Description
This classic Cheese Flan is a savory and comforting dish featuring a flaky shortcrust pastry base filled with caramelized onions, mature cheddar cheese, and a creamy egg custard. Perfect for a brunch, light lunch, or dinner, it offers a delightful balance of sweet onion and sharp cheese flavors all baked to golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Filling
- 15g salted butter, plus extra for greasing
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 5 eggs, beaten
- 150ml whole milk
- 150g extra-mature cheddar, grated
For the Pastry
- 320g ready-rolled sheet of shortcrust pastry
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Heat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or gas mark 6, placing a baking tray inside to warm up.
- Caramelize the Onion: Melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat. Once it starts foaming, add the finely chopped onion with a large pinch of salt. Fry gently for 10-15 minutes until the onions soften and begin to caramelize. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Prepare the Egg Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs and whole milk. Season well with salt and pepper to taste.
- Prepare the Pastry Base: Butter an 18 x 25 cm baking dish that is at least 6 cm deep. Line the dish with baking parchment for easy removal. Roll out the ready-rolled shortcrust pastry into the tin, pressing it so the edges reach the corners and sides evenly.
- Assemble the Flan: Evenly scatter the caramelized onions over the pastry base, followed by the grated mature cheddar cheese. Carefully pour the egg and milk mixture over the filling, ensuring it is evenly distributed.
- Bake: Place the prepared dish onto the preheated baking tray in the oven. Bake for 35-40 minutes until the flan is golden brown, puffed up, and set.
- Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving warm.
Notes
- For extra flavor, sprinkle a little freshly ground black pepper on top before baking.
- You can substitute the cheddar with other mature cheeses like Gruyère or Comté for a different taste profile.
- The flan is best served warm but can be enjoyed at room temperature.
- Make sure to let the caramelized onions cool slightly before assembling to avoid cooking the eggs prematurely.
- Use fresh eggs and good-quality milk for the creamiest results.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: British
Keywords: Cheese flan, savory flan, caramelized onion flan, British cheese tart, shortcrust pastry flan
