Looking for the perfect snack to pair with your next bottle of Alsatian wine? This easy-to-make tarte flambée is just the ticket. Known locally as flammekueche (‘flame cake’), this oven-baked Alsatian delight is as simple as it is delicious — think of it as French pizza with a German twist. Flammekueche were originally created to test the temperatures of wood-fired ovens in kitchens across the region, though today, these dairy-filled flatbreads are enjoyed by the masses, no heat assessment required.
Follow the recipe below to create a lip-smacking, Alsatian-inspired happy hour at home.
Alsatian Tarte Flambée (Serves 2)
Ingredients
Crust/Dough:
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
Filling:
- 1/2 pound of bacon
- 2 small onions
- 1/4 cup creme fraiche
- 1/4 cup fromage blanc (ricotta can work)
- Olive oil
- Salt & Pepper
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
- Fresh chives (optional)
Method
Crust/Dough:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cover a baking sheet or oven rack with parchment paper.
- Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl, whisk olive oil and ¼ cup of water together.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients to create dough.
- Dust the table surface with flour and knead the dough until a uniform texture is achieved (1-3 minutes). Roll out to an oval shape and place on paper.
Filling:
- Chop bacon into large chunks. In a medium skillet, add olive oil to the pan and fry until crisp. Remove from pan and pat off excess oil.
- Chop onions and add to the same pan. Season with salt and sautée until golden brown.
- In a bowl, combine creme fraiche, fromage blanc, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Spread on dough.
- Sprinkle bacon and onions on top of the spread.
- Bake in the oven until golden brown (approx. 20 to 25 minutes). Sides of the crush should begin to crisp and turn golden brown.
- Remove tarte from the oven and finely chop chives. Garnish on top and cut into 2-inch wide pieces.