Candied Kumquat Tartlets Recipes

CANDIED KUMQUATS

Steps:

• Cut a round of parchment paper to fit inside a small heavy saucepan and set aside. Put kumquats in saucepan with enough cold water to cover and bring just to a boil. Drain in a colander and rinse with cold water, then return to pan with 1 1/2 cups sugar, water (3/4 cup) , and a pinch of salt. Cover with parchment round and gently simmer until kumquats are tender and translucent, about 30 minutes. Cool completely in syrup.
• Just before serving, strain kumquats through a sieve set over a bowl and let stand 15 minutes (reserve syrup for another use; see note, above). Roll kumquats in remaining 1/2 cup sugar.
• Do Ahead
• Candied kumquats keep in syrup up to 3 months, chilled. Stain before coating with sugar.

CANDIED KUMQUATS OR MEYER LEMONS

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cover the fruit with cold water and bring to a boil. Drain. Cover the fruit with cold water and bring to a boil again. Drain and set aside.
• In the same saucepan, combine 1 cup water and the sugar, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Pierce each piece of fruit 2 or 3 times with a paring knife. Drop the fruit into the sugar syrup and continue to simmer for 15 minutes for kumquats or 20 minutes for lemons.
• Remove from heat and leave the fruit steeping in the syrup unrefrigerated for 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring the syrup and fruit to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Cool and store in a glass jar. Fruit and syrup will keep in the refrigerator for 3 months.

CANDIED KUMQUATS RECIPE

Steps:

• Wash the kumquats. Slice them crosswise into thin rounds (no thicker than 1/16 inch). Remove and discard any seeds as you come across them. Put the kumquat slices into a bowl.
• In a small saucepan, make a simple syrup by bringing the sugar and the water to a simmer over medium heat. Stir constantly until the sugar has completely dissolved.
• Pour the still warm simple syrup over the kumquat slices in the bowl. Stir gently to make sure that all of the kumquat rounds are coated with the syrup. Let the fruit sit in the syrup at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 175F. Alternatively, you could use your dehydrator set to 155F (expect a slightly longer drying time).
• Drain the kumquat pieces in a colander set over a large bowl (be sure to save the delicious citrus-flavored syrup for another use-try it in cocktails or use it to make preserved whole kumquats).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread the syrup-coated kumquat slivers out on the sheet in a single layer with none of the pieces touching. Bake the sugared kumquat for 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Take the baking sheet out of the oven. Turn over each piece of candied kumquat. Yes, this part is a bit labor intensive. Trust me, it's worth it. Bake for another 10 minutes.
• Let the candied kumquat pieces cool completely before transferring them to storage containers. They will keep for several months if stored away from moisture and heat. ​ Additional serving suggestions:

CANDIED KUMQUAT AND RICOTTA TART

Steps:

• Thinly slice kumquats crosswise with a sharp knife, discarding seeds.
• Bring water and 2 cups sugar to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then simmer syrup, uncovered, 5 minutes. Stir in kumquats and simmer gently 10 minutes. Drain and cool kumquats in a sieve set over a bowl, then return drained syrup to pan and boil until reduced to about 11/3 cups, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Finely grind fennel seeds in coffee/spice grinder, then transfer to a bowl and whisk together with ricotta, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and a pinch of salt just until ricotta is slightly smoother. Whisk in sour cream until just combined and spread evenly over bottom of tart shell.
• Arrange kumquats as evenly as possible over ricotta using your fingers or a small spoon, separating slices as necessary with a skewer, then brush kumquats with some of reduced syrup.
• Remove side of tart pan.

CANDIED KUMQUAT TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 36 1 1/4-inch round fluted tartlet pans with nonstick cooking spray, working in batches if necessary, and set aside.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out pate brisee to a scant 1/4 inch thick. Using a 2-inch round cutter, cut out 36 rounds. Fit each round into a prepared tartlet pan; trim as necessary. Place on a baking sheet and transfer to freezer until chilled, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Weight down each tartlet with a second 1 1/4-inch round fluted tartlet pan. Transfer to oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove second tartlet pans and continue baking until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes more. Let tartlets cool completely in pans before removing.
• Fill each cooled tartlet with pastry cream and top with candied kumquats; serve.

CANDIED KUMQUATS FOR CANDIED KUMQUAT TARTLETS

Steps:

• Place sugar in a medium saucepan and add 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat to a simmer and add kumquats; let simmer for 1 hour. Carefully remove kumquats from liquid and place in an even layer on a wire rack, set over parchment paper, to dry, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.