Bites with Gruyere, mushrooms, and caramelized onions

Balsamic caramelized onions, applewood smoked gruyere cheese, and caramelized onion bits with sautéed crimini mushrooms. The ideal tiny nibbles! They are quick to make and are prepared using puff pastry. During the holiday season, give your guests these as the ideal appetizers.

Boom! A smoked gruyere cheese explosion blended right in with flaky puff pastry, balsamic caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms, and a dash of garlic. <– My life is dis. I like it. I’m game for anything with caramelized onions, whether it’s a tart or tartlette, a puff pastry nibble, or a panini melt.

How to create bite-sized caramelized onions:

Let’s discuss the recipe. I’m using 5 to 6 ounces of crimini mushrooms and two medium yellow onions. a quarter teaspoon of thyme, some sugar, and some balsamic vinegar.
The mushrooms will first be sautéed for 4-5 minutes in a small amount of oil. Remove them to a bowl once they begin to turn brown. Add the onions and the remaining butter. They should remain in the pan for five minutes. Do not forget to use a stainless steel or cast iron skillet. Since the onions won’t caramelize as nicely on a nonstick skillet, you should avoid using one.

Add the sugar and thyme once the five minutes have passed. After that, reduce the heat to around medium-low and cook the potatoes for a total of 25 minutes, checking on them roughly every 5 minutes to make sure they don’t caramelize too quickly. When all of the balsamic has been absorbed, remove it from the pan to help deglaze it. Add the onions and season the mixture with salt, pepper, and a little garlic powder. Allow your filling to come to room temperature before storing it in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. If you choose to prepare the filling in advance, zap it in the microwave to reheat it before proceeding.

Bites with Gruyere, mushrooms, and caramelized onions
Balsamic caramelized onions, applewood smoked gruyere cheese, and caramelized onion bits with sautéed crimini mushrooms. The ideal miniature appetizers! They are quick to make and are prepared using puff pastry. During the holiday season, give your guests these as the ideal appetizers.

Bites with Gruyere, mushrooms, and caramelized onions

Ingredients

4 tablespoons of divided salted butter

Divided 2 teaspoons of vegetable oil

5 to 6 ounces of sliced crimini or button mushrooms

sliced thinly 2 medium yellow onions

1/4 tsp. dry thyme

1 teaspoon of sugar

Balsamic vinegar, 1 1/2 teaspoons

a quarter-teaspoon of garlic powder

To taste, add salt and pepper.
grated gruyere cheese, 4 ounces (I used applewood smoked gruyere)
1 box (1 pound) thawed frozen puff pastry 1 gently beaten egg
Instructions
MUSHROOMS: Heat 1 tablespoon each of oil and butter in a large cast iron pan over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes, or until they are soft. Remove and place in a medium dish for later.

CARAMELIZE: Saute the onions for 5 minutes in the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter and 1 tablespoon of oil. Cook for a further 25 minutes over medium-low heat after adding the sugar and dried thyme.

Make care to whisk the mixture about every five minutes. Reduce the heat a bit further if the onions are caramelizing too quickly. To deglaze the pan, add the balsamic vinegar and let the onions absorb it all. Cut the heat off. The mushroom combination should now include onions. Add salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste before combining. Let the food reach room temperature. The mixture can now be refrigerated for up to 48 hours in an airtight container. Before continuing, let everything reach room temperature. Mix thoroughly after adding the gruyere cheese.

In the upper and bottom thirds of the oven, place two racks. Set the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Put silicone mats or parchment paper on two baking sheets.
FILL AND BAKE: Cut the puff pastry into 2-inch pieces using a knife or a pizza cutter, then arrange them on a prepared baking sheet. Before continuing, make sure the puff pastry is chilled. If not, let it rest for ten to fifteen minutes in the refrigerator before continuing. Brush the squares with the beaten egg using a pastry brush. With a fork, prick the puff pastry in the middle. Put a spoonful of the mixture of caramelized onions in the middle.

Bake until crisp and golden brown for 20 to 25 minutes, flipping the pan halfway through. Before serving, allow it cool somewhat.
Notes
Before placing it in the oven, make sure the puff pastry is cool. Allow it to rest in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 minutes or until it gets firm again if it ever goes mushy. During the first 10 minutes of baking, do not open the oven door. The puff pastry may not “blow up” if the oven is opened often.

The gruyere cheese can be swapped out for mozzarella or gouda. These nibbles go incredibly well with the smokey flavor of applewood smoked gruyere.

The caramelized onion mixture may be rapidly warmed back to room temperature if it has been made in advance by being microwaved for 30 seconds.