Lionel Poilanes Apple Tart Recipes

APPLE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line 2 sheet pans with parchment paper.
• Cut each sheet of puff pastry into 4 squares. Divide the pastry between the prepared sheet pans and refrigerate while you prepare the apples.
• Peel the apples and cut them in half through the stem. Remove the stems and cores with a sharp knife and a melon baller. Slice the apples crosswise in 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place overlapping slices of apples diagonally across the pastry and place one slice of apple on each side of the arranged slices. Sprinkle the apples evenly with the sugar and dot them with the butter.
• Bake for 40 minutes, until the pastry is browned and the edges of the apples start to brown. Don't worry! The apple juices will burn in the pan but the tarts will be fine! When the tarts are done, heat the apricot jelly together with the Calvados until bubbly and brush the apples and pastry completely with the jelly mixture. Loosen the tarts with a metal spatula so they don't stick to the paper. Allow to cool and serve warm or at room temperature.

QUICK AND EASY APPLE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Place the puffed pastry rectangles onto a baking pan that's been sprayed with nonstick spray or lined with parchment paper. Add the sugar, salt and lemon juice to the apples. Stir to combine. Allow to sit for a few minutes.
• Arrange the apple slices on the pastry rectangles in a straight line, overlapping as you go. Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden brown, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from the pan immediately and place on a serving platter. Serve with caramel sauce and chopped pecans.

FRESH APPLE TARTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, mix together flour, 1 1/4 cups sugar, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Mix in eggs and vanilla extract until dough forms a ball. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour but not more than 1 day.
• While the dough is chilling, prepare the apple filling.
• In a medium bowl, toss diced apples with sugar and cinnamon. Mix in walnuts.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 16 3-inch tart pans. Remove tart dough from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before rolling out.
• Knead dough briefly on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 16 equal portions. Roll each portion into a 6-inch circle, and carefully fit one circle into each tart pan.
• Spoon an equal amount of apple mixture into each tart pan. Fold pastry over filling. Place filled tarts on a baking sheet.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden brown, about 30 minutes. Melt apricot jam and brush over finished tarts, if desired.

FRENCH APPLE TART (TARTE DE POMMES A LA NORMANDE)

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, stir together 1 1/3 cups of flour and salt. Add the butter, 1 egg yolk and water, and stir until the mixture forms large crumbs. If it is too dry to press a handful together, stir in more water. Press the dough into a ball, and wrap in plastic wrap. Flatten slightly, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or until firm. This part can be done up to three days in advance.
• To make the frangipane, cream together the butter and 1/2 cup of sugar in a medium bowl until light and soft. Gradually mix in the egg and the remaining egg yolk one at a time. Stir in the apple brandy. Stir 2 tablespoons of flour into the ground almonds, then mix into the batter. Set aside.
• Roll the pastry dough out to about a 12 inch circle on a lightly floured surface. Fold loosely into quarters, and center the point in a 10 inch tart or pie pan. Unfold dough, and press into the bottom and up the sides. Prick with a fork all over, and flute the edges. Return pastry to the refrigerator to chill until firm.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place a baking sheet inside the oven while it preheats.
• Spoon the frangipane into the chilled pastry, and spread into an even layer. Arrange the apple slices in an overlapping spiral pattern. Each slice should have one edge pressed into the frangipane until it touches the pastry base, and then overlap the previous slice. Start at the outside edge, and work towards the center.
• Place the pie plate on top of the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the filling begins to brown. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for another 10 minutes, then sprinkle sugar over the top of the tart. Return to the oven for 10 more minutes, or until the sugar caramelizes slightly.
• Cool the tart on a wire rack. A short time before serving, warm the apricot jelly. Add some water if necessary to make it a liquid consistency. Brush onto the tart for a nice shine.

LIONEL POILANE'S APPLE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Divide the dough into four equal portions and, on a flour-dusted surface, roll each portion into a six-inch circle. Place the circles of dough on a baking sheet and refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Peel and core the apples, then cut them into 12 pieces (an apple corer and slicer can be used for this). Heat the butter until hot, but not smoking, in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the apples with the granulated sugar, then saute until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
• Remove the pastry from the refrigerator and spoon the apples into the center of the prepared pastry rounds, dividing them evenly. Fold the edges of the dough up over the rim of the apples to form a one-inch border. Brush the border with the beaten egg.
• Bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle the apples with brown sugar and serve warm or at room temperature. (Alternatively, to form a single large tart, the dough can be rolled into a 12-inch circle and all of the apples can be placed in the center. Increase baking time by about 10 minutes to bake the tart fully.)

APPLE PRALINE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place an 8-by-1 3/4-inch cake ring on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Roll pate brisee on a lightly floured surface to a 1/8-inch thickness. Fit gently into ring, easing dough into corners and removing excess dough so the tart shell is flush with the top of the cake ring. Use a fork to pierce bottom of tart shell, and place in the freezer for 30 minutes.
• Place apricots, figs, cognac, and water in a medium saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until all the liquid has been absorbed and fruit is softened, about 4 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Cut apples into 3/4-inch cubes. Place them in a bowl, and combine with lemon juice, tossing to coat. Add dried fruit mixture and chopped praline, and stir to combine.
• Combine eggs, sugar, and flour in a medium bowl, and whisk until smooth. Place butter and vanilla-bean pod and seeds in a saute pan, and cook over medium-high heat until butter begins to brown. Add to egg mixture, and whisk until fully incorporated.Remove pod, and discard.
• Remove tart shell from freezer, and fill with apple mixture, making sure dried fruits are evenly distributed. Slowly pour egg mixture over fruit, letting it seep into all the gaps, until it is 1/8 inch from the top of the tart shell.
• Place tart in oven, and bake until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is nicely browned, about 1 hour 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 30 minutes before removing ring.
• Serve warm or at room temperature, topped with vanilla ice cream and garnished with almond praline.

SOURDOUGH BREAD: POILâNE-STYLE MICHE

Steps:

• The day before making the bread, make the firm starter. In a 4-quart mixing bowl, use a large metal spoon to mix together the barm, flour, and enough water to form a firm ball. Sprinkle flour on the counter and transfer the dough to the counter. Knead for about 3 minutes, or until all the flour is hydrated and the ingredients are evenly distributed. Lightly oil a bowl, place the ball of dough in the bowl, and roll it around to coat it with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
• Ferment at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours, or until the dough doubles in size. Refrigerate overnight.
• Remove the starter from the refrigerator 1 hour before making the dough. Cut the starter into about 12 small pieces with a serrated knife or pastry scraper. Cover with a towel or plastic wrap and let sit for 1 hour to take off the chill.
• This dough is too large for home mixers (except for the Magic Mill), so knead it by hand. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the sifted whole-wheat flour, salt, and starter pieces. Stirring with a large metal spoon, add at least 2 1/4 cups of the water, or enough to bring together all of the ingredients into a soft ball. Adjust the flour and water as you mix as needed.
• Sprinkle flour on the counter and transfer the dough to the counter. Knead the dough for 12 to 15 minutes, continuing to adjust the flour and water to form a supple, tacky but not sticky dough. All of the ingredients should be evenly distributed. The dough should pass the windowpane test (page 58) and register 77° to 81°F. Lightly oil a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, rolling it around to coat it with oil. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
• Ferment at room temperature for approximately 4 hours, or until the dough nearly doubles in size.
• Transfer the dough to the counter and gently form it into a large boule, as shown on page 72. Proof the dough in a banneton or prepare a proofing bowl large enough to hold the dough when it rises to nearly double in size. Place the dough, seam side up, in the banneton or bowl and mist the exposed part of the dough with spray oil. Cover with a cloth or plastic wrap.
• Proof at room temperature for 2 to 3 hours, or until the dough grows 1 1/2 times in size, or retard overnight in the refrigerator. If you are retarding the dough, remove the dough from the refrigerator 4 hours before you plan to bake it.
• Prepare the oven for hearth baking as described on pages 91-94, making sure to have an empty steam pan in place. Preheat the oven to 500°F. Carefully remove the top layer of cloth or plastic wrap from the dough 10 minutes before baking.
• Generously dust a peel or the back of a sheet pan with semolina flour or cornmeal. Gently turn out the dough onto the peel or pan, carefully removing the cloth liner off the dough, if using. Score the dough with a large pound sign, as shown below. Slide the dough onto the baking stone (or bake directly on the sheet pan). Pour 2 cups hot water into the steam pan and close the door. Immediately lower the oven setting to 450°F. After 25 minutes, rotate the loaf 180 degrees and lower the oven setting to 425°F. Continue to bake for another 30 to 40 minutes, until the dough registers 200°F in the center. The bread should be deeply browned. If the bottom seems to be getting too dark before the loaf reaches the desired temperature, place an inverted sheet pan under the bread to protect the bottom. Likewise, if the top gets too dark, tent a piece of aluminum foil over the loaf to shield it from the heat.
• Transfer the bread to a rack and let cool for at least 2 hours before slicing or serving. Store the bread in a brown paper bag. It should be good for 5 to 7 days.
• Lean, standard dough; indirect method; wild yeast
• Day 1: 4 to 6 hours firm starter Day 2: 1 hour to de-chill starter; 15 minutes mixing; 6 to 7 hours fermentation, shaping, and proofing; 55 to 65 minutes baking
• You can sift medium-grain whole-wheat flour to approximate the high-extraction whole-wheat flour of the Poilâne miche. Choose a flour, preferably hard spring or winter wheat, or one with a bread flour gluten specification of 11.5 to 13 percent. Pass it through a sieve or sifter. It is better not to use regular or fine-grind whole-wheat flour, as most of the bran passes right through the sieve. With the medium-grind, the smaller particles of bran and germ will sift through, but the largest pieces will remain in the sieve. These bran particles can be used for multigrain breads or as add-ins to country breads made from white flour. Another option is to blend half whole-wheat flour and half bread flour wherever the instructions call for sifted whole-wheat flour.
• Poilâne insists on using gray Normandy sea salt in his bread-he feels it makes a crucial difference. If you can get a hold of such salt, try it, but if not, proceed with any salt. Remember, the coarser the salt, the less it will weigh per teaspoon, so 1 teaspoon of table salt is equal to almost 2 teaspoons of coarse sea salt or kosher salt.
• Many of the people who tested this formula commented that the full-size miche was too heavy to handle easily. Feel free to divide this dough into 2 or even 3 smaller loaves-perhaps we should call them petits pains Poilâne-and reduce the baking time but not the temperature.
• According to M. Poilâne, this bread tastes best on the second or third day after it's baked. I prefer it about 3 hours after it comes out of the oven. Such is taste...
• Poilâne-Style Miche %
• (FIRM STARTER)
• Barm: 77.8%
• Whole-wheat flour: 100%
• Water (approx.): 44.4%
• Total: 222.2%
• (FINAL DOUGH)
• Firm starter: 62.5%
• Whole-wheat flour: 100%
• Salt: 2.5%
• Water (approx.): 62.5%
• Total: 227.5%

GOLDEN CREAM AND APPLE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• In a large bowl, beat the egg yolks with a fork. Add the cream and three tablespoons of the sugar. Mix until well blended and set aside.
• Peel and core the apples. Cut them in half. Cut each half into quarters. Starting just inside the edge of the pastry shell, neatly layer the apple slices - slightly overlapping them - in two or three concentric circles, working toward the center. Pour the cream mixture over the apples. Sprinkle with the remaining two tablespoons of sugar.
• Bake until the cream filling is set and the apples are very brown, even slightly blackened at the edges, about 45 minutes. Remove to a rack to cook. Serve warm or at room temperature.