French Onion Puff Pastry Pizza

1 sheet puff pastry (I used Trader Joe's), defrosted

1 Large sweet onion, halved and sliced
1 TB butter
pinch of salt
8 oz. gruyere cheese, grated
Egg wash (1 egg + 1 tsp. water, beaten)

Step 1:  Preheat oven to 400.  Prepare a baking sheet by lightly spraying with nonstick cooking spray, or lining
with parchment.

Step 2:  In a medium saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add sliced onions and a pinch of salt.
Saute for 1-2 minutes.   Then cover pan with a lid and reduce heat to medium low.  Cook, covered, for 10
minutes.

Step 3:  Uncover onions.  At this point there should be some browning on the onions and on the bottom of the
pan.  Stir the onions. This will release some of the caramel color from the pan, and redistribute it to the onions.
Cover pan again, and cook for another 10 minutes.

Step 4: Remove cover from pan.  Stir.  The onions should be a rich, golden brown and extremely soft.  If not,
raise the temperature of your range slightly, and cook for an additional five minutes.  When onions are fully
caramelized, remove from heat and set aside in a bowl to cool.

Step 5:  Remove defrosted puff pastry from package. If folded, unfold.   It should be flexible, but cool.  On a
lightly floured surface, gently roll pastry to 1/4".  Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.  With a pastry brush,
brush a coat of egg wash on the entire surface of the pastry.

Step 6:  Arrange caramelized onions evenly on top of puff pastry. Distribute the grated Gruyère cheese evenly
on top of the onions.

Step 7:  Bake, in middle rack of 400 degree oven for 15-18 minutes, or until cheese and pastry are a nice
golden brown. Remove from oven. Cool for five minutes. Cut and serve.

Rook No. 17 www.rookno17.com March 9, 2011