheese and a ton of onions on a pastry crust. Kind of like a quiche, but not. It was delicious. Your pic looks great. Kind of like an Onion Tart Tatin. BTW I've tagged you for a Meme of 4's (if you'd like to participate). :-)

[BNA]

Hey Paige -- I love this recipe of Nigella's, and I absolutely agree with you -- it's good, but it's a LOT of onions! Gorgeous pictures, mine never turn out nearly so pretty.

[Paige]

Hi Tania - I hope you try it sometime!

Hi Ivonne - This pie gives you the satisfaction of baking something for the main course, that's why I tried it. Enjoy!

Hi Amy - I'll be curious to hear about your onion tart. I imagine it could have a more refined crust that this quickbread.

Hi Jenny - I'll have to go check out some other Meme of 4's for inspiration!

Hi BNA - Glad to hear someone else has tried this onion pie! Thanks for stopping by!