Tags
almond, almond paste, bake, baked, baking, caramelize, caramelized, cook, cooked, decadent, delicious, dinner, flakey, flavored, frangipane, french classic, fruit, intensely, juicy, michael rock, pastry, pear, pears, puff pastry, rich, ripe, strawberry moon cafe, upside down
PEAR & ALMOND TARTE TATIN
serves 4
Make any dinner party memorable with an intensely flavored, decadent dessert that will leave your guests craving for more. Ripe and juicy pears become deliciously rich as they caramelize. Their rich sweetness compliments the flakey puff pastry and smooth cold cream.
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Here’s what you’ll need for this French classic with an almond twist
INGREDIENTS:
♦ 3 ripe pears
♦ 1 Sheet of puff pastry
♦ 3 ounces of unsalted butter
♦ 2 ounces of sugar
♦ 1 tablespoon of grated almond paste (I used Odense)
♦ Few grinds of fresh Nutmeg
♦ Light dusting of cinnamon powder
Using a greased 9 -10 inch metal pan: Melt the butter and sugar over a low to medium heat.
Meanwhile: Peel the pears and cut them lengthways into strips
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After the sugar and butter has turned into a golden caramel, add the pears and continue to cook over the direct heat.
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Dust with a little cinnamon and a few grates of nutmeg.
Continue to cook for a few minutes until most of the liquid has evaporated.
(Pour off excess liquid if necessary) and then scatter a little grated almond paste. (optional)
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Cover with puff pastry, tucking the edges down the side of the pan and make slits in the pastry to allow the steam to escape.
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Bake in a pre-heated oven for 25 – 30 mins at 375 F
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After a few minutes of rest; Invert the pan onto a flat surface tapping the pan to loosen the caramelized pears. If some stick, don’t worry because they’re easily removed with a spatula and then rearranged.
Slice into four and serve while still warm
If food could smile, it would look this!