Ingredients
• 1 bunch beetroot (about 400g), trimmed
• 30g unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 red onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup (60ml) balsamic vinegar
• 2 teaspoons thyme leaves, plus extra sprigs
• 1 tablespoon caster sugar
• 150g soft goat's cheese
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 150ml thickened cream
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 250g creme fraiche or sour cream
• 1 tablespoon bottled horseradish
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Pastry
• 1 1/3 cups (200g) plain flour
• 100g chilled unsalted butter, chopped
• 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
Method
1. Place beetroot in a pan of cold water and bring to the boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 hour, topping with water if necessary, until tender. Drain. Refresh under cold water and leave to cool. Peel and coarsely grate. Set aside.
2. Meanwhile, for the pastry, place flour, butter, thyme and a pinch salt in a food processor and whiz until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 1/4 cup (60ml) chilled water, then process until the mixture comes together in a ball. Enclose in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes. Lightly grease a 30cm loose-bottomed tart pan. On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry to 5mm thick, then use to line the tart pan. Chill for 15 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line pastry with baking paper and fill with pastry weights or uncooked rice. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the paper and weights, then bake for 5 minutes or until dry and pale golden.
4. Heat the butter and oil in a frypan over medium heat. Add onions and 1 teaspoon salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, for 6-8 minutes until softened. Add beetroot, vinegar, thyme and sugar, then cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until thickened and syrupy. Spread beetroot mixture over the tart base, then crumble over cheese.
5. Whisk egg, cream and nutmeg together, then pour into tart case. Scatter with extra thyme. Bake for 35 minutes or until set.
6. Meanwhile, combine creme fraiche, horseradish, Dijon, and lemon juice, then season. Keep chilled until ready to serve.
7. Cut tart into slices and serve warm or cold with the horseradish cream.
