Nonis Crostata Recipes

CROSTATA DELLA BISNONNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10 inch pie plate or tart pan.
• In a large bowl, mix together the butter and sugar using a wooden spoon until smooth. Mix in the egg yolks one at a time, mixing well after each. Sift the flour and baking powder into the bowl, and mix just until you can form a solid ball out of the pastry with no crumbs.
• Reserve some of the dough for a lattice top. On a floured surface, roll the rest of the dough out to 1/8 inch thickness. Press into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pan. Pour the apricot preserves into the crust, and spread evenly. Roll out the remaining dough, along with any scraps from the crust, to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into strips, and lay across the apricot preserves in a crosswise pattern.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until the pastry is golden brown.

NONI'S TARALLI

Steps:

• Dissolve yeast in warm water in a bowl.
• Combine flour, wine, oil, fennel seeds, and salt in a large stand mixer with a dough hook attachment. Knead on low speed. Add yeast mixture slowly. Continue to mix until a smooth ball is formed and dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Remove dough from the bowl; knead into a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and let rest for 4 to 5 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of water to boil over high heat.
• Cut the dough into 2-inch cross sections; roll into 1/2-inch-diameter "tubes." Cut tubes lengthwise into 1/4-inch cross sections. Roll each from the center out; fold ends over one another.
• Boil taralli in the hot water in groups of 10 until they rise to the top, about 1 minute. Remove with a slotted spoon. Continue with remaining taralli. Let dry for 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place dried taralli onto baking sheets.
• Bake in the preheated oven, flipping as needed, until golden brown, 20 to 30 minutes.

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.