2009_04_21-flatbread2.jpgThis is another installment from the wedding shower/cocktail party we threw last week (where we also served those tomato skewers). We've already made these little pizzas again, they're so easy and good. You can cut them into pieces for a party or eat one on your own for dinner.

2009_04_21-flatbread3.jpgBasil isn't exactly in season here in the Northeast; we splurged on some from Florida. If you can't get your hands on some or are waiting to grow your own, you can substitute parsley, although we really love the touch of sweetness the basil adds.

The best flatbreads we found were Indian naan, and we got ours at Whole Foods (under their 365 brand) in Tennessee and Garden of Eden in New York. If you use store-bought flatbreads and make your caramelized onions ahead of time (you can even freeze them), these things come together in 10 minutes.

Flatbreads with Goat Cheese, Caramelized Onions, and Basil
makes 4 (using flatbreads that are about 10 inches long and 4 inches wide)

1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for brushing on the bread
2 yellow onions
1 teaspoon salt
freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
4 flatbreads or pieces of Indian naan
4 ounces goat cheese
large handful of fresh basil leaves, sliced into ribbons

Heat the olive oil in a medium fry pan over medium-low heat. Add the onions, salt, and pepper, and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. The heat should be low enough that the onions sizzle quietly but don't brown too quickly. Add the sugar and continue to cook for another 15 to 20 minutes, until the onions are dark golden and a darker brown crust begins to form on the bottom of the skillet. Pick up the dark brown bits and stir them into the onions, then turn off the heat and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Brush a bit of olive oil on each flatbread and sprinkle on some kosher salt. Scatter the onions evenly over each flatbread and crumble one ounce of goat cheese on each. Bake for about 8 minutes, until the cheese is beginning to melt and the flatbread gets slightly crisp.

Remove from the oven, sprinkle the basil on top, and cut into pieces.

2009_04_21-flatbread1.jpgRelated: Making Naan Bread at Home

(Images: Elizabeth Passarella)