Poached Pear And Almond Tart Food

PEAR AND ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl cream butter with sugar until fluffy. With mixer on low, beat in egg. Scrape down sides of the bowl. Mix in brandy and vanilla. Add almond and all-purpose flours. Mix until creamy. Cover and refrigerate. Place almond filling into tart shell, spread level. Cut poached pear halves crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. Reshape pear halves and arrange 8 halves around the top of each tart, "spoke" fashion. Press pears lightly to fan out. Bake for 40 minutes or until top is well browned and filling is springy to the touch. Cool and serve at room temperature.
• Note: To poach pears, peel, core and halve pears, place in a pot with 1 3/4 cups white wine, 3/4 cup water, 4 ounces of sugar, 1 cinnamon stick, vanilla bean split, and 4 black pepper corns. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer, cook for 30 minutes or until pears are tender when pricked. Cool in liquid.
• In a mixing bowl combine flour, sugar and salt, cut in butter until it resembles small pebbles. With a mixer running add vanilla and slowly drizzle in water until dough comes together in a sticky mass. Roll into a ball, wrap and chill at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours before rolling. Roll shell to fit into a 9-inch tart pan. Set aside.;

POACHED PEAR AND ALMOND TART

Steps:

• For the poached pears: In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups (1 L) water to a boil with the sugar, cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise. Lower the heat to a low simmer while you prepare the pears. Peel the pears, remove the stems, cut them in half, and core them. Add the pears to the saucepan, bring back to a boil, then lower the heat again. Simmer the pears for 10 to 15 minutes, or until you can easily pierce one with a sharp knife. Drain (keep the syrup to add to smoothies, oatmeal, or cocktails) and set the pears aside to cool. If preparing in advance, store the poached pears in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
• For the crust: In a mixing bowl, combine the powdered sugar, almond flour, all-purpose flour, and salt. Add in the butter and egg, and mix with a fork or your hands to form a smooth ball. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
• For the pastry cream: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, cream, and vanilla, then bring to a simmer. While whisking, slowly pour the egg mixture into the saucepan. Whisk continuously for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the mixture thickens to a glistening cream. Remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature.
• For the frangipane: In a mixing bowl, beat together the butter, powdered sugar, almond flour, and eggs. Incorporate the rum and almond extract.
• Pour the cooled pastry cream over the frangipane and mix to thoroughly combine. If preparing in advance, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
• To assemble and bake the poached pear and almond tart: If you made them in advance, take the components of the tart out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Set a rack in the middle of the oven, then preheat to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease an 11-in (28-cm) tart pan with a removable bottom (see note) and set aside.
• Place the crust between two large sheets of parchment paper, then roll it out to a 12-in (31-cm) circle. Peel the top sheet of parchment paper off the pastry, then flip the crust over to the prepared tart pan. Peel the second sheet of parchment paper off the pastry, then gently ease and press the pastry down into the pan. Poke the bottom of the crust all over with a fork.
• Spread the frangipane filling in an even layer into the crust. Top with the poached pear halves, with the outside of the pear facing up (see note.)
• Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the filling is puffed and golden. Transfer the tart to a cooling rack and cool for at least 2 hours before serving.
• SERVING: Right before serving, lightly dust with powdered sugar and sprinkle with sliced almonds.
• STORAGE: Keep leftover tart under a cake dome at room temperature for a couple of days, or in the refrigerator, uncovered, for up to three days. Refrigerating the tart uncovered will ensure the pastry remains crisp. Always bring the tart back to room temperature before serving it again.

PEAR AND ALMOND TART

Steps:

• For pears:
• Bring 4 cups water, sugar, and lemon juice to boil in large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add pears. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until pears are very tender, turning occasionally, about 20 minutes. Cool pears in syrup. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
• For crust:
• Blend powdered sugar, almonds, and salt in processor until nuts are finely ground. Add butter and blend until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Mix in egg yolk. Add flour. Using on/off turns, blend until dough comes together in clumps. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill at least 3 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)
• For almond filling:
• Finely grind almonds and flour in processor. Mix in 7 tablespoons sugar, then butter, blending until smooth. Mix in egg. Transfer filling to medium bowl. Cover and chill at least 3 hours. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled.)
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Roll out chilled dough on floured sheet of parchment paper to 12-inch round, lifting and turning dough occasionally to free from paper. Using paper as aid, turn dough into 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom; peel off paper. Seal any cracks in dough. Trim overhang to 1/2 inch. Fold overhang in, making double-thick sides. Pierce crust all over with fork. Freeze crust 10 minutes.
• Line crust with buttered foil, buttered side down, then fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust until sides are set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Bake crust until sides are golden and bottom is set, pressing with back of fork if crust bubbles, about 10 minutes longer. Cool crust in pan on rack. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F.
• Spread almond filling evenly in crust. Stem pears and cut each in half lengthwise; scoop out cores. Cut each half crosswise into thin slices. Gently press each pear half to fan slices but keep slices tightly overlapped. Slide spatula under pears and arrange atop filling like spokes of wheel with narrow ends in center.
• Bake tart until golden and tester inserted into center of filling comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool tart in pan on rack. Push pan bottom up, releasing tart from pan. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.) Cut tart into wedges; sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve.

JOHN'S PEAR AND ALMOND-CREAM TART

Steps:

• Make dough: In a food processor, combine flour, salt, and granulated sugar; pulse to combine. Add butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with just a few pea-size pieces of butter remaining. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons ice water. Pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed (if necessary, gradually add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water).
• Transfer dough (still crumbly) onto a piece of plastic wrap. Form into a 3/4-inch-thick disk; wrap tightly in plastic. Refrigerate until firm, 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough to a 12-inch round. Fit into a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan, pressing up sides. Run a rolling pin across the top of pan to trim the edge; refrigerate.
• Make filling: In a food processor, pulse almonds with confectioners' sugar until finely ground. Add butter, egg, flour, salt, and almond extract; process almond cream until well combined.
• Spread 1/4 cup jam on bottom of tart shell, then spread almond cream on top; chill for 15 minutes. Arrange pear slices in a fan pattern over almond cream; place tart on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake 40 to 45 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and almond cream is puffed and set. Transfer tart to a wire rack; let cool in pan. Remove tart from pan. Melt remaining 1/4 cup jam; brush over tart.