Mary Berry Pear Tarte Tatin Food

PEAR TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Core the pears, then peel as neatly as possible and halve. If you like, they can be prepared up to a day ahead and kept in the fridge, uncovered, so that they dry out.
• Tip the sugar, butter, star anise, cardamom and cinnamon into an ovenproof frying pan, about 20cm wide, and place over a high heat until bubbling. Shake the pan and stir the buttery sauce until it separates and the sugar caramelises to a toffee colour.
• Lay the pears in the pan, then cook in the sauce for 10-12 mins, tossing occasionally, until completely caramelised. Don't worry about them burning - they won't - but you want to caramelise them as much as possible. Splash in the brandy and let it flambé, then set the pears aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Roll the pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using a plate slightly larger than the top of the pan, cut out a circle, then press the edges of the circle of pastry to thin them out.
• When the pears have cooled slightly, arrange them in the pan, cut side up, in a floral shape, with the pears around the edge pointing inwards. Rest the cinnamon stick on the top in the centre, with the cardamom pods scattered around.
• Drape the pastry over the pears, then tuck the edges down the pan sides and under the fruit (see Gordon's guide). Pierce the pastry a few times, then bake for 15 mins. If a lot of juice bubbles up the side of the pan, pour it off at this stage (see guide). Reduce oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and bake for 15 mins more until the pastry is golden. Leave the tart to stand for 10 mins, then invert it carefully onto a serving dish.

TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, place the flours, sugar and butter. Pulse 5 or 6 times in 1/2-second bursts to break up the butter. Add the shortening, turn on the machine and immediately add the ice water, pulsing 2 or 3 times. The dough should look like a mass of smallish lumps and should just hold together in a mass when a handful is pressed together. If the mixture is too dry, pulse in more water by droplets.
• Turn the dough out onto the work surface and with the heel of your hand, rapidly and roughly push egg-size blobs into a 6-inch smear. Gather the dough into a relatively smooth cake, wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 2 hours (or up to 2 days).
• Slice the halved apples into 4 lengthwise wedges each, and toss in a large bowl with the lemon juice and zest and 1/2 cup sugar. Drain the apples after macerating 20 minutes.
• In a 9-inch skillet melt the butter over high heat. Stir in the remaining sugar and cook until the syrup bubbles and caramelizes, and turns a brown color. Remove the pan from the heat and arrange a layer of apple slices in a neat pattern on the caramel in the skillet, then arrange the remaining apples neatly on top.
• Return the pan to moderately high heat and cook for about 25 minutes, covering the pan after 10 minutes. Every few minutes press down on the apples and baste them with the exuded juices. When the juices are thick and syrupy, remove the pan from the heat.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the chilled dough into a circle, 3/16-inch thick and 1-inch larger than the top of the pan. Drape the dough over the apples, pressing the edge of the dough between the apples and the inside of the pan. Cut 4 small steam holes on the top of the dough. Bake until the pastry has browned and crisped, about 20 minutes.
• Unmold the tart onto a serving dish (so the pastry is on the bottom), and serve warm or cold with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, as desired.

MARY BERRY'S TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 180 C / Gas 4. For the caramel: pour the sugar and water into a heatproof pie tin. Heat for a few minutes on the cooker ring until it starts to brown and caramelise. Swirl the caramel around the tin. Arrange 2 layers of apples in a circle on top of the caramel. Sprinkle with dark brown sugar. Dot with small cubes of butter. Cover with shortcrust pastry making sure the edges are tucked into the side of the tin. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Turn out onto a serving plate and serve hot with ice cream

PEAR TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• In a bowl mix very quickly with your fingers the flour, salt and 4 tbsp of cold butter. With the yolk put all this together and add 2 tbsp of sugar and the water. Make a ball, wrap on plastic and leave to cool in the refrigerator for an hour or so.
• Cut the pears in halves leaving the stem but withdrawing the seeds.
• In a pan over high flame melt 5 tbsp of butter with 2 tbsp of sugar (from the cup), and stir until it becomes a golden syrup. Lower the flame to the minimum and add the pears leaving the "canoe" side down, and the cut side up.
• Over the pears put the rest of the butter (2 tbsp) in little squares, the rest of the cup of sugar and the cinnamon. Cook for 8 minutes, take away and bake in a low oven for 20 minutes.
• While you wait for the pears, take the dough and roll it in a circle a little bit larger than the pan, so when the 20 minutes are over you can cover the pan with it and leave it in a medium oven for 15 more minutes.
• Leave to cool down a little for 10 minutes, turn down on a beautiful dish and eat with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

PEAR TART

Steps:

• Place the currants in a small saucepan. Cover with water and bring to a boil. Allow them to boil for a minute and turn off the heat. Let them soak for about 5 minutes. Drain thoroughly and set aside. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Combine flour, salt, and sugar, and cut in butter with a dough blender or 2 knives until it resembles a coarse meal. You can also use a food processor. Stir in egg yolks. Knead this mixture until smooth. This takes quite a bit of kneading (you might want to use 2 hands). Press the dough out on the bottom and sides of an 8 or 9-inch springform pan. Neatly finish the rim. In a large bowl, gently combine the pear slices with the lemon juice, spices, sugar, and currants. Carefully arrange the fruits in the crust. Dot with butter, sprinkle with sugar. Bake for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until the crust is golden. Cool and serve.

PEAR TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Sieve the flour into a bowl and rub in 100g butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Stir in 15g sugar and 1-2 Tbsp water to form a firm dough. Chill until required.
• Grease and line the base of a 17.5cm sandwich cake tin with baking paper and place onto a baking tray.
• Heat the remaining 25g butter with the remaining 50g sugar gently in a small heavy based pan until the sugar dissolves and the mixture turns golden brown. Remove from the heat, allow to cool a little and then add the yogurt, stirring well (if the toffee hardens, continue stirring until it dissolves)
• Pour half of the sauce into the base of the lined tin, cut the pears into quarters and arrange over the toffee, packing in well. Pour over the remaining toffee.
• Roll out the pastry on a floured surface slightly larger than the tin and place over the pears, tucking in at the sides and cook in a preheated oven, Gas 6,200 C for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is golden.
• Allow to cool a little then place a plate on top of the tin and turn the tart out so that the pears are on the top. Serve with extra toffee yogurt.

PEAR TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Position rack in bottom third of oven. Peel the pears, cut them in half lengthwise and core them. Place in a large bowl and toss with the lemon juice. Set aside.
• Place the sugar in a 10-inch skillet or tarte Tatin pan over low heat. When some of the sugar begins to melt, begin stirring with a wooden spoon until all of the sugar is melted and begins to turn a pale golden color.
• Remove the pan from the heat. Arrange the pear halves in the pan spoke fashion, cut side up, with the narrow end of the pears toward the center, as close together as possible. Fill in the center with the remaining pears.
• Cut the butter into small pieces and scatter over the pears. Place the pan over medium heat. Cook until the sugar turns a deep caramel color and the juices released from the pears are nearly evaporated, about 15 to 20 minutes.
• Roll the dough and cover the pears according to the directions in the pastry recipe. Bake until the crust is golden brown, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside for 10 minutes.
• Run a small, sharp knife around the edge of the tarte to loosen. Place a large plate or platter over the skillet. Holding the plate and skillet together using 2 kitchen towels, carefully but quickly invert the tarte onto the plate. Let stand a few minutes to cool slightly. Cut into wedges and serve with or creme fraiche if desired.