Date Butter Tart with Vanilla Ice Cream
- 1 recipe pate sucree (see page 196)
- 35 to 40 Deglet Noor dates
- 1/2 vanilla bean
- 9 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 extra-large eggs
- 2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 recipe vanilla ice cream (see page 113)
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Line a tart pan with the pate sucree, according to page 196.
- Prick the bottom with a fork, and line it with a few coffee filters opened out, or a piece of parchment paper.
- Fill the lined tart shell with beans or pie weights, and bake 15 minutes, until set.
- Take the tart out of the oven, and gently lift out the paper and beans.
- Return the tart to the oven and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, until the crust is an even golden brown.
- Set aside on a rack to cool completely.
- Make a vertical slit in each date, and carefully remove the pit.
- Use your fingers to press the dates back into their natural shape.
- Place the dates, slit side down, in concentric circles in the tart shell, leaving 1/2 inch between each.
- Slice the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, and use a paring knife to scrape the seeds and pulp onto the butter.
- To make sure not to lose any of the seeds, run your vanilla-coated knife through the butter.
- Heat a medium saute pan over medium heat for 1 minute.
- Add the vanilla-streaked butter and the vanilla pod to the pan, and cook 6 to 8 minutes, until the butter browns and smells nutty.
- Discard the vanilla pod.
- Whisk the eggs and 2/3 cup sugar together in a bowl.
- Whisk in the flour and salt, and stir in the warm butter to incorporate.
- Pour the batter over the dates in the tart shell.
- Sprinkle the top with the remaining tablespoon sugar.
- Bake 30 minutes, until the filling puffs up, browns, and is set.
- Cool the tart at least 20 minutes, then cut the tart into wedges and serve with scoops of vanilla ice cream.
- This tart is equally delicious served warm or cold.
pate, deglet, vanilla bean, unsalted butter, eggs, sugar, flour, kosher salt, vanilla ice cream
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/date-butter-tart-with-vanilla-ice-cream-390941 (may not work)