Candied Kumquat Tartlets Food

CANDIED KUMQUATS OR MEYER LEMONS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cover the fruit with cold water and bring to a boil. Drain. Cover the fruit with cold water and bring to a boil again. Drain and set aside.
• In the same saucepan, combine 1 cup water and the sugar, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Pierce each piece of fruit 2 or 3 times with a paring knife. Drop the fruit into the sugar syrup and continue to simmer for 15 minutes for kumquats or 20 minutes for lemons.
• Remove from heat and leave the fruit steeping in the syrup unrefrigerated for 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring the syrup and fruit to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Cool and store in a glass jar. Fruit and syrup will keep in the refrigerator for 3 months.

CANDIED KUMQUAT TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 36 1 1/4-inch round fluted tartlet pans with nonstick cooking spray, working in batches if necessary, and set aside.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out pate brisee to a scant 1/4 inch thick. Using a 2-inch round cutter, cut out 36 rounds. Fit each round into a prepared tartlet pan; trim as necessary. Place on a baking sheet and transfer to freezer until chilled, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Weight down each tartlet with a second 1 1/4-inch round fluted tartlet pan. Transfer to oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove second tartlet pans and continue baking until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes more. Let tartlets cool completely in pans before removing.
• Fill each cooled tartlet with pastry cream and top with candied kumquats; serve.

CANDIED KUMQUATS

Steps:

• Cut a round of parchment paper to fit inside a small heavy saucepan and set aside. Put kumquats in saucepan with enough cold water to cover and bring just to a boil. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water, then return to pan with 1 1/2 cups sugar, water (3/4 cup) , and a pinch of salt. Cover with parchment round and gently simmer until kumquats are tender and translucent, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in syrup.
• Just before serving, strain kumquats through a sieve set over a bowl and let stand 15 minutes (reserve syrup for another use; see note, above). Roll kumquats in remaining 1/2 cup sugar.
• Do Ahead
• Candied kumquats keep in syrup up to 3 months, chilled. Stain before coating with sugar.

CANDIED KUMQUATS FOR CANDIED KUMQUAT TARTLETS

Steps:

• Place sugar in a medium saucepan and add 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat to a simmer and add kumquats; let simmer for 1 hour. Carefully remove kumquats from liquid and place in an even layer on a wire rack, set over parchment paper, to dry, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.

CANDIED KUMQUATS

Steps:

• Cut kumquats in half crosswise, and remove pits. Place in a medium saucepan with enough water to cover, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Drain in a sieve, and repeat process three more times.
• Place sugar and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. When all sugar has dissolved, reduce heat to low, and add kumquats. Cover, and cook 40 to 45 minutes, until translucent. Remove from heat, and allow to cool completely in syrup. Candied kumquats can be stored in the syrup in an airtight plastic container up to 3 days.