Caramelized-Onion Flatbreads with Creme Fraiche

ingredients

• Bread dough:
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water (105 degrees to 115 degrees)
• 3/4 teaspoon active dry yeast
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon nigella seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
  4 teaspoons whipped butter
  1 tablespoon hydrogenated fat
  1 tablespoon margarine
  2 1/4 teaspoons olive oil
• Caramelized onions:
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound onions (about 2 medium), cut into 0.333 inch-thick wedges through root ends
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tablespoon Sherry wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup creme fraiche
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• Semolina flour or cornmeal
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives

directions

bread dough:

Whisk 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon warm water and yeast in small bowl, let stand until yeast is dissolved, about 10 minutes.

Mix flour, nigella seeds, and salt in medium bowl. Add yeast mixture and stir with wooden spoon until mixture clumps together. Add butter, mix until incorporated. Turn dough out onto lightly floured work surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Divide dough into 6 equal pieces, roll each into ball. Place on baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep covered and refrigerate.)

caramelized onions:

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion wedges to skillet and cook without turning until beginning to brown, about 7 minutes. Carefully turn onions over, reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until onions are tender and brown, occasionally stirring gently, about 10 minutes. Add thyme and honey, cook 1 minute. Stir in vinegar. Seasonto taste with salt and pepper. Remove skillet from heat. Cool. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Let dough rise in warm draft-free area until doubled, about 1 hour. Whisk crè,me fraî,che and egg in small bowl to blend. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Sprinkle 2 rimmed baking sheets lightly with semolina flour. Roll out each dough ball to 5 inch round. Transfer 3 rounds to each prepared baking sheet. Let rest 10 minutes. Pierce dough rounds all over with fork. Spread 1 generous tablespoon crè,me fraî,che mixture over each dough round, leaving 0.25 inch plain border. Arrange onions evenly atop each, drizzle lightly with crè,me fraî,che mixture (mixture may spill over edges of dough).

Bake flatbreads until crusts are puffed and golden, about 12 minutes. Transfer to plates, sprinkle with chives.

*Available at some supermarkets, and at specialty foods stores and Italian markets.