Plum And Custard Fritters Food

PLUM TART

Steps:

• How To Make The Crust:
• In a food processor: Mix flour, sugar and salt together and place in the food processor. Add cold butter cut into small cubes and pulse a few times until you obtain a mixture that resembles sand or bread crumbs. Do not overmix. Add lemon zest, vanilla extract, the egg and water, one tablespoon at a time pulsing a few times until the mixture holds together.
• By hand: Mix flour, sugar and salt together, then cut the cold butter into small cubes and add it to the flour. Use a pastry tool to incorporate the butter into the flour, or use your fingertips. You should have a mixture that resembles sand or bread crumbs. Add lemon zest, vanilla extract, the egg and water, one tablespoon at a time until the mixture holds together.
• Make the dough into a disk, wrap it and place it in the refrigerator for an hour.
• Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
• How To Make The Plum Layer:
• Slice the plums in half and remove the stone, then cut each half into 4-5 slices. If you can't remove the stone, just carefully cut around it.
• Set aside.
• How To Make The Custard:
• Mix flour, sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Separately beat together the egg with milk and sour cream. Pour the liquid over the flour mixture and mix well. Set aside.
• How To Assemble The Plum Tart:
• Butter the bottom of a 9 inch pie or tart pan.
• Lightly dust your work surface with flour.
• Roll out dough on floured board to a 12 inch size. This will fit in a 9 inch pan. Trim away excess.
• Sprinkle walnuts on the dough.
• Arrange the slices of plums in circle.
• Pour over the plums the custard mixture. Add the little cubes of butter on top of the tart.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes until the pastry is golden, the fruit tender and the custard set.

PLUM FRITTERS

Steps:

• In a bowl, mix together the flour, salt and 1 tablespoon sugar. Make a well in the center and add 3 egg yolks and 1/2 cup ice water. Gradually blend the liquid into the flour mixture until almost smooth. Stir in the plum brandy. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a wide, shallow bowl, combine the cinnamon with the remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Whip the egg whites to soft peaks.
• Fold the whipped egg whites into the batter. In a heavy saucepan, heat 2 inches of oil over medium-high heat; it's hot enough when it quickly browns a small drop of batter. Coat the plum halves in the batter, then fry in the oil until puffed and golden, turning once. Use a splatter guard to prevent the juices from splattering. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the fritters to the bowl of cinnamon sugar. Roll them in the sugar, then set on a plate lined with paper towels. Eat warm or at room temperature.

PLUM BUTTER

Steps:

• Split plums in half, remove pits, and cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces. Do not peel. Place in a 6-quart nonreactive saucepan, and add 1 cup water and the sugar. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and cook until fruit is very soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat; puree fruit and liquid in a food mill or food processor.
• Rinse saucepan and return puree to pan along with cardamom and cinnamon. Cook over low heat, stirring frequently to prevent scorching, until thick enough to spread, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Remove from heat and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

PLUM AND CUSTARD FRITTERS

Steps:

• For vanilla custard, bring milk, vanilla bean and 40gm of sugar to the boil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Place flour, butter and remaining sugar in a bowl and, using fingertips, rub mixture together until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Whisk in milk mixture until smooth, return to pan and continue stirring mixture over low-medium heat until thick and flour cooks out (5-6 minutes). Remove from heat, discard vanilla bean, then whisk in yolks, cover directly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Heat vegetable oil in a large deep saucepan or deep-fryer to 170C. In a large bowl combine flour and sugar, make a well in centre, add yolks and beer and whisk to combine, then stir in butter. In a separate bowl whisk eggwhites to soft peaks and gently fold into batter. Mould custard around each plum half, dip into batter and deep-fry in batches, turning occasionally, until golden brown (3-4 minutes; be careful, hot oil will spit). Drain on absorbent paper and serve hot dusted with icing sugar.

CLASSIC PLUM PIE WITH CUSTARD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and put a large baking sheet in to heat up. Put the plums, sugar and cloves in a pan. Simmer until the sugar dissolves and the plums are juicy, 8-10 mins. Mix the cornflour with a little of the juice, then mix well into the fruit. Boil for a few mins, stirring, until thickened.
• For the custard, blend the yolks and sugar. Heat the milk, cream and vanilla in a pan until almost boiling, then gently pour onto the egg mix, whisking constantly. Return to a clean pan and heat gently, stirring, until the mix thickens and coats the back of a spoon. Cool quickly, then chill. Custard can be made up to a day ahead and gently reheated.
• Roll out two-thirds of the pastry on a floured surface. Use to line a pie dish, letting the pastry hang over the edges a little. Fill with the plums. Roll out remaining pastry, about 2.5cm bigger than the dish, then drape over the plums. Pinch edges together well, then make a small hole in the top. Brush with egg and sprinkle with sugar. Can be assembled up to 1 day ahead. Place on the hot baking sheet. Bake for 25-30 mins until golden brown, and serve hot with the custard.