Salted Cashew Bittersweet Chocolate Tart Food

CHOCOLATE CASHEW TART

Steps:

• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the all-purpose flour, almond flour, sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Gradually add the butter with the motor running. Add the egg yolks and water, and mix until just incorporated. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Form it into a flat rectangle and wrap it tightly in plastic. Place the dough in the refrigerator and let it rest for at least an hour or up to 2 days.
• Remove the dough from the refrigerator and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll it out until 1/8-inch thick. Brush away any excess flour, and cut out eight 3 1/2-inch rounds. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place eight 2-inch ring molds on the baking sheet, and top them with the dough rounds. Trim the top edge, and press the dough into the base of each ring to ensure there are no air pockets. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Heat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit with a rack in the middle position. Bake the shells for 7 to 8 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet and continue to bake for an additional 7 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and let the shells cool completely; then unmold them.
• Make the caramel filling. Combine the sugar, water, syrup and lemon juice in a medium saucepan. Cover the saucepan and cook to a dark amber color, about 8 minutes, over medium heat. Meanwhile, in another saucepan, heat the cream until warm. Remove the caramelized sugar from the heat and deglaze the pan with the warmed cream. Return the caramel to low heat and cook until the sugar has completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and whisk the butter into the caramel.
• Make the chocolate ganache. In a small saucepan, bring the cream and syrup to a boil. Meanwhile, place the chocolate in a large heatproof bowl. Remove the cream mixture from the heat and gradually pour it over the chocolate, stirring to emulsify. Let the ganache cool to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, and then stir in the butter.
• Assemble the tarts. Arrange the tart shells on a clean baking sheet and line the bottom of each shell with some cashews, to reach about halfway up the sides. Reserve additional cashews for garnishing.
• Warm the caramel if necessary, and spoon just enough to cover the cashews in each shell. The shells at this stage should be only one-half to two-thirds full, allowing ample space for the ganache. Let the tarts stand for up to 30 minutes to let the caramel set slightly.
• Warm the ganache if necessary, and fill the remaining space in each tart with the ganache. Let the tarts stand for 30 minutes to 1 hour, at room temperature, to let the ganache set.
• To serve, place a finished tart on the center of each plate, and garnish with some cashews, some candied lemon peel, and a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

SPICED CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• Combine the cookies and sugar in a food processor and pulse to make fine (but not pasty) crumbs. Drizzle in the melted butter and pulse to combine. Press the crust into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Bake on a baking sheet until the crust is set and just golden, about 12 minutes. Cool completely.
• For the filling: Combine the chocolate, cream, butter and dried ginger in a small saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring until the chocolate melts, about 5 minutes. Stir until very smooth. Pour into the cooled tart shell and refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours.
• For the salted caramel: Combine the sugar, corn syrup and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Set the pan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is a deep amber, 8 to 12 minutes. Carefully whisk in the cream until smooth. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, vanilla, kosher salt and cayenne. Pour into a spouted glass measuring cup and let cool until thickened, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.
• When the caramel is cooled and the tart is set, drizzle the caramel over the tart so some of the chocolate is still exposed; save the rest for serving. Sprinkle the tart with flaky sea salt and chopped crystallized ginger. Cut into wedges. (If you make the tart ahead of time, use a warm knife or let sit at room temperature for a few minutes before slicing.)

SALTED CASHEW-BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F. Place pie crust in 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. DO NOT PRICK CRUST. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. (Check crust after 5 minutes; if crust puffs in center, flatten gently with back of wooden spoon.) Cool completely, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, heat whipping cream over medium-high heat just to boiling. Remove from heat; stir in chocolate with whisk until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup chopped cashews. Pour into cooled baked shell. Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.
• Spread dulce de leche over chocolate layer. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons cashews and the salt evenly over top. Remove tart from side of pan. Store in refrigerator.

SALTED CASHEW CHOCOLATE BARK

Steps:

• Stir 1/2 cup nuts into each kind of chocolate.
• Drop spoonfuls of chocolate mixtures onto waxed paper-covered baking sheet, alternating colors of chocolates. Swirl with knife. Sprinkle with salt.
• Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.