Serving Size : 12
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
7 large shallots, sliced lengthwise
2-1/2 tablespoons sugar
Salt
Freshly-ground black pepper
22 ounces creamy goat cheese
1 1/3 cups heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon minced thyme leaves
3 tablespoons minced flat-leaf parsley
Flat-leaf parsley, for garnish
8 ounces frisee, for garnish
PATE BRISEE
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 cups chilled unsalted butter, cut up
Make the Pate Brisee:
Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor; pulse for 5 seconds. Add the butter pieces, and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal. In a slow, steady stream, add 6 tablespoons of ice water through the feed tube. Pulse until the mixture holds together when squeezed. Divide dough into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disk, and cover with plastic wrap. Chill at least 1 hour. Set twelve 4-inch bottomless tartlet (flan) rings or twelve 4-inch tartlet pans with removable bottoms on two parchment-lined baking sheets. Lightly flour a clean working surface. Roll Pate Brisee to a 1/8-inch thickness. Cut out twelve 5-inch diameter circles, and fit into tartlet rings. Using a fork, prick pastry all over; chill until firm, at least 15 minutes. Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Line shells with aluminum foil; fill with dry beans or pie weights. Transfer baking sheets to oven; bake shells 12 minutes, rotating once during baking. Remove beans and foil. Continue baking until slightly golden, 7 to 9 minutes. Remove baking sheets from oven; transfer to a wire rack.
Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add shallots and sugar; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until shallots are very tender and have deeply caramelized, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove from heat; set aside. Place goat cheese in bowl of a food processor; puree until very smooth. Add heavy and sour creams; process until well combined. Transfer to a medium bowl. Stir in thyme and parsley; season with pepper. Spoon 2 to 3 tablespoons filling into each shell, filling to within 1/8-inch from top. Arrange 1 heaping teaspoon reserved shallots on top of each tartlet.
Transfer baking sheets to oven; bake tartlets until filling has set, 13 to 15 minutes, rotating once. Transfer sheets to a wire rack to cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Remove rings. Sprinkle remaining parsley over tartlets. To serve, place tartlets on plates. Garnish each plate with frisee.
Makes 12.