Quince tarte tatin
By Chatelaine
* PLUS chilling time, Serves: 8
Quince tarte tatin. (Photo, Erik Putz.)
Sweet, fragrant and available only at this time of year, these exquisite apple-like fruits are a little-known treat. Use them in an easy, classic French recipe for a stunning autumn dessert.
Ingredients
-
1 1/4 cups
all-purpose
flour
-
1/2 tsp
granulated sugar
-
1/2 tsp
salt
-
1/2 cup
unsalted
butter
, cut into small cubes
-
1/4 cup
ice
water
-
crème fraîche or vanilla
ice cream
, if desired
Filling
-
3
small
quinces
, peeled, cored and cut into 48 slices
-
1/2 cup
granulated sugar
-
orange zest
, from 1 orange
-
2 tsp
vanilla
Caramel sauce
-
1 cup
granulated sugar
-
1/4 cup
water
-
1/4 tsp
lemon juice
-
1/4 tsp
salt
-
1/4 cup
cold unsalted
butter
, grated
Instructions
-
WHIRL flour with 1/2 tsp sugar and 1/2 tsp salt in a food processor. Add 1/2 cup butter and pulse until mixture looks crumbly. Add ice water in a slow, steady stream through the spout until dough comes together. Divide into 2 portions. Form into 4-in. discs and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 45 min.
-
COMBINE quinces with 1/2 cup sugar, orange peel and vanilla in a medium saucepan. Cover with water. Boil, then reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer, covered, until quinces are tender, about 15 min. Discard orange peel. Strain and reserve quince slices.
-
PREHEAT oven to 425F. Set aside 2 9-in. pie plates.
-
COMBINE 1 cup sugar with water, lemon juice and 1/4 tsp salt in a medium saucepan and set over high. Boil, swirling pan occasionally, until sugar dissolves and mixture turns light brown, about 8 min. Immediately pour caramel into both pie plates and tilt plates to coat the bottoms. Scatter 1/4 cup grated butter evenly over caramel. Arrange overlapping quince slices on both plates.
-
ROLL out pastry discs until both are about 9 in. wide. Place each pastry round over filling and tuck edges around fruit (not over rim of pie plate).
-
BAKE in centre of oven until tops of pastry are dark golden and caramel is bubbly around edges, about 20 min. Transfer to a rack and let stand just until the bubbling stops, about 2 min. To remove tarts from pie plates, using oven mitts, hold a serving plate over a pie plate and invert. Gently shake pie plate to release tart. Spoon any extra caramel overtop. Cut each tart into 4 wedges. Serve with crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream, if desired.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories
- 350,
- Protein
- 3 g,
- Carbohydrates
- 47 g,
- Fat
- 18 g,
- Fibre
- 1 g,
- Sodium
- 220 mg.
- Excellent source of
- Vitamin A
Substitution tip: Instead of quinces, use 3 Honeycrisp apples. Reduce simmering time to about 5 min.