Autumn brings us not only cold weather, but also a rich harvest. According to tradition, this is a good reason to celebrate with friends and family. That is why the wine festivals are an integral part of our autumn calendar. They are held in the typical wine regions of Germany, from Thuringia to Hesse and Franconia to the Rhine and Moselle regions. At such a festival, a savory cake made with yeast dough and onions is offered with the young wine. This pastry is called onion cake. Have you ever tried the traditional German delicacy? If not, then you can bake an onion tart yourself. Today we present you a proven recipe from Grandma’s bakery. It is very easy to prepare the popular onion cake according to this recipe. You will definitely succeed! But before we move on to the recipe, we want to tell you something worth knowing about the savory pastry. Stay tuned because it will smell like onions soon!
The onion cake is one of the traditional German delicacies in autumn.
Where does the onion tart come from?
Today it is difficult to trace the origin of the onion cake exactly. He probably comes from the southern German wine-growing regions of Baden and Swabia. However, it is historically documented that the German Emperor Carl the Great allowed winegrowers to serve some of the wine they produced themselves.
This is how the tradition of drinking wine in good company in autumn and eating something hearty with it began around the year 800. Then came the first homemade onion cake. By the way, this is a hearty pastry that is made from yeast dough and baked on a tin. Then add the onions, some bacon, sour cream, grated cheese and spices to the yeast dough. However, there are various regional recipes for the onion cake, which differ slightly from each other. For example, there are plenty of bacon cubes in the Swabian recipe, while these are absent in other regional recipes. With or without bacon, the onion pastry tastes really good!
Most Germans think that onion cake tastes better with bacon!
People like to drink a young wine, called Federweißer, with onion cake!
What do you like to drink with hearty pastries?
Everyone knows from their own experience: eating and drinking always go hand in hand. As we have already indicated, the onion cake is traditionally part of every autumn wine festival. People like to drink a young wine, called Federweißer, or take a dry white wine such as Riesling. A fresh Weißherbst would also go well with the onion cake. But if you don’t tolerate alcohol, you can have a glass of Suser with the hearty pastries. This apple cider is a traditional non-alcoholic drink that is particularly popular in autumn and winter.
Recipes for the popular onion tart can vary from place to place.
But now to the classic recipe from Grandma’s bakery!
Classic recipe for hearty onion tart
This classic recipe for a hearty onion cake comes from Lusatia. You need a total of 60 minutes to prepare it – approx. 20 minutes of working time plus 40 minutes of baking time. You also have to add 60 minutes of rest time for the yeast dough.
you need the following ingredients:
- For the dough: 500 g wheat flour, ½ cube of fresh yeast, 200 g butter, 125 ml milk, 1 egg, pinch of sugar, 1 tsp salt;
- For covering: 700 g onions, 175 g bacon or diced ham, 65 g butter, 4 eggs, 250 g sour cream, 2 tablespoons caraway, 100 g grated cheese, salt, pepper, nutmeg.
You have to have all the necessary ingredients ready and only then can you get started!
Preparation in 6 simple steps – Here’s how it’s done:
- Slightly warm the milk (it doesn’t have to be hot!) along with the butter and a pinch of sugar. Then dissolve the yeast in it and stir well. Now you can put the flour, salt and 1 egg directly into the bowl of your food processor. Then add the yeast milk and knead. It is much easier to knead the yeast dough with the food processor than by hand. When you have a smooth dough, cover it with a clean towel and let it rise for an hour.
- Peel the onions and cut into thin slices.
- Dice the bacon or ham and place in a pan with the butter. Fry lightly and then add the chopped onions. Fry until the onion slices become translucent.
This recipe for hearty onion cake also works for beginners in cake baking!
- Cover a baking tray with parchment paper and roll out the yeast dough on it. Form a small border.
- Now add the sour cream and the eggs to the onion and ham mixture. Season well with the spices – salt, pepper, nutmeg and cumin. Then spread this mixture on the yeast dough and sprinkle with grated cheese.
- Bake the onion cake in a preheated oven at 200 °C for about 40 minutes.
Serve the onion cake right after the baking time.
It tastes wonderful when it’s still warm.
Enjoy your meal!
Fall is the perfect time for a hearty onion tart!
