Strawberry Pistachio Cream Tart Food

STRAWBERRY AND PISTACHIO GALETTE

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a food processor, pulse to combine flour, salt and sugar. Add butter and cream cheese and pulse until lima-bean-size pieces form. Drizzle in lemon juice and 3 tablespoons/45 milliliters ice water, then pulse just until dough comes together, adding another tablespoon/15 milliliters of water if dough looks dry. Pat into a disc, wrap in plastic, and chill at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Make the strawberry compote: Combine approximately 2/3 of the strawberries in a small pot with the lemon juice and 1 to 2 tablespoons granulated sugar to taste, depending on sweetness of the berries. Cook over medium heat until strawberries start to break down and juices are thick and syrupy, about 12 minutes. Let cool. Compote can be made up to 5 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator.
• Make the frangipane: In a food processor, process 3/4 cup/100 grams shelled raw pistachios and remaining 1/2 cup/100 grams sugar until finely ground. Add butter; pulse until combined, then add 2 eggs, the brandy, the lemon zest and the almond extract (if using), and pulse until smooth.
• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Dust a work surface with flour. Roll out dough to a 16-inch circle (it will be just slightly thicker than 1/8-inch), then transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet.
• Leaving a 3-inch border around the edges, spread the frangipane filling evenly over dough. Using a slotted spoon, dollop strawberry compote over frangipane, spreading any syrup gently so the compote and frangipane remain in separate layers, then fold dough edges up over the filling. About 6 to 8 inches of the filling should be exposed.
• In a small bowl, whisk remaining egg with 1 tablespoon cold water, then brush over the dough. Sprinkle with turbinado sugar and chopped pistachios. Bake until edges are deeply golden, 40 to 50 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. To serve, top with remaining halved strawberries and dust with confectioners' sugar.

STRAWBERRY TARTS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a small bowl and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Put the flour mixture in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and shortening and pulse about 10 times, or until the butter is in the size of peas. Add the ice water and process until the dough comes together. Dump on a well-floured board and form into a disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Roll out the dough and fit into 4 (4 1/2-inch) tart pans with removable sides. Don't stretch the dough when placing it in the pans or it will shrink during baking. Cut off the excess by rolling the pin across the top of each pan. Line the tart shells with a piece of buttered aluminum foil, butter side down, and fill them with dried beans or rice. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the beans and foil, prick the bottom of the shells all over with a fork, and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
• Before serving, fill the tart shells with the pastry cream. Arrange the berries decoratively on top of the cream. Melt the apricot jelly with 1 teaspoon of water and brush the top of the tarts. Sprinkle with pistachios, if using, and serve.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the egg yolks and sugar on medium-high speed for 4 minutes, or until very thick. Reduce to low speed, and add the cornstarch.
• With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 7 minutes. Don't be alarmed when the custard comes to a boil and appears to curdle; switch to a whisk and beat vigorously. Cook, whisking constantly, for another 2 minutes; the custard will come together and become very thick, like pudding. Stir in the vanilla, Cognac, butter, and heavy cream. Pour the custard through a sieve into a bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on the custard and refrigerate until cold.

STRAWBERRY-PISTACHIO TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out puff pastry to a 12-by-16-inch rectangle. Transfer to a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet and trim to make a neat rectangle. Freeze until firm, 10 minutes. With a fork, prick pastry all over. To prevent pastry from rising, top with a sheet of parchment paper and stack another rimmed baking sheet on top. Bake until light golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine 1/4 cup pistachios and sugar and process until pistachios are finely ground. Sprinkle mixture on pastry, leaving a 3/4-inch border. Bake until pastry is deep golden and pistachio mixture begins to turn golden, 15 to 17 minutes. Roughly chop remaining 1/4 cup pistachios. Remove sheet from oven; arrange strawberries on pistachio mixture, overlapping slices. Brush berries and border with jam and sprinkle chopped pistachios on border. Serve warm or at room temperature.