Individual roasted pumpkin crostatas with a buttery homemade crust, sweet caramelized onion jam, golden butternut pumpkin and fresh thyme. A rustic savory pumpkin tart for lunch, dinner or a fall picnic.
Begin by making the pastry. Place the flour and cold butter in a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Add the egg yolk and chilled water and pulse just until the dough begins to clump together into a ball. Turn it out onto plastic wrap, shape into a disc, wrap tightly and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Divide the chilled pastry into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured bench or silicone baking mat, roll each piece into a circle roughly 8 inches (20cm) across and about ¼ inch (5mm) thick. Transfer the circles to a baking tray lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until needed.
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Toss the butternut pumpkin with the olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread it out in a single layer on a roasting pan lined with parchment paper and roast for 25 minutes, or until tender and lightly golden. Leave to cool for 5 to 10 minutes so it's warm, not hot. Leave the oven on.
Remove the pastry circles from the refrigerator. Spread a quarter of the caramelized onion relish over the center of each circle, leaving a border of about 2 inches (5cm). Divide the roasted pumpkin between the crostatas, piling it on top of the onion, and season with a little sea salt. Fold the pastry border up and over the edge of the filling, pleating as you go. Rub the thyme leaves between your fingers to release their scent and sprinkle over the top.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden and crisp. Let the crostatas rest for 5 minutes, then serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Make ahead: The pastry disc keeps in the fridge for up to 2 days or the freezer for 3 months, and the pumpkin can be roasted a day ahead.Homemade caramelized onions: Instead of the jar, slowly cook 2 thinly sliced onions in butter or olive oil over medium-low heat for 30 to 40 minutes until jammy.Add feta: Crumble about ½ cup feta over the pumpkin before or after baking.One large tart: Roll the dough into one 12-inch round and bake for 30 to 35 minutes.Storage: Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days and reheat in a 350°F oven to re-crisp the pastry. Baked crostatas freeze for up to 2 months.
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