Warm Fig Tart With Cinnamon Almond Cream And Port Reduction Recipes

FIG AND ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Combine the flour, 2 tablespoons sugar, lemon zest, and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until blended. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. With the machine running, gradually add the water until moist clumps form. Turn the mixture out onto a work surface and form into a ball. Flatten the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill the dough for 1 hour.
• In a clean food processor bowl, combine remaining sugar, almond paste, mascarpone cheese, vanilla extract, and honey. Blend until smooth.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• On a large sheet of parchment paper, roll out the dough into an 11-inch circle. Transfer the dough to a large, heavy baking sheet. Spread the almond filling over the dough, leaving a 2-inch border. Arrange the figs on top of the almond filling. Spoon the jam over the figs. Fold the dough border over the filling to form an 8-inch round, pleating the crust loosely and pinching to seal any cracks in the dough.
• Bake the tart until the crust is golden, about 40 minutes. Place the baking sheet on a rack to cool for 10 minutes, then slide a metal spatula under the crust to free the tart from the parchment. Transfer the tart to a platter and serve.
• Cook's Note: To reconstitute dried figs, simmer in water for 5 minutes. Let the mixture cool completely. Strain before using.

WARM FIG TART WITH CINNAMON-ALMOND CREAM AND PORT REDUCTION

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Using the bottom of a small saucepan, crack together cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom seeds, peppercorns, and allspice berries, then place inside the pot. Add the honey and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow mixture to cool.
• Lightly dust work surface with flour, and roll out puff pastry 1/4 inch thick. Cut out four 4 1/12-inch rounds and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dough and weigh down with a second baking sheet. Bake until the dough is deep golden brown, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack; set aside.
• Strain the spiced honey mixture; stir in vinegar. Place the figs in a medium bowl and add half of the spiced honey mixture. Toss to coat. Remove figs from honey, and place cut sides up on a baking sheet. Bake figs for 20 minutes, basting once with the remaining spiced honey mixture. Remove from oven and transfer figs to a plate; set aside.
• Turn oven down to 350 degrees. Place puff pastry rounds on a baking sheet. Spread puff pastry with a 1/4-inch layer of cinnamon-almond cream. Divide candied almonds evenly between pastry rounds, and bake until the cream topping begins to dry around the edges but remains soft in the center, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and place 6 fig halves, upright, on each round. Drizzle figs with remaining spiced honey. Lightly sprinkle with fleur de sel. Serve with port reduction and creme fraiche.

GORGONZOLA DOLCE WITH FIGS AND PORT

Steps:

• Combine port, honey, peppercorns, and cloves in a small saucepan; bring to a boil, and continue cooking until syrupy, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Stir together cheeses; spread on bread with a small offset spatula.
• Using a 2-inch round cutter, cut bread into rounds.
• Top with figs, and drizzle with port sauce.
• Garnish with mache, and serve.

FRENCH FIG TARTS

Steps:

• For the pastry, place the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the butter and pulse 10 to 12 times, until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, pour the ice water down the feed tube and pulse just until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a floured board and knead quickly into a 5-inch-round flat disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for exactly 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
• On a floured board, roll the dough to a rectangle a little larger than 10-by-14 inches. Wrap the dough around your rolling pin and transfer it to the prepared pan. Using a ruler and a small knife, trim the dough to a 10-by-14-inch rectangle. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Remove the stem of each fig and cut them in quarters through the stem (or in sixths, if the figs are very large.) Place the figs in rows on the dough. Sprinkle with the full 1/2 cup of sugar and dot with the butter.
• Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until the pastry is browned and the fruit starts to brown. Rotate the pan once during baking. If the pastry puffs up in one area, cut a little slit with a knife to let the air out. Don't worry! The juices will burn in the pan but the tart (and the pan!) will be fine! When the tart's done, loosen it from the pan while it's still warm and transfer it to a board or clean piece of parchment paper.
• In a small pan, heat the apricot jelly with 2 tablespoons water and brush the fruit and pastry completely with the mixture. Allow to cool, cut into squares, and serve warm or at room temperature.