Blackberry Crostata Recipes

BLACKBERRY JAM CROSTATA

Steps:

• Make the jam: In a medium saucepan, stir together blackberries, blueberries, sugar and lemon verbena, if using. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally at first, then more frequently as the mixture starts to bubble and reduce.
• When mixture has reduced and looks syrupy (about 30 minutes total), stir in lemon juice and zest. Taste and add sugar if necessary. (This depends on how sweet your berries were to begin with.) Cook for 3 minutes longer, stirring frequently to prevent burning. When the jam is thickened and shiny but still slightly runnier than you expect jam to be, take it off the heat; it will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Scrape jam into a bowl or heatproof container, stir in vanilla and let cool to room temperature. Taste and stir in a little more lemon juice if the jam seems very sweet. At this point, the cooled jam can be chilled for up to 1 week.
• Make the dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together all-purpose and whole-wheat flours, and set aside. In a second bowl and using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in egg yolks, lemon zest, vanilla, salt and almond extract until combined, then beat in flour mixture.
• Scoop 1/2 cup of the dough into a bowl or container, cover and chill. Transfer remaining dough to a 9- or 10-inch tart pan and use floured fingers to press evenly into bottom and sides. Chill crust in the refrigerator for at least 20 minutes.
• When ready to bake, heat oven to 350 degrees. Spread jam evenly into crust, then using your fingers, crumble reserved 1/2 cup dough over jam. Sprinkle with almonds and Demerara sugar.
• Bake until golden, 38 to 48 minutes. Let cool completely to room temperature before serving.

SUMMER FRUIT CROSTATA

Steps:

• For the pastry:
• Place the flour, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Pulse a few times to combine. Add the butter and toss quickly (and carefully!) with your fingers to coat each cube of butter with the flour. Pulse 12 to 15 times, or until the butter is the size of peas. With the motor running, add the ice water all at once through the feed tube. Keep hitting the pulse button to combine, but stop the machine just before the dough comes together. Turn the dough out onto a well-floured board, roll it into a ball, cut in half, and form into 2 flat disks. Wrap the disks in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. If you only need 1 disk of dough The other disk of dough can be frozen.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll the pastry into an 11-inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Transfer it to the baking sheet.
• For the pastry (makes 2 crostatas) .
• For the filling:
• Cut the peaches and plums in wedges and place them in a bowl with the blueberries. Toss them with 1 tablespoon of the flour, 1 tablespoon of the sugar, the orange zest, and the orange juice. Place the mixed fruit on the dough circle, leaving a 1 1/2-inch border.
• Combine the 1/4 cup flour, the 1/4 cup sugar, and the salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture is crumbly. Pour into a bowl and rub it with your fingers until it starts to hold together. Sprinkle evenly over the fruit. Gently fold the border of the pastry over the fruit, pleating it to make an edge.
• Bake the crostata for 20 to 25 minutes, until the crust is golden and the fruit is tender. Let the crostata cool for 5 minutes, then use 2 large spatulas to transfer it to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

PEAR & BLACKBERRY CROSTATA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and put a baking tray in the oven to preheat. On a lightly floured surface, roll out two-thirds of the pastry to a 5mm thick disc and use to line a 23cm pie tin, leaving any excess pastry to overhang. Spread the conserve onto the pastry base, then top with the blackberries and pears.
• Roll out the remaining pastry on a lightly floured surface to 5mm thick. Using a fluted ravioli wheel, cut the dough into 12 x 23cm strips. To lattice the pastry, place a pastry strip horizontally on top of the pie, then lay a strip vertically, repeating to create a woven pattern. For an easier topping, simply arrange half the strips at 2cm intervals across the top of the pie. Repeat crosswise with the remaining strips. Seal and trim any excess pastry.
• Place the crostata on the hot baking tray on the lowest shelf and bake for 40 mins. Set aside for 15 mins to cool then dust with icing sugar.

BLACKBERRY CROSTATA

Steps:

• Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees F. Also line a baking sheet with parchment paper so it will be ready after you've rolled out the crust.
• In a large bowl combine blackberries, sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, cinnamon, almond extract, and cornstarch. Stir until combined; then set aside.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out your pie dough into a large circle about 1/4" thick. Transfer the pie dough to your baking sheet.
• Pour the blackberry mixture onto the center of the dough. Gently pull the side of the dough up and around the blackberries, leaving some of the fruit in the center still exposed.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and water. Brush on the pie crust; then sprinkle generously with the sanding sugar.
• Bake the crostata at 400 degrees F for about 40 - 50 minutes or until the fruit is bubbly and the crust is golden.
• For a firm filling, allow the crostata to cool completely before cutting and serving. Or serve warm if you prefer a slightly runnier filling.