Martha Rose Shulmans Pear Ginger Tart Recipes

PEAR GINGER TART

Steps:

• Split the vanilla bean in half and scrape out the seeds with the tip of a paring knife. Place the water and the 1/2 cup (100 grams) of sugar in a saucepan, add the vanilla bean and seeds and bring to a boil over medium heat. When the syrup comes to a boil turn the heat to low, add the pears, and poach on medium heat for 5 minutes, or until the pears soften slightly. Do not over-cook. Set a strainer over a bowl and carefully transfer the pears to the strainer. Refrigerate and let drip overnight. Set aside the syrup for another purpose (it's great with yogurt or ice cream).
• The next day prebake the pastry [ed: please link], then turn the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons (30 grams) sugar together in a mixing bowl. Whisk in the milk, egg yolks and vanilla extract.
• Toss the poached pears with the diced candied ginger and arrange evenly over the bottom of the prebaked tart shell. Pour in the custard mixture, filling the tart 4/5 of the way so that a rim of crust is exposed. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until beginning to color and the flan has set.

PEAR CLAFOUTIS

Steps:

• Combine the pear eau-de-vie and the honey in a bowl. Peel, core and slice the pears and toss with the mixture. Let sit for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 10-inch ceramic tart pan or baking dish.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer or with a whisk, beat together the eggs, the seeds from the vanilla bean and the sugar. Pour off the marinade from the pears and add to the egg mixture. Gradually beat in the flour, then beat in the yogurt, milk and salt.
• Arrange the pears in the baking dish. Pour on the batter. Place in the oven and bake 40 to 50 minutes, until the top is beginning to brown. Serve hot or warm.

CRANBERRY-ORANGE RELISH

Steps:

• Place all the ingredients in a food processor and pulse, then blend until you have a uniform, very finely chopped mixture with a crunchy texture. Chill until ready to serve.

PEAR FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Roll out dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Fit into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and fold over to make a double-thick edge. Roll rolling pin over edge of tart pan to trim dough, and pierce bottom of dough all over with a fork. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg, ground almonds, rum, almond extract, and flour; beat until smooth. Spread the thick mixture evenly in chilled tart shell and refrigerate while preparing pears.
• Remove cooled poached pears from poaching liquid and cut in half lengthwise, removing the core and stem. Reserve poaching liquid. Place each half, cut side down, on a cutting board, and cut crosswise into thin slices. Arrange sliced pear halves on frangipane filling around edge of tart, leaving space between each half, and place one half in center of tart. When arranging pears, try to "pull" slices toward center of tart, which will elongate pears a bit and fill the shell better than if the pears were just placed flat. Bake for 10 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees, and bake until tart shell is golden brown and frangipane has puffed and browned, 25 to 35 minutes more.
• While tart is baking, bring reserved poaching liquid to a boil and reduce by half. Brush this glaze lightly over pears immediately after removing tart from oven. Serve at room temperature.

PEAR GINGER CRUMBLE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 2- or 2 1/2-quart baking dish. In a large bowl, mix together the pears, sugar, lemon juice, candied ginger, vanilla extract or seeds, and cornstarch or arrowroot.
• Scrape the fruit and all of the juice in the bowl into the baking dish. Set the baking dish on a baking sheet for easier handling, and place in the oven. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until the fruit is bubbling and the liquid syrupy. Remove from the oven, and allow to cool if desired.
• About 30 minutes before serving, spread the crumble topping over the pear mixture in an even layer. Bake 20 minutes, or until the fruit is bubbling and the topping is nicely browned. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

ROASTED APPLE AND PEAR COMPOTE WITH CANDIED GINGER

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Butter a baking dish large enough to accommodate all of the fruit. Fill a bowl with water, and add 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice. As you prepare the fruit, put it into the water. When all of the fruit is peeled and sliced, drain and toss with the remaining lemon juice in the baking dish.
• Combine the apple juice, raisins, ginger, agave syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg and whisky in a small saucepan, and bring to a simmer. Remove from the heat, and pour over the fruit.
• Place in the oven, and bake 1 to 1 1/2 hours until the fruit is very soft. Stir gently every 10 to 15 minutes to keep all the fruit moist. Serve warm.