Vegan Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Tart combines a few of my favorite things – caramelized onions, mushrooms, and tofu ricotta – in one tasty little package. This recipe takes a little while to make, but most of it is hands-off time, and trust me when I say that it's worth the wait! It's a terrific main dish for holiday dinners and potlucks.
Vegan Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Tart
I created this tart recipe back in 2014 after seeing something similar in a magazine. It was so long ago, that I have no idea what magazine it was, though. I do remember that the recipe used eggs and cheese, and I veganized it using tofu and nutritional yeast. Back when Annie Oliverio organized the Virtual Vegan Potluck, it was my entry into the main dish category.
Caramelized Vegetables
There's just something really wonderful about caramelized vegetables. Caramelizing enhances their flavors, bringing out a sweet, almost nutty flavor. To caramelize a veggie, you just need to cook it until its water cooks off and its sugars break down. It takes some time, so don't try to rush it. The end result is worth the wait, though. It's best to cook your vegetables over medium-low to medium-high heat. Since they need to be cooked longer, a higher heat might cause them to burn. A little bit of salt helps with the caramelizing process.
How to Make a Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Tart
This tart is a might look complicated, but it's rather easy to make. Most of the time spent cooking is hands-off time.
- First, you cook the onions with a little oil and balsamic vinegar. They should be cooked until they're nice and brown, which takes between 15 and 20 minutes.
- Then, you add the mushrooms to the pan and cook them until they're nice and brown, too, which will take another 15 to 20 minutes.
- While the vegetables are cooking, you can make the tart crust. You just mix the ingredients together until it forms a dough, roll it out, and then place it in your pie dish.
- Next, you make the filling by placing all of the ingredients except for the spinach into a food processor and pulse until it looks like ricotta cheese. Then, just pulse in the spinach until it's incorporated.
- To assemble the tart, you pour the tofu mixture until your crust and then top it with the onion and mushroom mixture.
- Then bake, slice, and serve!
If you're pressed for time, you can use a store-bought prepared crust. Just check the ingredients to make sure it's not made with eggs or butter.
Vegan Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Tart is a great main dish option for holidays, Sunday dinner, or friendly gatherings. In addition to a terrific main course for dinner, it's also a wonderful brunch dish, too. It's also perfect for potlucks – virtual or otherwise!
Caramelized Onion and Mushroom Tart
Ingredients
For the crust
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ cup cold water
For the filling
- 2 tablespoons neutral-flavored vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced (about 2 cups)
- 1½ teaspoons salt divided
- 10 ounces cremini or button mushrooms sliced
- 1 14-ounce package firm tofu pressed and drained
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- 2 tablespoons vegetable stock or water
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 cups baby spinach loosely packed
- ¼ cup chives, chopped
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large pan over medium heat, cook the sliced onions with the vegetable oil, balsamic vinegar, and ½ teasppon of salt. Cook for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The onions will brown become fragrant. Add the mushrooms and another ½ teaspoon of salt and cook for another 15 to 20 minutes, until they also become brown and fragrant.
- While the vegetables are cooking you can make the crust. Oil a 10 inch pie pan or tart pan. Combine the crust ingredients in a bowl and kneed until mixed. Roll onto a lightly floured surface until it’s about 13 inches across. Gently pick up the dough and place in the pie pan. Press into all of the corners and trim away an excess. Set aside.
- In a food processor, blend together the tofu, lemon juice, garlic, stock, basil, ½ teaspoon salt and nutritional yeast. Process until the mixture is thick and looks like ricotta cheese. Add more vegetable stock if the mixture is too thick. Add the spinach and pulse until it’s mixed in.
- To assemble the tart, spread the tofu mixture in the bottom of the crust. Add the mushrooms and onions, pressing down slightly with a spatula.
- Cover the tart with foil and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes.
- Sprinkle the chopped chives over the tart before serving. Serve hot.
Other mushroom recipes you might enjoy include:
- Mushroom and Tempeh Fricasse
- Roasted Mushroom and Caramelized Onion Shepherd’s Pie
- Spinach Mushroom Quiche
- Mushroom and Arugula Filo Crust Pizza
Richa {VeganRicha.com}
the tart looks awesome Diane. All those caramelized onions!!
Dianne
Thank you, Richa!
Lovlie
This tart looks so yummy! 🙂
Emma
Ooooh this looks scrumptious Dianne! Your description of it as a "tasty little package" is definitely appropriate. So many good things in here!
Liz
Mmmm! All those veggie packing inside a tart--- sign me up! Looks delicious
Poppy
Oh yum! Mushrooms and caramelised onions, encased in pastry. Winner!!
Dianne
Thank you, Poppy!
Dianne
Thank you, Liz!
Dianne
Thank you, Emma!
Megan
Oooh, this looks good! I have to try this!!!
Dianne
I hope you like it if you try it, Megan!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus
This looks amazing! Thank you so much for sharing!
Dianne
Thank you, Nicole!
Annie
Caramelized onions + mushrooms + crust? Pretty much my idea of the perfect food. Thanks, Dianne xoxo!
Dianne
Mine too! Thank YOU, Annie! xoxo
Sophia @veggiesdontbite
Sounds delicious! Love caramelized onions and mushrooms. Great recipe!
Amy
This looks soooooo good! Thanks for sharing it with the VVP!
Dianne
Thank you, Sophia!
Dianne
Thank you, Amy!
Margaux
Yum! This is on my to-do list 😀
Dianne
I hope you enjoy it!
Somer McCowan
Dianne! I love the look of this tart! All those deep and woody flavors! I can't wait to try it!
Dianne
Thank you, Somer! I hope you like it!
Jamie
So lovely! Can't wait to try it out!
Dianne
Thank you, Jamie! I hope you enjoy it!
Helen
Recipe looks great. But wouldn't you need to blind bake the pastry first?
Dianne
No, it doesn't need to be blind baked.
MP
I have made this tart for Christmas lunch every year for the past 5 years! It’s delicious. I still struggle a bit getting the crust right but getting better each year 🙂
Dianne
I"m so happy to hear that! You can use a pre-made crust, if you want to save time.