Next level pissaladière

Method

• step 1

  To make the pastry, coarsely grate the butter into a bowl, tossing it with a spoonful of the flour as you go. Freeze for at least 30 mins, or chill for 1 hr until firm. Stir the lemon juice into 125ml ice-cold water. Tip the remaining flour and 1 tsp salt into a large bowl, then scatter in the frozen grated butter. Toss the butter and flour together using your fingertips. Don’t rub it in like you would for crumble – you want flakes and shards of butter running throughout the flour. Pour in two-thirds of the lemon water and use a cutlery knife to bring the mixture together. Drizzle in a little more water if it’s dry – the dough should be shaggy, but hold together when pressed. Tip the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and bring together using your hands by gently kneading. Shape into a rough rectangle, then wrap and chill for 20 mins.

• step 2

  Roll the pastry out into a rough 20 x 30cm rectangle, nudging the edges straight as you do. You’re aiming for a marbled dough with streaks of butter, not a smooth, uniform block. Cut the rectangle crosswise into three even, smaller rectangles, then neatly stack them on top of each other and roll out again to a 20 x 30cm rectangle. Cut and stack again, then wrap and chill for at least 30 mins. Will keep chilled for up to three days.

• step 3

  Heat the oil in a large, shallow, flameproof casserole dish or frying pan over a medium heat. Tip in the onions, season well and stir until glossy and starting to sizzle. Tie the thyme and bay together using kitchen string and drop into the pan. Cook the onions for 40-45 mins, stirring often. For the first 15-20 mins, they’ll look like they’re swimming in their own juices, but don’t worry – the liquid will bubble away. Once the onions start to turn golden and sticky, keep a close eye on them, stirring in the caramelised bits from the base. When the onions are deep golden, collapsed and jammy, remove the herb bundle, then leave the onions to cool fully. Will keep chilled for up to three days.

• step 4

  Lightly oil a baking tray. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface into a rough 25 x 35cm rectangle, then carefully lift it onto the tray and trim the edges to neaten. Chill for 20 mins. Heat the oven to 220C/ 200C fan/gas 7. Spread the cooled onions over the pastry, leaving a thin border. Arrange the anchovies on top in a lattice-style pattern, then put the olives in the centre of the diamonds. Sprinkle over the parmesan and bake for 30 mins until the pastry is puffed up and deep golden at the edges and underneath, and the onions are bubbling and burnished. Scatter over some thyme, or put a mini sprig over each anchovy cross. Rest for at least 10 mins before cutting into squares. Once completely cool, will keep well wrapped and frozen for up to three months. Reheat from frozen in the oven before serving.