Tartlet á la Sibuyas – Filipino Caramelized Onion Tartlet

Filipino Caramelized Onion Tartlets (tartlet á la sibuyas) feature a puff pastry crust filled with patis caramelized onions and cheese, then served with a drizzle of Filipino all-purpose sauce. The individual portions make them ideal for serving guests and can be scaled up for larger gatherings.

This dish may look fancy, but you’ll be surprised to find how easy it is to make! Simply follow our steps to get impressive results!

Before making these tartlets, be sure to refer to our recipe for Patis Caramelized Onions. This will provide the key component for the filling.

For more easy yet elegant appetizer recipes, try Mala Cream Shrimp Dim Sum and Kinilaw na Talaba (Filipino Oyster Ceviche.)

Let’s dive into the recipe!

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Table of Contents

What is a Filipino Caramelized Onion Tartlet?

Filipino Caramelized Onion Tartlets reflect French influence on our Filipino home cooking.

This recipe was actually inspired by our recent date at Wormwood, a gorgeous French bistro and absinthe bar located in San Diego!

We ordered their onion tartlet off the happy hour menu and fell in love with the combination of caramelized onions, buttery puff pastry, and onion demi-glace.

Baking at home is a hobby of mine, but I know my boyfriend Elijah prefers savory over sweet treats. This led me to ponder how to create a savory pastry that brings the best of both worlds together. The result is this incredible recipe that he can’t get enough of!

In French cuisine, a tarte á l’oignon (French onion tart) is typically made of caramelized onions, a creamy cheese base like gruyere or creme fraiche, and a pie-like crust.

For a smaller, homemade version of the French tarte á l’oignon, we use puff pastry as the crust – an easy and accessible ingredient for home cooks. As for the filling, we rely on our Patis Caramelized Onions recipe.

Sibuyas = onions in Tagalog, so we like to name this dish tartlet á la sibuyas!

How Does a Filipino Caramelized Onion Tartlet Taste?

This Filipino Caramelized Onion Tartlet offers a satisfyingly savory experience!

With each bite, you’ll savor the nice crunch and buttery taste of the puff pastry. The filling is bursting with onion flavor, complemented by the familiar taste of Eden cheese, a popular and nostalgic Filipino cheese.

To tie everything together, the all-purpose sauce adds a wonderfully savory, sweet, and tangy profile.

Tips for Making Caramelized Onion Tartlets

• Use a small round pastry cutter to neatly fill the center of the puff pastry without the filling spilling over excessively into the crust area.
  
  The crust requires adequate space to rise properly during baking, so the filling should be carefully portioned to avoid encroaching on the crust’s path.
• If the ambient temperature inside your home is on the warmer side, we recommend chilling the tartlets in the fridge for 5-10 minutes just before baking. This will help ensure that the puff pastry retains its flaky layers.
• To prevent the cheese from burning, layer the filling with the cheese on the bottom, completely covering it with the caramelized onions on top.
  
  This protects the Eden cheese, which tends to burn easily, by shielding it beneath the caramelized onions.
• Gently heating the all-purpose sauce in the microwave for 5-10 seconds will help it become slightly more runny, making it easier to drizzle over the tartlets.

How to Prepare This Recipe Ahead of Time

Planning a dinner party or event? Preparing this recipe ahead of time can save you both time and stress!

Make the patis caramelized onions up to 1 week ahead.

You can assemble and bake the puff pastries either the night before or the morning of your event. Once baked, allow them to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

To reheat the pastries, we suggest using a toaster oven or an air fryer set to a low temperature. This will help maintain the flaky texture of the puff pastry.

Equipment

• Our Place Wonder Oven
• parchment paper
• basting brush
• round pastry cutters 3.5″ and 2″ diameter

Ingredients

• 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed overnight
• ½ cup patis caramelized onions
• ½ cup Eden cheese, shredded
• 1 egg for egg wash
• green onion, chopped, for garnish
• Mang Tomas, Filipino all-purpose sauce, for serving

Mang Tomas is a popular brand of all-purpose sauce we use in this recipe. This versatile sauce can be found with or without liver pâté, and we prefer the version without.

You can typically locate Mang Tomas at Filipino grocery stores like Seafood City, Island Pacific, or through the Weee! Asian Grocery app. It may occasionally be available at stores like Ranch 99 as well.

Recipe

1. Preheat oven to 400℉ / 200℃.
2. Shred the Eden cheese and chop the green onions. Set aside.

3. Gently roll out the puff pastry.
4. Use a 3.5” round pastry cutter to cut out 4 pieces. Peel off the excess puff pastry sheet.
5. Place the pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

6. Use a 2″ round pastry cutter to score the center of the puff pastries. Use a fork to prick the inner circle area.

7. Use the 2″ round to neatly fill each piece with cheese and a spoonful of caramelized onions.

8. Baste the tops of the crusts with egg wash.

9. Bake for 10-12 min at 400℉ / 200℃ until the pastries are puffed and golden brown.
10. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes until you can touch them.

11. Garnish with green onion and serve with all-purpose sauce.

Final Thoughts

This French-Filipino onion tartlet is a must-try appetizer to serve at your next date night or dinner party! Crafted with patis caramelized onions, Eden cheese, and flaky puff pastry, it’s a flavor combination your guests will rave about!

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this recipe, please give a star rating and review on the recipe card below + share your creations on Instagram and tag us @itsforkandspoon!

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References & Further Reading

https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/tips-for-working-with-and-storing-puff-pastry/

https://wormwoodsd.com/