A pâte brisée dough, thinly rolled out, creates a flaky starting point for the layers of flavors in the tart. The fig confit has a rich huskiness. A simple custard binds those flavors together. The roasted almonds complete the contrasts of flavor and texture. All four ingredients can be prepared days ahead so the tart can be easily assembled on the day.
Makes a 9” tart or three or four 3” tartlets
Fig Confit
Ingredients:
4 of the ripest figs, washed, quartered lengthwise
1 teaspoon raw sugar
1 tablespoon water
Directions:
Scrape off and finely chop the inner part of the figs. Discard the skins. In a small saucepan mix together the fig puree, sugar, and water. Heat over a medium flame. Simmer and stir frequently for 5 minutes. Set aside to cool. Will keep in a refrigerated, sealed container for several days.
Custard
Custard is easier to make than you might think. This recipe is simplicity itself. The uncooked custard can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
Ingredients:
1 large farmers’ market fresh egg
¼ cup white sugar
½ cup heavy cream (not whipping cream) Trader Joe’s sells the only cream I can find without preservatives
Directions:
Beat together the egg and sugar. Add the cream and blend well.
Roasted Almonds:
¼ cup whole, raw almonds
Roast the almonds in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes, shaking the pan every so often to prevent burning. Remove, let cool, and roughly chop. The roasted almonds can be kept in a sealed jar for several weeks.
The Dough:
I prefer a thin crust, because I want the figs, custard, and almonds to
predominate, but if you like a more substantial crust, double the
recipe.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon or 3 pieces of crystallized ginger
1 ¼ cups all-purpose white flour (I like King Arthur Flour)
½ teaspoon sea salt, finely ground
1 teaspoon white or raw sugar
1 stick or ½ cup sweet butter, kept cold, finely chopped
3 tablespoons ice cold water
Directions:
Use a chef’s knife to chop up the crystallized ginger as much as you can before further grinding in a food processor with a metal blade. Don’t worry if you’re left with large pieces. Add the flour, sea salt, sugar, and butter. Pulse for 30 seconds until well combined.
With the food processor on, slowly add the ice-cold water in a steady stream. If the flour accumulates on the sides of the processor, shake it loose. Add enough water so the flour gets crumbly and sticks together.
Lightly flour a work surface and your hands. If you are making smaller tarts, divide the dough accordingly. Gently work the dough into a flattened disk about 5”-6” in circumference for the large tart, 2”-3” for the small, turning it so all sides are dusted with flour. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
Brush melted sweet butter on the tart pan. Place in the freezer for at least 30 minutes or overnight. This will guarantee that the dough will not stick to the pan.
Assembling the Tart
To keep the tart as fresh as possible, bake just before serving.
Ingredients
2 baskets ripe figs, washed
Custard
Fig confit
Roasted almonds
Tart dough
Directions
Before rolling out the dough, let it sit on the counter 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Again, lightly flour a work surface. Roll out the dough evenly, starting in the middle and working to the outer edges, keeping the round shape as much as possible. Create a circle of dough 2”-3” larger than the circumference of the tart pan so there’s enough to line the sides.
Take the tart pan out of the freezer. Use the rolling pin to transfer the dough onto the pan. Start on one edge, lifting the dough onto the rolling pin, moving forward until the dough has wrapped around the rolling pin. Gently place the dough on the tart pan, being careful to press the dough against the sides of the pan. Use a paring knife to gently cut off the excess dough.
Use pieces of the excess dough to fill any holes or close any tears. Tarts are very forgiving.
Using the paring knife, poke holes every few inches on the bottom of the tart to release steam during baking. Pour pastry weights or uncooked rice to cover the dough. Bake 10-15 minutes in the preheated oven or until the crust is lightly browned. Cool on a rack. Carefully remove the pastry weights or rice.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Using a pastry brush, spread the fig confit evenly over the bottom as well as the sides of the crust. Cut off and discard the stems from the figs and quarter them lengthwise. Lay the figs on the bottom of the tart, cut side up, in a decorative way, which usually means placing them in circles within circles. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon raw sugar. Place the tart on a baking tray and put in the oven. Bake 20 minutes.
Remove the tart from the oven. Drizzle custard over the figs. Sprinkle with roasted almonds. Return to the oven for another 30 minutes.
Check to see that the custard has set. Be careful not to burn the figs. Remove the tart and let cool on a rack.
Serve warm, dusted with powdered sugar and with a bowl of vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream.
- Recipe courtesy of Men Who Like To Cook.