Strawberry Almond Crostata Food

ALMOND CUSTARD TART WITH STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together oil, sugar, salt, and egg yolk. Stir in flour and oats until a crumbly dough forms. Press into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Bake until set and light golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Filling: In a medium saucepan, heat milk, salt, and vanilla seeds until simmering around the edges. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together yolks and sugar until pale and thick; whisk in cornstarch until smooth. Whisking constantly, gradually add half of milk to egg mixture, then pour egg mixture into saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking constantly until custard is thickened and bubbles once in the center, about 2 minutes.
• Using a rubber spatula, press custard through a sieve into crust; smooth with a small offset spatula. Cover surface directly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until well chilled, about 2 hours. Just before serving, arrange strawberries on top and sprinkle with almonds.

CROSTATA WITH STRAWBERRY JAM

Steps:

• Mix the flour, sugar, and lemon peel, in a food processor. Next add the cubed butter, in increments. Pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal, then add the salt. Pulse in the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until moist clumps form. Gather the dough into a ball; flatten into a disk. Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Roll out the dough on a floured surface to an 11-inch round. Transfer the dough onto a heavy baking sheet that has been lined with a silicon pad or parchment paper. Stir the lemon juice into the preserves and spread the preserves on top of dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Fold the dough border over the filling to form an 8-inch round, pleating loosely and pinching to seal any cracks in the dough.
• Bake the crostata until the crust is golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Allow to cool. Sprinkle with the almonds and dust with the powdered sugar, if you wish. Slide a metal spatula under the crust to free the crostata from the baking sheet and serve.

STRAWBERRY, RHUBARB AND BANANA CROSTATA

Steps:

• To make the topping:
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Measure the flour, polenta, aniseeds, sugar and salt into a medium mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix with your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the center of the mixture. Pour the egg into the well and toss the egg and flour together lightly and thoroughly with your fingers until evenly mixed. The mixture will not adhere in the manner of pastry dough but will clump together if pressed in your palm. Set aside until needed.
• To make the filling:
• Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and toss until well-mixed. Turn into a 2-quart shallow, buttered baking dish. Sprinkle the topping over the filling in an even layer. Do not press down. Place the dish on a baking sheet to catch the drips and place in the oven. Bake until the juices are bubbling up around the topping and the top is crisp and golden brown (about 1 hour). Serve warm with gelato or whipped cream if desired.

STRAWBERRY-RHUBARB GALETTE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Stack the two discs of dough on a lightly floured surface and roll into a disc about 12 inches wide. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Set aside.
• Toss together the rhubarb, strawberries, cornstarch and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a medium bowl until combined. Set aside. Roll out the almond paste into a 10-inch circle.
• Place the almond paste on the dough. Top evenly with the strawberry-rhubarb filling, leaving a 2-inch border around the edges. Fold the dough edges toward the center of the galette, up and over the edges of the filling, overlapping as needed.
• Whisk together the egg yolk and 1 teaspoon water in a small bowl. Brush on the edges of the galette and sprinkle with the almonds and remaining 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.
• Bake until the filling is bubbly and the edges are nicely browned, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool slightly before serving with whipped cream or ice cream.

RASPBERRY AND ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Mix the flour, sugar, and lemon peel, in a food processor.
• Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
• Add salt and pulse in the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until moist clumps form.
• Gather the dough into a ball; flatten into a disk then wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour.
• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 400°F
• Roll out the dough on a floured surface to an 11-inch round then transfer the dough onto a heavy baking sheet that has been lined with a silpat or parchment paper.
• Heat in the microwave the almond paste with 2 T of butter to thin it out, then spread on top of the dough, leaving a 2-inch border.
• Stir the lemon juice into the raspberry preserve and spread on top of almond paste, still leaving a 2-inch border.
• Fold the 2-inch dough border over to form an 8-inch round, pleating loosely and pinching to seal any cracks in the dough (looks like a flat pie).
• Bake until the crust is golden, 35 to 40 minutes.
• Allow to cool.
• Sprinkle with the almonds and dust with the powdered sugar, if you wish.
• Slide a metal spatula under the crust to free the crostata from the baking sheet and serve.
• Optional: Top with chopped hazelnuts instead of almonds; or mix some lemon juice w/powdered sugar and drizzle over the top after cooking.
• *There are several good almond paste recipes on Zaar.