Almond Tart: Crostata alle Mandorle
- 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup ground toasted almonds, plus 2 cups
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg, plus 3 egg whites, plus 1 egg beaten
- Salt
- 1/2 cup apricot jam
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
- Butter the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and set aside.
- Toss together the flour, 1/2 cup almonds, and sugar.
- Cut the butter into the dry mixture until it is the consistency of fine bread crumbs.
- Add 1 egg and a pinch of salt and mix well, kneading slightly.
- Form the pastry into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate 30 minutes.
- Roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
- Line the tart pan with the dough, letting it hang over by 1-inch.
- Trim the edges, reserving the scraps and rolling them into a ball.
- Place the pan in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Roll the reserved dough ball out to 1/8-inch thickness and, using a pastry cutter with a crimp edge, cut it into several strips that are 9-inches long and 1/4-inch wide.
- Set these strips aside in a cool place.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
- Line the tart pan with waxed paper and load the inside with beans.
- Bake in the oven until the dough has firmed but is still pale about 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and set aside.
- Beat the egg whites until they are thick and glossy.
- Spread the apricot jam in an even layer inside the tart crust.
- Fold the remaining almonds and the chocolate into the whipped egg whites and spread this mixture over the apricot jam.
- Arrange the dough strips over the top of the tart in a criss-cross fashion, pushing the ends into the apricot mixture.
- Brush the top with the beaten egg and bake 30 minutes.
- Serve warm or room temperature.
unsalted butter, flour, ground toasted almonds, sugar, egg, salt, apricot jam, semisweet chocolate
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/almond-tart-crostata-alle-mandorle-recipe.html (may not work)