Apple Tart Maman Blanc Food

APPLE TART 'MAMAN BLANC'

Steps:

• For the pastry, pulse together the flour, butter and salt in a food processor until you reach a sandy texture. Add the egg, water and pulse again. If you over mix the dough at this stage it will lose its flakiness.
• Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead with the palms of your hands for 30 seconds, or until the dough is smooth and well combined.
• With the palm of your hand flatten the dough slightly to 1cm/½in thickness, then sandwich it between two large sheets of cling film. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 220C/440F/Gas 7. Place a baking tray into the oven to preheat.
• Roll the chilled dough, still sandwiched in cling film, to a 2mm thickness. Place a 22cm/9in diameter, 2cm/¾in deep tart ring on a greaseproof lined wooden peel or baking tray. Remove the top layer of clingfilm and carefully pick up the dough, place it into the tart ring with the second layer of clingfilm facing up. Lift and tuck the dough into the edges of the ring and discard the clingfilm. By tucking in the base you will minimise the shrinking of the dough during cooking. Trim off any excess with a rolling pin.
• Using your index finger and thumb, pinch and press the dough until it's 2mm above the tart ring all around the edge. With a fork, prick the bottom of the tart. Chill in the fridge for 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, for the filling, heat the butter, lemon juice and 15g/1oz of the sugar in a small saucepan until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the Calvados. Set aside.
• When the tart case has chilled, arrange the apple segments in concentric circles, overlapping the apple slices as you go. Brush the apples all over with the Calvados mixture. Slide the tart ring onto the pre-heated baking tray and bake for 10 minutes.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 200C/400F/Gas 6, then continue to cook for a further 20 minutes, until the pastry is pale golden-brown and the apples have caramelised.
• Whisk together the double cream, egg and the remaining 50g/2oz caster sugar until well combined. When the pastry is pale golden-brown and the apples have caramelised, sprinkle the tart with a tablespoon of sugar and pour the custard mixture into the tart, bake for a further 10 minutes, until the filling mixture has just set.
• To serve, remove the tart from the oven and set aside for 1 hour to cool slightly, then carefully remove the tart ring. Dust all over with icing sugar. Serve immediately.

APPLE TART 'MAMAN BLANC'

Steps:

• For the pastry, pulse together the flour, butter and a pinch of sea salt in a food processor until it reaches a sandy texture. Add the egg, 1 tsp cold water and pulse again briefly. If you over-mix the dough at this stage it will lose its flakiness. Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured work surface and knead with the palms of your hands for 30 secs, or until smooth and well combined. With the palm of your hand, flatten the dough slightly to 1cm thickness, then sandwich it between 2 large sheets of cling film. Place on a baking tray and chill for 30 mins.
• Roll the chilled dough, still sandwiched in cling film, to a 2mm thickness. Place a 22cm/3-4cm deep loose-bottomed cake tin on a baking tray. (Or use a 22cm/2-3cm deep tart ring and place on a greaseproof-lined baking tray.) Remove the top layer of cling film. Carefully pick up the dough and place it into the tin with the second layer of cling film facing up. Lift and tuck the dough into the edges of the tin and discard the cling film. By tucking in the base you minimise the shrinking of the dough during cooking. Trim off any excess with a rolling pin. Using your index finger and thumb, pinch and press the dough until it is 2mm above the tin all around the edge. Prick the bottom of the tart with a fork. Chill in the fridge for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, for the filling, heat the butter, lemon juice and 15g of the caster sugar in a small saucepan until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and stir in the Calvados. Set aside. Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Place a baking sheet into the oven to pre-heat.
• Arrange the apple segments in concentric circles over the chilled base, overlapping the apple slices as you go. Brush the apples all over with the Calvados mixture. Slide the tin or tart ring (on its lining paper) onto the pre-heated baking sheet and bake for 10 mins. Reduce the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6, then continue to cook for 15-20 mins more.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the double cream, egg and the remaining 50g caster sugar until well combined. After the 15-20 mins baking - when the pastry is pale golden brown and the apples have started to caramelise - sprinkle the tart with the 1 tbsp caster sugar, then pour the custard mixture into the tart. Bake for a further 10 mins until the filling has just set.
• To serve, remove the tart from the oven and set aside for 1 hr to cool slightly. Carefully remove the tin or tart ring and serve immediately with crème fraîche.