Caramelized Onion Flat Bread

By Cynthia Nelson

Last week at Tastes Like Home we talked about Caramelized onions – the cooking of onions low and slow until they brown, caramelize, get soft and sweet. I promised then that I’d share with you my recipe for flat bread with caramelized onion topping. Here it is.

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

• 1 large flat frying pan
• 1 wooden spoon or rubber spatula
• 1 (18 x 13) sheet pan

INGREDIENTS

For caramelized onions:

• 4 tablespoons Canola, vegetable or peanut oil
• 1 pound yellow (Spanish onions), peeled and sliced into ¼-inch thickness
• Salt and pepper to taste

For flat bread:

• 

  1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¾ teaspoon instant yeast
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• ¼ teaspoon fine (table) salt
• Oil
• Warm water (110 – 115 degrees F)

Additional toppings:

• 1 tablespoon finely minced fresh thyme
• 1 cup cubed sharp cheddar cheese

DIRECTIONS

For caramelized onions:

1. Add the oil to a pan and place on medium heat until oil shimmers.

2. Add onions, toss to coat with oil and cook until onions are caramelized. You will need to lower   the heat so that the onions cook low and slow. It     should take anywhere from 45 minutes to 1 hour.    The cooking time will vary depending on the   thickness of the onions, heat and type/size of pan   used.
3. Turn the onions every 5 – 10 minutes and scrape the bottom of the pan to remove the fond and mix  it into the onions.
4. Season the onions with salt and pepper just as they are about to finish cooking.
5. Let onions cool in pan to room temperature.

For flat bread:

1. While the onions are cooking, make the dough for the bread. Add the flour, baking powder,  yeast, sugar and salt to a bowl and mix well.

2. Add 2 tablespoons of oil along with enough water to make a soft dough. When the dough  comes together, knead for 3 minutes. Rub dough  and bowl with oil, cover and let rest for at    least 45 minutes.

Assembling flat bread:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Drizzle oil onto the sheet pan and rub it all over the surface.
3. Transfer the dough to the pan and using your hands, stretch and spread the dough to the length and breath of the pan making it as thin as

possible.

4. Sprinkle the dough with the minced thyme.
5. Litter the dough with the caramelized onions.
6. Scatter the cheese all over the dough.
7. Transfer pan to oven and bake for 18 – 20

minutes or until cheese is melted and the edges   of the bread are brown and crisp.

8. Remove from oven, cut and serve hot.