QUINCE SLAB PIE

Quince Slab Pie image

Provided by Martha Stewart

Time 4h

Yield Makes one 6-by-15-inch pie

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 cups sweet dessert wine, such as Sauternes
2 cups water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 green cardamom pods, crushed
2 whole cinnamon sticks
1 piece (2 inches) peeled fresh ginger, thinly sliced
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped, pod reserved
4 quinces
1 package (14 ounces) frozen puff pastry (preferably Dufour), thawed
All-purpose flour, for parchment
1 large egg, lightly beaten for egg wash
Coarse sanding sugar, for sprinkling

Steps:

Make the filling: Bring wine, water, granulated sugar, butter, cardamom, cinnamon sticks, ginger, and vanilla seeds and pod to a simmer in a large pot. Meanwhile, peel, core, and quarter quinces, adding them to pot as you work. Cover with parchment, and cook until quinces are soft and rosy pink, about 2 hours. Discard vanilla pod.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make the crust: Roll out puff pastry to a 12-by-15-inch rectangle on a floured piece of parchment; transfer to a baking sheet. Freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
Cut dough in half lengthwise to form two 6-by-15-inch rectangles. Using a slotted spoon, transfer quince onto puff pastry, leaving a 1-inch border. (There will be a small pool of liquid.) Brush border with egg wash. Top with remaining puff pastry, pressing edges to seal. Brush top with egg wash, and sprinkle with sanding sugar. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
Cut six 2-inch slits every 2 inches along the top for steam vents. Bake until pastry is puffed and golden, about 45 minutes. Cut slab pie into triangular pieces. Serve immediately.