Pear-Almond Tart
- 1/2 recipe Almond Pate Sucre, recipe follows
- 1 cup blanched almonds
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 1/2 pounds pears
- 4 teaspoons crystallized sugar
- 3/4 cup whole unblanched almonds
- 3 1/3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
- 12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces.
- On a floured surface, lightly flour your rolling pin, roll out 1 piece of dough into a 4-inch circle.
- Repeat with the remaining dough.
- Place on parchment lined baking sheets.
- To make almond meal, grind the almonds in a food processor, just until fine, being careful that the meal does not turn to paste.
- Turn the meal out into a medium bowl and add sugar, eggs, and lemon zest with a wooden spoon.
- Cut each pear in half and remove the core.
- Cut each half into 5 or 6 thin wedges.
- Divide the filling evenly over the tarts, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Arrange the pears in a circular pattern on the filling.
- Sprinkle the sugar over the pears.
- Bake until the pears are lightly caramelized, about 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Spread the nuts on a baking tray and toast until golden, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Cool and coarsely grind in a food processor.
- Do not grind too fine.
- Transfer to a medium bowl and combine with the flour.
- Set aside.
- In an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, combine the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the egg and the zest.
- Add the flour-nut mixture and mix to combine.
- Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead into a ball.
- Flatten the ball, making a small round, and wrap in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until needed.
- Yield: about 2 1/4 pounds
recipe almond pate, blanched almonds, sugar, eggs, lemon zest, pears, sugar, whole unblanched almonds, flour, unsalted butter, sugar, egg, lemon zest
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pear-almond-tart-recipe0.html (may not work)