Moroccan Fig Pastries Recipes

TFAH - A MOROCCAN APPLE DESSERT

Steps:

• Begin by removing the yellow part of the lemon peel from the lemons and cutting it into small strips.
• Juice the lemons and reserve 1/2 cup for later use.
• Peel and core apples, cutting into 8 - 10 wedges depending on the size of your apples.
• Place sugar, water, and cinnamon in a large saucepan and bring to a low boil.
• Once the mixture boils, add the apples, lemon rind, lemon juice and orange blossom water to the pot. (I find orange blossom water to be quite potent and would start with the lower amount and add more to suit personal taste.)
• Cook until the mixture is dry and the apples and lemon rind are tender.
• Remove from heat and allow the dessert to cool.
• Serve at room temperature.

SICILIAN FIG PASTRIES

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the flour, shortening and salt; cover and process until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, dissolve sugar in warm water; stir in egg and vanilla. Gradually add to crumb mixture; pulse until dough forms a ball. Cover and let rest for 10 minutes., In a food processor, combine the figs, walnuts, water, grape jelly, orange zest and cinnamon; cover and process until blended. Set aside. , Separate dough into six portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion into a 12x8-in. rectangle (dough will be very thin). Cut into 4x2-in. rectangles. Place a teaspoon of fig mixture on one short side of each rectangle; fold dough over filling. Press edges with a fork to seal. , Place 1 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Brush with egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 375° for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks.

MOROCCAN FRUITCAKE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, combine dried fruits. Pour tea over the top. Cover and let stand in a cool place overnight to plump and absorb tea.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with parchment, leaving a 1 1/2-inch overhang on long sides.
• Sift flour, ras el hanout, and salt into a large bowl; add brown sugar. Stir in fruit mixture (including any liquid) and egg until combined. Batter should be a dropping consistency (if you pick up a spoonful, it should drop off easily). If it is too thick, add a little milk. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake until a tester inserted in center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cake cool in pan 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack and let cool completely.
• Slice cake and serve, spread generously with butter, if desired. Cake can be stored, well wrapped in plastic, at room temperature up to 3 days; toast slices before serving, if desired.

FIG AND SESAME TART WITH CARDAMOM ORANGE CREAM

Steps:

• Pulse together flour, confectioners sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter and process until mixture resembles fine meal. Add 3 yolks (reserving the fourth for egg wash) and process until it forms a smooth dough, 2 to 3 minutes. (Don't worry about overworking dough.) Transfer dough to a work surface and gather into a ball, then divide into 3 equal pieces. Form one third of dough into a small disk, then form remaining dough into a larger disk. Chill disks, each wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Simmer figs, water, sugar, and cinnamon in a 1- to 2-quart heavy saucepan, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until mixture is thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in sesame seeds (3 tablespoons) and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in orange-flower water, then transfer filling to a bowl. Cool filling to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place flan ring in center.
• Roll out larger disk of dough into an 11-inch round on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin. (If dough is too firm to roll out, let stand at room temperature 5 minutes.) Fit dough into flan ring, pressing dough up side of ring (dough is very tender and tears easily; patch as needed; they will blend in during baking), then trim dough flush with top of ring. Spoon filling into crust and spread evenly.
• Roll out remaining disk of dough into a 9-inch round on lightly floured surface with floured rolling pin. Gently lay round over filling, then roll rolling pin over top to trim. Patch if necessary.
• Beat together remaining yolk and cream (1 tablespoon) in a cup with a fork and brush some of egg wash over top crust, then chill until egg wash appears darker and is slightly tacky, about 3 minutes. Brush with second coat of egg wash and chill again. Lightly score top with back of a small knife to make a decorative pattern and sprinkle with sesame seeds (1 teaspoon).
• Bake tart until top is golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer tart on baking sheet to a rack and cool 10 minutes, then slide tart off parchment onto rack to cool. Gently remove ring.
• While tart bakes, stir together cream, honey, zest, and cardamom in a medium bowl and chill, covered. Just before serving, beat cream mixture with an electric mixer until it holds soft peaks.
• Serve tart, warm or at room temperature, with cream and oranges.

MOROCCAN FIG PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Pat pork roast dry with a clean towel. Mix curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, ground ginger, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture all over the pork roast.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large, heavy bottom pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Place the seasoned pork roast into the pot and cook until evenly browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove pork and set aside. Stir in the garlic and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fig compote, until well blended. Return pork to the pot, coating it with the fig mixture. Pour in the tomatoes and chicken broth. Cover, and bring to a boil.
• Place covered pot in the preheated oven. Cook until the pork is no longer pink in the center, about 2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).

MOROCCAN FIG PORK ROAST

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Pat pork roast dry with a clean towel. Mix curry powder, turmeric, garam masala, ground ginger, chili powder, cumin, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Rub spice mixture all over the pork roast.
• Heat the olive oil and butter in a large, heavy bottom pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Place the seasoned pork roast into the pot and cook until evenly browned, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove pork and set aside. Stir in the garlic and onion; cook and stir until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the fig compote, until well blended. Return pork to the pot, coating it with the fig mixture. Pour in the tomatoes and chicken broth. Cover, and bring to a boil.
• Place covered pot in the preheated oven. Cook until the pork is no longer pink in the center, about 2 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 145 degrees F (63 degrees C).