FRESH FIG TART
The photogenic tart will make you look like a pastry chef, though it's no more difficult than baking a pie. A sweet tart crust is layered with almond cream, fig jam (homemade is nice, but store-bought works well, too) and fresh figs. The key to success is superb figs. They can't be so jammy that they collapse when you cut them into quarters or sixths. But they should be sweet and ripe. The dough recipe below makes two crusts, one for now and one for later (store extra dough, well-wrapped, in the freezer).
Provided by Martha Rose Shulman
Categories pies and tarts, dessert
Time 7h
Yield One 9-inch tart
Number Of Ingredients 20
Steps:
- Prepare the crust: In a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sea salt on medium speed for about 1 minute. Scrape down sides of bowl and paddle with a rubber spatula and add confectioners' sugar. Combine with butter at low speed. Once incorporated, scrape down bowl and paddle. Add almond flour and vanilla extract and combine at low speed.
- Gradually add egg and a quarter of the flour (scant 1/2 cup or 55 grams). Beat at low speed until just incorporated. Scrape down bowl and paddle. Gradually add remaining flour and mix just until dough comes together, stopping from time to time to scrape in any mixture adhering to sides and bottom of bowl. Do not overbeat. Dough should be soft to the touch.
- Separate dough into two equal portions. Gently press each portion into a 1/2-inch-thick rectangle. Double-wrap airtight in plastic wrap. Refrigerate one dough portion for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight; chill or freeze the second portion for another use.
- Very lightly butter a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. (You should not be able to see the butter.) On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 10 1/2-inch circle, 1/4 inch thick. Dust work surface and dough often, and work quickly so dough remains cold. Gently roll dough over lightly dusted rolling pin and transfer to pan, gently easing it in and trimming the top edge. Chill uncovered for at least 1 hour, preferably longer.
- Prepare the tart: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Sift together almond flour, confectioners' sugar, cornstarch and flour into a medium bowl.
- Place butter, salt and vanilla and almond extracts in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle and beat 1 minute at medium speed. Scrape down bowl and paddle, and add almond flour mixture. Beat at medium speed for 1 minute, until incorporated. Stop, scrape down bowl and paddle, then turn on machine and gradually add egg. Add rum and beat at medium speed until egg and rum are incorporated.
- Remove tart shell from refrigerator and place on a baking sheet. Using a fork, pierce rows across surface of crust, about 1 inch apart. Scrape almond cream onto crust and, using a small offset or rubber spatula, spread evenly over crust.
- Place in oven and bake 40 minutes, until crust and almond cream are golden brown and the tip of a knife comes out clean when inserted into cream. Remove from oven and let cool for 40 minutes on a rack.
- Using a small spatula, spread fig jam over surface of tart in an even layer.
- Remove stems from figs. Cut small and medium figs into quarters, large figs into sixths or eights. Arrange in concentric circles, starting with the rim, with the stem end down. Slices should angle upwards. If not serving right away, refrigerate. Dust with powdered sugar just before serving.
PHYLLO PASTRY WITH FRESH FIGS AND RICOTTA
For an impressive dessert, try these flaky phyllo pastries, which are not at all difficult to make. Form little packages of phyllo leaves brushed with butter, add a smear of sweetened ricotta and top them with ripe figs cut into star shapes. Lightly sugared, baked and drizzled with honey, they are a cross-cultural pleasure, almost like a French tartlet, but with Middle Eastern undertones. Each pastry requires just one sheet of dough. Any remaining leaves can be carefully wrapped and refrozen.
Provided by David Tanis
Categories finger foods, pastries, appetizer, dessert
Time 1h
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta, lemon zest and juice, almond extract and sugar. Stir well and set aside.
- Lay 1 sheet phyllo dough horizontally on a flat surface. Brush lightly with butter. Fold phyllo in half, left to right, and brush the top lightly with butter. Then fold phyllo in half, top to bottom, and brush the top lightly with butter again. Fold once more, left to right. You should have a 4-by-6-inch rectangle. Brush top with butter and trim edges. Repeat with remaining 5 sheets phyllo, using 2 tablespoons butter per pastry. Lay pastry packages on a parchment-lined baking sheet and heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Spread each pastry package with a generous tablespoon of ricotta filling. Snip stems from figs and open them into star shapes by cutting from stem end in quarters, nearly to the bottom of the fig. Top each pastry package with 2 figs. Sprinkle 1 teaspoon sugar over each package.
- Bake for 15 minutes or until golden and crisp. Remove from oven, sprinkle with chopped almonds and drizzle lightly with honey. Serve at room temperature. If desired, cut pastries in half to make 12 small servings.
Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 278, UnsaturatedFat 7 grams, Carbohydrate 23 grams, Fat 20 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 11 grams, Sodium 79 milligrams, Sugar 13 grams, TransFat 1 gram
FIG AND APPLE PHYLLO TART
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Remove any stems from figs. In a saucepan combine figs with remaining filling ingredients and simmer, covered, 20 minutes, or until very tender. Transfer mixture to a food processor and blend until smooth.
- Brush a 9-inch-square or 10-inch round tart pan with a removable fluted rim with some butter. On a work surface arrange 1 sheet phyllo with a short side facing you and brush with some butter, On it layer 3 more sheets phyllo and more butter in same manner and line pan, pressing phyllo into pan with fingertips and leaving short sides overhanging.
- Repeat layering procedure with remaining phyllo and some of remaining butter and arrange in pan at a 90-degree angle to the first lining, easing to fit. Put pan on a baking sheet and roll overhanging edges under loosely (outside the pan) to form a decorative edge. Brush edge with remaining butter and spread fig mixture evenly on bottom.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Peel, quarter, and core apples and cut each quarter in 3 or 4 wedges. Arrange apple wedges over fig mixture in decorative pattern and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake tart in middle of oven 40 minutes.
- In a small bowl stir together yogurt and egg.
- Remove tart from oven and increase oven temperature to 475°F. Pour yogurt mixture over apples and cover edge of tart with foil. Return tart to oven and bake 15 minutes, or until apples begin to brown. Cool tart in pan on a rack 30 minutes and sprinkle with almonds and confectioners' sugar.
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