The Bizalions Plum Tart Recipes

PLUM TART

Steps:

• How To Make The Crust:
• In a food processor: Mix flour, sugar and salt together and place in the food processor. Add cold butter cut into small cubes and pulse a few times until you obtain a mixture that resembles sand or bread crumbs. Do not overmix. Add lemon zest, vanilla extract, the egg and water, one tablespoon at a time pulsing a few times until the mixture holds together.
• By hand: Mix flour, sugar and salt together, then cut the cold butter into small cubes and add it to the flour. Use a pastry tool to incorporate the butter into the flour, or use your fingertips. You should have a mixture that resembles sand or bread crumbs. Add lemon zest, vanilla extract, the egg and water, one tablespoon at a time until the mixture holds together.
• Make the dough into a disk, wrap it and place it in the refrigerator for an hour.
• Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
• How To Make The Plum Layer:
• Slice the plums in half and remove the stone, then cut each half into 4-5 slices. If you can't remove the stone, just carefully cut around it.
• Set aside.
• How To Make The Custard:
• Mix flour, sugar and cinnamon together in a bowl. Separately beat together the egg with milk and sour cream. Pour the liquid over the flour mixture and mix well. Set aside.
• How To Assemble The Plum Tart:
• Butter the bottom of a 9 inch pie or tart pan.
• Lightly dust your work surface with flour.
• Roll out dough on floured board to a 12 inch size. This will fit in a 9 inch pan. Trim away excess.
• Sprinkle walnuts on the dough.
• Arrange the slices of plums in circle.
• Pour over the plums the custard mixture. Add the little cubes of butter on top of the tart.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes until the pastry is golden, the fruit tender and the custard set.

PLUM TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, walnuts, and sugar in a large bowl. Add the butter and the egg yolk. Mix, either by hand or with an electric mixer, until crumbly.
• Press 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture in an even layer into the bottom of a 9 1/2-inch springform or tart pan. Arrange the plums in the pan, skin side down, to form a flower pattern; begin at the outside and work your way in.
• Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture evenly over the plums. Bake the tart for 40 to 50 minutes, or until it's lightly browned and the plum juices are bubbling. Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes. Remove from the pan and transfer the tart to a flat plate. Serve warm or at room temperature.

ITALIAN PLUM TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan and place it on a sheet pan. Place the plums, tapioca, creme de cassis, and 3/4 cup of the sugar in a mixing bowl and stir to combine. Allow to sit for 15 minutes. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and remaining 1 cup of sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. In a small bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. With the mixer on low, gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until it forms small, dry crumbs. Add 1 tablespoon of cold water and continue to beat for about 30 seconds, until the mixture forms large, moist crumbs. Set aside 3/4 cup of the crumb mixture and pour the rest into the springform pan. With floured hands, lightly pat the dough evenly in the bottom of the pan and 1 inch up the sides. Arrange the plums in concentric circles on the crust. Sprinkle the remaining crumb mixture evenly on top. Bake for 1 hour, until the fruit is bubbling and the crust is golden. Cool for 15 minutes, then remove the sides of the pan and serve warm or at room temperature.

RUSTIC PLUM TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse flour, cornmeal, sugar, and salt several times to combine. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with a few pea-size pieces remaining. Add 2 tablespoons ice water; pulse until dough is crumbly but holds together when squeezed. (If needed, add up to 2 tablespoons more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time.) Do not overmix.
• Turn dough out onto a floured work surface; knead once or twice. Flatten dough into a disk; wrap it in plastic, and refrigerate at least 1 hour.
• Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Flour a large (about 16 inches long) piece of parchment paper. Place dough on paper. Using your knuckles, press edges of dough so it doesn't crack during rolling. Lightly flour top of dough to prevent sticking; roll out to a 14-inch round. Transfer dough (still on parchment) to prepared baking sheet.
• Make the filling and bake: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large bowl, toss together plums, sugar, and flour. Mound plum mixture in center of prepared crust, leaving a 2-inch border all around. Fold border over fruit in a pleated pattern. Brush dough with egg wash.
• Bake tart until crust is brown and filling is bubbling (see note), about 45 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to a rack; let cool 20 minutes. Slice and serve warm or at room temperature.

PLUM TARTS

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Combine flour, butter, sugar, salt, and zest in a food processor and pulse until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with remainder in small (roughly pea-size) lumps. Add yolks and process just until incorporated and mixture begins to clump.
• Turn mixture out onto a work surface and divide into 4 portions. Smear each portion once with heel of your hand in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather together 2 portions of dough and form into a ball; make another ball with other 2 portions.
• Pat out each ball of dough with floured fingertips into a tart pan, in an even 1/4-inch layer on bottom and up sides (about 1/8 inch above rim). Chill 30 minutes, or until firm.
• Make filling while shells chill:
• Stir together sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl. Add plums and lemon juice and toss to coat. Let stand, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes, or until juicy.
• Assemble and bake tarts:
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Arrange plum halves, skin sides down, in tart shells, overlapping in a rosette pattern (see photo, opposite). Halve any remaining plums lengthwise and randomly tuck in between plum halves in tarts. Pour all juices from bowl over plums.
• Bake tarts in middle of oven 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375°F. Cover tarts loosely with foil and bake until plums are tender and juices are bubbling and slightly thickened, 40 to 50 minutes more. Brush warm juices in tart over plums. (Juices will continue to thicken as tarts cool.) Cool tarts completely in pans on a rack.

PLUM TART

Steps:

• Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan.
• Preheat oven to 350C.
• Cream 1 cup sugar and butter together; beat in eggs and vanilla.
• Sift dry ingredients and stir into batter.
• Spoon into prepared pan.
• Place plum halves, skin side up, on batter.
• Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon, adjusting to tartness of the fruit.
• Bake for 1 hour.
• Best served warm with vanilla ice cream.
• This is also best served the day of baking as the moisture of the fruit can seep into dough and affect the texture of the tart; it still tastes great, though!

THE BIZALIONS' PLUM TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• To make the pate brise, sift the flour on a clean surface. Make a well in the center and add the egg, butter and salt. Mix well with the fingers and form a ball. Gradually add the water without letting the dough get sticky. Chill for 1 hour before using.
• Take out of refrigerator and roll out. Butter a 10-inch tart pan. Lay the dough in the pan and cut any excess. Pierce with a fork. Mix the remaining flour and sugar and powder the dough. Pit the fresh plums and cut them in half. Cover the dough with plums turned open side up. Dot with butter. Cook for 25 minutes, until the crust is golden brown.

PLUM FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Rub in cold butter cubes with your fingers until mixture looks like bread crumbs. Add water and egg yolk; knead into a ball. Wrap pastry in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine softened butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix until well combined. Add ground almonds and beat frangipane until well combined.
• Roll out chilled pastry dough and transfer to a 9-inch fluted tart tin; trim edges.
• Spread frangipane over the pastry base. Arrange plums on top in a circular pattern.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is golden brown and the plums are soft, about 45 minutes.

THE BIZALIONS' RATATOUILLE

Steps:

• Slice the eggplant and salt it lightly. Set aside for a half hour, then wipe the salt off with a paper towel. Cut the peppers lengthwise into strips. Slice the remaining vegetables. Add enough olive oil to fill the bottom of a heavy pot 1/8-inch deep. Add the onions and cook on a low flame until soft but not brown. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. While stirring, add the zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, basil and thyme. Cook for 45 minutes to an hour on low heat. Serve hot or cold.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S PLUM TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, walnuts, and sugar in a large bowl.
• Add the butter and the egg yolk.
• Mix, either by hand or with an electric mixer, until crumbly.
• Press 1 1/2 cups of the crumb mixture in an even layer into the bottom of a 9 1/2-inch springform or tart pan.
• Arrange the plums in the pan, skin side down, to form a flower pattern; begin at the outside and work your way inches
• Sprinkle the rest of the crumb mixture evenly over the plums.
• Bake the tart for 40 to 50 minutes, or until it's lightly browned and the plum juices are bubbling.
• Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes.
• Remove from the pan and transfer the tart to a flat plate.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.
• **Cooling time is not included in cooking time.

MAMIE'S WILD PLUM TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Grease a 9-inch tart pan with butter.
• Roll out the pie dough and press crust into the prepared pan.
• Arrange plums snugly, cut-sides down, on the crust. Sprinkle with cinnamon, then sprinkle with 1/4 cup sugar, or up to 1/2 cup depending on the sweetness of the plums.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the tops of the plums are slightly browned and the juices are bubbling, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let rest until the juices have set, 10 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with a bit of powdered sugar, cut, and serve.

FRESH PLUM FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out crust dough on lightly floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer dough to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Gently press dough into tart pan; trim excess. Freeze crust 15 minutes.
• Place tart pan on baking sheet. Bake crust 10 minutes; pierce with toothpick if crust bubbles. Continue to bake until crust is pale golden, about 12 minutes. Cool crust on baking sheet 15 minutes. Maintain oven temperature.
• For filling:
• Blend all ingredients except plums in processor until almonds are finely ground. Spread frangipane filling in prepared crust.
• Place plum halves, skin side up, on work surface. Cut 1 plum half into thin parallel slices, keeping plum intact (do not cut through end). Press gently to fan slices. Repeat with remaining plum halves. Place fanned plums, skin side up, atop frangipane; press gently to anchor.
• Bake tart on baking sheet until frangipane is puffed and golden and plums are tender, about 30 minutes. Remove tart from baking sheet; transfer to rack.
• For glaze:
• Stir apricot jam and brandy in heavy small saucepan over medium heat until mixture boils. Strain glaze into small bowl. Brush glaze generously over plums. Cool tart completely. (Tart can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
• Push pan bottom up to free tart from pan. Cut tart into wedges and serve.