Zwiebelkuchen
Zwiebelkuchen is a savory German onion cake, perfect for autumn. A rich, yeasted dough forms the base for a creamy, flavorful onion and bacon-like topping. This recipe offers a vegetarian twist on the classic.
An original recipe by Forkin
- Total time
- 2 hr 25 min
- Serves
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Per serving
- 448 kcal
Allergen information: may contain eggs, gluten, milk, and soy. Always check ingredient packaging if you have an allergy.
Mise en place
Ingredients
Converted for display; the recipe amounts stay equivalent.
dough
- 250 gall-purpose flour
- 7 gactive dry yeast
- 1 tspsugar
- 125 mlmilk, lukewarm
- 30 gunsalted butter, melted
- 1 pcsegg
- 0.5 tspsalt
filling
- 1,000 gonion, thinly sliced
- 2 tbspvegetable oil
- 100 gsmoked tofu, diced
- 1 tspcaraway seed
topping
- 200 gsour cream
- 2 pcsegg
- 1 tbspall-purpose flour
- 0.25 tspblack pepper, freshly ground
- 1 pinchnutmeg, freshly grated
- 0.5 tspsalt
Equipment
springform pan · rolling pin · large pan · medium bowl · large bowl · kitchen towel · whisk
The method
Step by step
- 1
In a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, and sugar for the dough.
About 2 min
- 2
Warm the milk slightly then add it, along with the melted butter, egg, and salt, to the dry ingredients.
About 1 min
Cook’s note: Ensure milk is lukewarm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast.
- 3
Mix until a shaggy dough forms, then turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
About 2 min
- 4
Knead the dough for 8-10 minutes until it is smooth and elastic.
About 9 min
- 5
Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 45-60 minutes, or until doubled in size.
About 1 hr
Cook’s note: A turned-off oven with the light on can be a good warm spot.
- 6
While the dough rises, prepare the filling: Heat the vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat.
About 2 min
- 7
Add the sliced onions and a pinch of salt, then cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and translucent, about 15-20 minutes.
About 20 min
Cook’s note: Do not rush this step; properly caramelized onions are key to flavor.
- 8
Stir in the diced smoked tofu and caraway seeds, and cook for another 5 minutes.
About 5 min
- 9
Remove the onion mixture from the heat and let it cool slightly.
About 5 min
- 10
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
About 15 min
- 11
In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, eggs, flour, pepper, nutmeg, and salt for the topping.
About 2 min
- 12
Once the dough has risen, punch it down gently and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a large circle, about 30 cm (12 inches) in diameter.
About 5 min
- 13
Transfer the dough to a greased 26-28 cm (10-11 inch) springform pan or tart pan, pressing it up the sides to form a crust.
About 2 min
- 14
Spread the cooled onion and tofu mixture evenly over the dough.
About 1 min
- 15
Pour the sour cream mixture over the onions, spreading it gently to cover.
About 1 min
- 16
Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the topping is set and golden brown.
About 40 min
Cook’s note: If the edges brown too quickly, you can loosely cover them with foil.
- 17
Let the Zwiebelkuchen cool in the pan for at least 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.
About 15 min
Cook’s note: It's often served warm, but also delicious at room temperature.
Per serving
Nutrition
- Calories
- 448.1kcal
- Protein
- 14g
- Carbs
- 51.9g
- Fat
- 20.7g
- Fibre
- 4.6g
- Sugar
- 10.3g
Estimated from the recipe’s ingredient quantities. Values can vary with brands and substitutions.
Keep it good
Store leftover Zwiebelkuchen tightly covered in the refrigerator.
Reheat slices in a preheated oven at 160°C (325°F) for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through.
More recipes
All recipeslunch
lunch
lunch
Chicken & Avocado Sandwich
Sliced chicken breast with creamy avocado on whole wheat bread.
5 min 395 kcalsnack
Rice Cakes with Chocolate Spread
Crisp rice cakes topped with chocolate spread — a lighter take on the classic combo.
2 min 176 kcalappetizer
Classic Gilda Pintxos
These iconic Gilda pintxos are a vibrant Spanish appetizer, delivering a delightful burst of briny, spicy, and savory flavors in every bite. Named after the Rita Hayworth character for their 'salty, green, and a little spicy' profile, they are incredibly simple to assemble and showcase the quality of their few, bold ingredients.
10 min 43 kcalbreakfast
Almond Butter and Honey Toast
Toasted bread with almond butter and a honey drizzle — nutty and naturally sweet.
4 min 366 kcallunch
Chicken & Salad Wrap
Sliced chicken breast, lettuce and tomato wrapped in a soft tortilla.
5 min 396 kcal