Best Spiced Squash Sweet Potato Tarte Tatin Recipes

SPICED SQUASH & SWEET POTATO TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Put a large saucepan of water on to boil. Quarter the squash with a large, heavy knife, then peel each wedge and seed with a sharp spoon. Cut both the squash and the sweet potatoes into large chunks, about the size of toasted marshmallows. (If the sweet potatoes are long and thin, diagonal chunks look better.) Throw the chunks into the boiling water, cover the pan and bring back to the boil. Remove the lid and cook for 5 minutes or until slightly tender, then drain and let cool.
• Cut each onion into 6 chunky wedges, leaving a little bit of the root attached so the layers don't fall apart. Put a large, non-stick frying pan, about 30cm/12in from edge to edge, over a medium-high flame. (You need a pan with an ovenproof handle, and we've an offer on one, below right). Heat the butter and oil, then tip in the onions and fry for 4-5 minutes, stirring often, until well-coloured.
• Keeping the fat at a lively simmer, add the garlic and fry for 1 minute, stirring almost constantly so it colours but doesn't burn. Stir in the coriander, cumin and chilli powder and fry for a scant minute, stirring constantly. Fry the tomatoes, cut side down in the pan, for 1 minute.
• Remove the pan from the heat, then gently stir in the kalonji seeds. Add the squash and sweet potatoes and, using 2 spatulas or wooden spoons, carefully toss the chunks until well coated in the syrupy, spicy fat. Season, then leave to cool.
• Roll out the pastry so that the shorter sides are 30cm/12in. Lay it over the vegetables, then cut the pastry tightly around the edge of the frying pan with a small knife or scissors, discarding the trimmings (or using them for another recipe). Refrigerate the entire ensemble for at least 30 minutes (or see Getting Ahead, below).
• Preheat your oven to 220C/Gas 7/fan 200C. Brush the pastry with the egg wash, then slide the frying pan on to the middle shelf of the oven. Cook for about 25 minutes, checking halfway through that the pastry isn't browning too quickly: if it is, reduce the heat by 10 degrees. Remove when the juices are bubbling around the edges and the pastry is dark golden-brown.
• Use a thick oven cloth to remove the pan from the oven and leave it wrapped firmly around the handle to avoid burns. To serve the tart, invert a large, flat plate over the pan and tip the tart out on to it - or else, serve it straight from the pan.

ROOT VEGETABLE TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Place a rack in lower third of oven; preheat to 400°. Toss potato, sweet potato, carrots, parsnip, and onion with oil on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt and pepper and arrange vegetables in a single layer. Roast until golden around the edges and tender, 30-35 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, cook sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan over mediumhigh heat, swirling pan occasionally, until mixture is amber-colored, 5-7 minutes. Remove from heat and add vinegar and a pinch of salt, swirling pan to combine. Quickly pour caramel into a 9"-diameter pie pan; tilt and rotate pan to evenly coat bottom with caramel. Scatter rosemary and sage over top.
• Arrange potatoes, carrots, and parsnips snugly in a single layer on top of caramel, using smaller carrot and parsnip pieces to fill in any holes. Scatter onion rings and crumble goat cheese over vegetables.
• Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to a 12" round. Drape over vegetables, tucking edges into pan. Prick dough all over with a fork. Bake until crust looks dry, about 20 minutes; reduce heat to 350° and bake until crust is golden brown, 15-20 minutes.
• Let tart cool 5 minutes before inverting carefully onto a large plate.
• Do ahead: Vegetables can be roasted 4 hours ahead. Keep at room temperature.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lay the squash slices on a baking tray and sprinkle over a little of the caster sugar. Bake for 20 mins or until the squash is still slightly resistant to a sharp knife, but not hard. Don't overcook the squash, or it will break when you try to move it.
• Meanwhile, scatter the rest of the sugar into an ovenproof frying pan about 20cm across, and heat it gently until it melts and starts to caramelise. Tip the pan if you need to combine patches of sugar that haven't melted into the liquid parts, but don't be tempted to stir. When you have a medium amber-coloured caramel, sprinkle on the spices and lemon juice. Turn the heat off.
• Take the squash out of the oven and leave to cool for a couple of mins. Use tongs to place the squash in the frying pan, gently arranging the slices in a tight spiral on the caramel. Start with a large slice in the centre and lay the other slices on top so it looks neat when you turn it out. When the squash is all in the pan, turn the heat on again and cook until the caramel starts to bubble. Turn the heat down and cook for about 10-15 mins, making sure the caramel doesn't burn. You want the squash to give off any water and then to start absorbing the caramel - the caramel will start to get very liquid as this happens, so turn the heat up at the end and make sure the caramel thickens up completely. Turn the heat off, drop the butter into the centre of the pan and wait for it to melt.
• Cut the pastry into a rough circle just bigger than the pan and drape it over the squash, folding any excess over on itself and carefully tucking it in around the edge. Bake for 20 mins, then turn the heat down to 160C/140C fan/gas 3 and bake for a further 20 mins. Turn out onto a plate while the tarte is hot so the squash and caramel release easily. Serve with crème fraîche or ice cream.

INDIVIDUAL POTATO-AND-ONION TARTES TATIN

Steps:

• Very generously butter six 5-inch round metal pie plates; set aside. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out puff pastry to a scant 1/4-inch thickness. Using a cutter or a small plate as a guide, cut dough into 4 1/2-inch rounds. Prick rounds all over with a fork. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet; chill until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Lay two or three onion rounds on the bottom of each pie pan. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, slice potatoes into thin rounds, about a scant 1/4 inch thick. Place potato slices, slightly overlapping, over the onion in two layers of concentric circles (they should completely cover the onion). Sprinkle potatoes generously with salt and pepper. Place chilled puff pastry rounds on top of the potatoes in each pie plate. Bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Immediately invert tartlets onto a platter. In a small saucepan, combine balsamic vinegar and sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook until mixture reduces to a syrup, about 4 minutes. Whisk in butter, a piece at a time, until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. Glaze tartlets with balsamic syrup and serve warm.

FOOLPROOF TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• At least one day before you plan to cook the tart, prepare the apples: Slice off the bottom of each apple so it has a flat base. Peel and quarter the apples. Use a small sharp knife to trim the hard cores and seeds from the center of each quarter; don't worry about being too neat. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate, lightly covered, for at least one day or up to three days. (This key step reduces the amount of liquid in the tart. Don't worry if the apples turn brown; they will be browned during the cooking anyway.)
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 375 degrees (or 350 if using convection). Thickly coat the bottom of a 10-inch heavy ovenproof skillet, preferably nonstick metal, with butter. Sprinkle sugar evenly on top.
• Cut one piece of apple into a thick round disk and place in the center of the skillet to serve as the "button." Arrange the remaining apple pieces, each one standing on its flat end, in concentric circles around the button. Keep the pieces close together so that they support one another, standing upright. They will look like the petals of a flower.
• On a floured surface, roll out the puff pastry about 1/8-inch thick. Place an upside-down bowl or pan on the pastry and use the tip of a sharp knife to cut out a circle about the same size as the top of your skillet. Lift out the circle and drape gently over the apples. Use your hands to tuck the pastry around the apple pieces, hugging them together firmly.
• Place the skillet on the stovetop over medium heat until golden-brown juice begins to bubble around the edges, 3 minutes (if the juices keep rising, spoon out as needed to remain level with pastry). If necessary, raise the heat so that the juices are at a boil. Keep cooking until the juices are turning darker brown and smell caramelized, no longer than 10 minutes more.
• Transfer skillet to the oven and bake 45 to 50 minutes, until puff pastry is browned and firm.
• Let cool 5 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a round serving plate. (Or, if not serving immediately, let cool completely in the pan; when ready to serve, rewarm for 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven before turning out.) If any apples remain stuck in the pan, gently use your fingers or a spatula to retrieve them, and rearrange on the pastry shell. Cut in wedges and serve warm with heavy cream, crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Do ahead:
• Place a rack in upper third of oven; preheat to 350°F. Butter a 10" springform pan or cake pan and line bottom with a parchment paper round. Cut off neck from squash. Peel neck and bulb until you reveal the orange flesh underneath (you might need to take off a few layers). Slice both pieces in half lengthwise; scoop out seeds. Slice all squash pieces crosswise 1/4" thick. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet. Melt 3 Tbsp. butter in a small saucepan and drizzle over squash. Sprinkle with ¼ cup granulated sugar and a pinch of salt and toss to coat. Arrange squash in a single layer (use a second rimmed baking sheet if needed) and roast until tender and just starting to curl around the edges but not yet browned, 30-35 minutes. Let cool. Carefully move oven rack to highest position and increase oven temperature to 400°.
• Meanwhile, cut remaining 3 Tbsp. butter into pieces and set aside. Bring lemon juice, 3/4 cup granulated sugar, and 3 Tbsp. water to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring with a heatproof rubber spatula until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, swirling pan often (do not stir), until caramel is light amber in color, 6-8 minutes. Remove from heat and add reserved butter a piece at a time, stirring after each addition until incorporated and smooth. Once all the butter has been added, stir in vanilla and remaining 1/4 tsp. salt. Pour caramel into prepared springform pan and tilt to coat bottom. Let cool.
• Starting with slices from the neck, layer squash in an overlapping rosette pattern over caramel. Sprinkle with 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar. Arrange remaining squash over first layer, placing pieces wherever needed to create an even thickness of squash across entire tart (this layer doesn't need to be pretty since it won't be visible). Sprinkle with remaining 1 Tbsp. granulated sugar and chill while you roll out the puff pastry.
• Let pastry sit at room temperature about 4 minutes to soften slightly. Roll out on a lightly floured surface, dusting with more flour as needed to prevent sticking and rotating a few times, to a round that's a little over 11". Using pan as a template, trim excess dough to make an 11" round. Using a fork, prick pastry in 12-15 places. Drape pastry over squash and use a spoon to tuck edges in slightly between squash and sides of pan.
• Bake tarte Tatin 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and continue to bake until pastry is puffed and golden brown, 45-50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool in pan 10 minutes.
• If using a springform pan, remove ring and carefully invert tarte Tatin onto rack (take care as some of the hot caramel could drip). If using a cake pan, set rack upside down over pan and invert tarte Tatin onto rack. Let cool 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk cream in a small bowl to soft peaks. Beat in powdered sugar and cinnamon.
• Serve tarte Tatin warm topped with dollops of cinnamon whipped cream.
• Do Ahead
• Tarte Tatin can be baked 10 hours ahead. Store loosely wrapped at room temperature. Reheat in a 250°F oven.