Baked shallots in cream

I’m sure I’ve said it many times, but shallots, like all onions, are the unsung heroes of the kitchen. Here’s a recipe where they shine in their own right, a kind of meaty but vegetarian dish, so to speak, to accompany a good hunk of brilliant sourdough. Note that, although the cream may look curdled, it is not - it will be silky smooth as hoped.