Peachtartetatin Recipes

HOMEMADE PECTIN

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, over high heat, bring the apples and water to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender. Remove from the heat and cool. Line a large bowl with dampened cheesecloth. Pour the pulp and juice through the cheesecloth. Gather the corners of the cheesecloth, and tie in a knot. Suspend from a cabinet knob or handle and allow to drip into a bowl overnight. The next day, measure the apple juice and pour into a large pot. Bring the liquid to a boil over high heat and cook until reduced by half. Refrigerate and use within 4 days or pour into containers and freeze for up to 6 months.

PEAR TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Core the pears, then peel as neatly as possible and halve. If you like, they can be prepared up to a day ahead and kept in the fridge, uncovered, so that they dry out.
• Tip the sugar, butter, star anise, cardamom and cinnamon into an ovenproof frying pan, about 20cm wide, and place over a high heat until bubbling. Shake the pan and stir the buttery sauce until it separates and the sugar caramelises to a toffee colour.
• Lay the pears in the pan, then cook in the sauce for 10-12 mins, tossing occasionally, until completely caramelised. Don't worry about them burning - they won't - but you want to caramelise them as much as possible. Splash in the brandy and let it flambé, then set the pears aside.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Roll the pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Using a plate slightly larger than the top of the pan, cut out a circle, then press the edges of the circle of pastry to thin them out.
• When the pears have cooled slightly, arrange them in the pan, cut side up, in a floral shape, with the pears around the edge pointing inwards. Rest the cinnamon stick on the top in the centre, with the cardamom pods scattered around.
• Drape the pastry over the pears, then tuck the edges down the pan sides and under the fruit (see Gordon's guide). Pierce the pastry a few times, then bake for 15 mins. If a lot of juice bubbles up the side of the pan, pour it off at this stage (see guide). Reduce oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and bake for 15 mins more until the pastry is golden. Leave the tart to stand for 10 mins, then invert it carefully onto a serving dish.

PEACH TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• For crust---------------.
• Blend first 5 ingredients in processor.
• Using on/off turns, cut in butter until coarse meal forms.
• Add 3 tablespoons ice water and vinegar; using on/off turns, blend until moist clumps form, adding more water if dough is dry.
• Gather dough into ball.
• Flatten into disk.
• Wrap in plastic; chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 11-inch round.
• Transfer to rimless baking sheet.
• Cover and refrigerate while preparing filling.
• For filling--------------.
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Stir sugar and 3 tablespoons water in heavy ovenproof (preferably cast-iron) 9-inch-diameter skillet with 2-inch-high sides over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
• Increase heat to high and boil without stirring until syrup turns light amber color, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 6 minutes.
• Turn off heat.
• Add butter; stir until melted and smooth.
• Cool 2 minutes.
• Place 1 peach half, rounded side down, in center of pan.
• Arrange peach quarters close together, rounded side down, in concentric circles around peach half.
• Press remaining peach half and quarters, rounded side down, atop first layer.
• Cook over medium heat until caramel is bubbling thickly, about 20 minutes.
• Place chilled pastry atop hot fruit.
• Let stand 3 minutes to soften.
• Tuck dough edges around fruit.
• Bake tart until crust is golden and filling thickens and darkens, about 30 minutes.
• Cool in pan on rack 10 minutes.
• Place platter atop skillet.
• Using oven mitts, invert tart onto platter.
• Serve warm with whipped cream.

PEACH TARTE TATINS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Blanch peaches in boiling water 15 to 20 seconds; remove with a slotted spoon. Use a paring knife to peel and cut peaches in half. Remove pits, and reserve four peach halves. Quarter remaining peach halves.
• Butter four 5-inch tart pans with removable bottoms; dust with sugar. Arrange eight peach segments around edge of each pan, and place a reserved peach half cut side up in the center. Loosely wrap bottoms of pans with foil; place on baking sheet. Bake until peaches are tender and sugar and juices start to caramelize, about 30 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool 10 minutes.
• Cover tart pans with a layer of plastic wrap, and place another baking sheet on top to gently flatten peaches. Place filled cans or other weights on top of the baking sheet, and transfer to refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.
• Raise oven temperature to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll puff pastry to 1/8 inch thick, and cut out four 5 1/2-inch circles. Place rounds on buttered rimmed baking sheet, and transfer to freezer for 10 minutes. Remove from freezer, and place another baking sheet, buttered on the bottom, on top of the pastry rounds. Bake until golden brown and crisp, about 30 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool.
• Make caramel sauce: Combine remaining 3/4 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons butter with the water in a small saucepan. Cook over medium-high heat, gently swirling pan occasionally to evenly color, until caramel is a medium amber color, 6 to 8 minutes. Wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Remove from heat, and slowly add heavy cream, stirring to combine. Be careful when adding cream to the caramel, as it will bubble vigorously. Set aside.
• Remove tarts from refrigerator, and place a pastry crust on top of each. Invert onto serving plates; pour about 3 tablespoons caramel sauce over each. Garnish with pistachios or sugared almonds, if desired. Serve immediately.