Apricot Tart with Lavender Crème Anglaise
This is one of my favorite desserts. Dried apricots, almonds, and honey are the key sweet flavors of the Mediterranean. With a nod to Provence, we top it all with Lavender Crème Anglaise.
Recipe information
Yield
makes one 10-inch tart; serves 8
Ingredients
Pastry Dough
Filling
Lavender Crème Anglaise
Preparation
Step 1
Prepare a medium heat fire (350°F) in a wood-fired oven or cooker.
Step 2
To make the dough, combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl or food processor. Using your fingertips or a pastry blender, rub or cut in the butter until it is the size of peas. Gradually stir in half of the ice water until the dough comes together in a ball. Add a bit more water only if needed. Do not overwork the dough. On a floured board, form the dough into a disk, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.
Step 3
To make the filling, combine the apricots, amaretto, and water in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until the apricots are plump and soft, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain, and set aside.
Step 4
Roll out the dough on a lightly floured board to a 12-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Fit into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Run a rolling pin over the top to remove the excess dough.
Step 5
Fit a sheet of parchment paper in the tart shell and fill it with pie weights or dried beans. Place the pan in the oven and prebake for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes before filling.
Step 6
Increase the oven heat to 375°F by adding a small log to the fire. Cover the crust with the apricots, fanning the fruit and overlapping each slice by 1/2 inch. Heat the orange marmalade and water over low heat to a spreadable consistency. Spread over the apricots. Sprinkle with the turbinado sugar, then top with the almonds.
Step 7
Place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes, until golden. Remove from the oven and let cool for at least 15 minutes. Once cool, remove from the tart pan, portion, and serve topped with the crème anglaise.
Lavender Crème Anglaise
Step 8
Combine the cream, half-and-half, sugar, and honey in a nonreactive saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat to just below the boiling point, stirring with rubber spatula or wooden spoon to dissolve the sugar and honey. Remove from the heat and add the lavender. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes.
Step 9
Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing the lavender with the back of a large spoon to release the liquid. Discard the lavender. Return the flavored cream to the saucepan.
Step 10
Place the pan over medium-low heat and reheat to just below the boiling point. Whisk the egg yolks in a small bowl. Gradually whisk about 1 cup of the hot cream into the yolks to temper the eggs. Add the mixture to the saucepan with the remaining cream and cook, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and coats the back of a wooden spoon. Do not let the mixture boil, or the eggs will curdle.
Step 11
Remove from the heat and pour through a fine-mesh sieve into a large stainless steel bowl. Stir the custard gently for a few minutes to cool slightly. Cover with plastic wrap pressed directly onto the surface of the custard and refrigerate until ready to serve. It can be kept overnight.
Lavender Sugar
Step 12
To make lavender sugar, combine 1 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon dried lavender in a glass jar and let stand for 1 day. Grind in a spice grinder before using.
