Dziriate Food

DZIRIAT (ALGERIAN ALMOND TARTS)

Steps:

• Prepare the almonds the day before. Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat, and add the almonds. Let the almonds soak in water for about 5 minutes, then drain and peel. Spread the almonds on baking sheets, and bake at 200 degrees F(95 degrees C) until completely dry and toasted. This takes several hours, and needs to be prepared ahead. Be careful not to burn the nuts, as this will give a bitter taste to the filling.
• Combine 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water in a saucepan, and bring to a boil. Add 1 teaspoon lemon juice, reduce heat to low, and let it simmer until syrupy, about 30 to 40 minutes. Stir in orange blossom water, and remove from heat. Set sugar syrup aside.
• Combine flour and salt in a large mixing bowl. Make a hole in the center, and pour oil, egg, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, and 1 tablespoon orange blossom water into the center. Mix with fingers until the dough resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually sprinkle with warm water while mixing until the dough becomes soft and pliable. Divide into 4 equal portions. Cover dough with a wet cloth, and set aside.
• In a food processor, finely grind the almonds. Measure 3 cups of the finely ground almonds into a mixing bowl, and stir together with 1 cup sugar, baking powder, vanilla powder, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons orange flower water. Mix in three eggs one at a time, stirring constantly; mix until you get a sticky, paste-like mixture.
• Sprinkle cornstarch on the rolling surface to prevent sticking. Roll each portion of dough very thinly, 1 to 2 millimeters (1/16 inch). Cut the rolled dough into circles of about 10 centimeters (4 inches) in diameter each. Lightly wipe the surface of each circle with cornstarch, and fit into a tart mold, cornstarch side down to prevent sticking. Gently press the dough onto the sides and bottom of the mold, and trim extra dough from around the rim. Fill three quarters of each mold with the almond filling.
• Bake on the top shelf at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the surface of the tart is golden and the dough is firm. Remove the tarts from the molds as soon as they come out of the oven. Dip each tart in the sugar syrup while still hot. Stick a pine nut into the middle of each tart for decoration. Place on a wire rack to drain.

DZIRIATE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease 2 baking sheets.
• To make the pastry: Place flour and salt in electric mixer. Then, with mixer running, pour in melted butter, egg yolk, rosewater and vanilla extract. Add 1 to 3 tablespoons cold water, as needed, until dough just comes together. Continue to mix dough until it is smooth, about 1 minute. Cover bowl with a damp cloth or plastic wrap until needed.
• For the syrup: In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring honey and rosewater to a boil, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool.
• For the filling: In a food processor, pulse together almonds and confectioners' sugar until powdery. Add remaining ingredients and pulse to combine. Transfer to a bowl.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out pastry dough as thin as possible ( between 1/16 and 1/8 inch). Use a 2 1/2-inch round cookie cutter to cut dough into circles. Mound 1 generous tablespoon filling into center of each circle. With a pastry brush, dab edges of the dough with water. Using your fingers, mold dough around stuffing, pinching dough into folds to form a cup for filling. Press folds together to seal.
• Transfer pastries to baking sheets. Bake until filling is golden brown and pastry crust is pale golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove pastries from oven and immediately drizzle 1 teaspoon syrup over filling and shell of each pastry. Let pastries cool on baking sheet set on a wire rack before serving.