3 October 2012

Plate Up. Pear & Almond Tarts






I must say, I didn’t think something so simple could taste so good, but this really does! I served it up for the family and was met with a collective “mmm”. I won’t waste time talking about, just go away and cook it! You’ll be impressed. Serves 4.

What you’ll need:
1 sheet puff pastry
1 large pear (nearly ripe)
30g butter
2 tablespoons caster sugar
1 egg yolk
1/3 cup crushed almonds (you can use ground ones, but I smashed whole almonds with a rolling pin and the chunks were delicious)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
10g butter, extra
2 teaspoons caster sugar extra
1 tablespoon apricot jam
2 teaspoons icing sugar

What to do:
Preheat oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Have butter at room temperature to soften. Line an oven tray with baking paper. Cut pastry sheet into quarters and place on the oven tray, about 2cm apart.

Put butter, caster sugar and egg yolk into a bowl. Mix together with a spoon. Stir in almonds and extract. Spread this mixture onto each pastry square, leaving a 1cm boarder. Wash and dry pear. Slice all four slides thinly until you reach the core. Overlap slices on top of almond mixture. Melt the extra butter and brush over the pears. Sprinkle with the extra sugar.

Bake for 12minutes or until pastry is puffed and golden. Microwave jam until warm and brush over the tarts. Dust with icing sugar and serve with cream or ice-cream if desired.

Photos by Krissie.