Fontina, Pear and Caramelized Onion Galette

Savory galettes and tarts are a favorite of mine. I make them frequently and there's nothing better than a little slice with with a glass of wine. Or for lunch. Or a lovely first course at a dinner party. This one was, along with a salad, served as our dinner.
The cornmeal in the rustic, buttery crust added just the right texture in your mouth alongside the lovely melted fontina (love that cheese!) and fresh herbs. The sweetness of the pears and caramelized onions balanced it all off beautifully. I think your family will really enjoy this recipe, kids included, especially if they have adventuresome palates! (Well, galettes sort of look like pizza, right?)

Fontina, Pear and Caramelized Onion Galette
By Ali from Alexandra’s Kitchen

Ingredients:
(Recipe makes two galettes)
For Cornmeal Dough:
9 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 cups flour
1/3 cup medium or fine grind yellow cornmeal
1 teaspoon sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup ice-cold water

For Caramelized Onions:
2 tablespoons butter
4 cups onion slices (about 3 to 4 small to medium onions)
Pinch of salt
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

For Galettes:
2 cups (8 ounces) Fontina Cheese, grated
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, finely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
1/4 teaspoon pepper, freshly cracked
2 small rounds cornmeal galette dough
1 cup caramelized onions
2 pears, thinly sliced

1 egg yolk mixed with 1 teaspoon milk or cream

Method:
For Cornmeal Dough:
Cut butter into small cubes and place in freezer for approximately 5 minutes.
In food processor, pulse flour, cornmeal, sugar and salt until blended. Add butter and pulse until butter is size of small peas. Add ice water. Pulse at 1-second intervals until dough starts to form, about 10 seconds total. 
Scoop half of dough onto center of sheet of plastic wrap. Wrap, forming dough into ball and pressing into disk: chill. Repeat with remaining dough. Refrigerate 30 minutes to an hour.

For Caramelized Onions:
Heat butter over medium heat in large sauté pan. Add onions with pinch of salt. Cook, covered, 15 minutes.
Remove cover, stir and increase heat slightly. Continue to cook another 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to reduce sticking. Cook an additional 10 to 15 minutes, stirring more frequently until onions have turned a nice deep brown.
Add vinegar, turn off heat and scrape bottom of pan with wooden spoon or spatula to remove any browned bits. Remove pan from heat and transfer onions to large bowl to cool.

For Galettes:
Preheat oven to 375ºF. In small bowl, combine Fontina, salt, thyme, rosemary and pepper. Set aside.
Line baking sheet with parchment paper. On lightly floured work surface, roll each dough round into 8- to 10-inch circle. Use flour as needed to prevent sticking and pat dough together if it crumbles. Fold each round into quarters and transfer to prepared baking pan.
Unfold one galette round and top with layer of caramelized onions, leaving 2-inch border exposed. Cover onions with layer of pears. Top with layer of herb-Fontina mixture. Lift edges of dough and fold them inward, pleating as you go, to form folded-over border, pinching together any tears. Brush egg-yolk mixture over exposed crust. Repeat assembly with remaining galette. Chill assembled galettes 15 minutes.

Bake until crust has browned and Fontina has melted, 35 to 45 minutes. Allow to cool 10 minutes on the parchment, then slide carefully onto a serving platter.