Fig And Almond Tart

Recipe Ingredients

		Sugar Dough
1 cup	198g / 7oz	Unsalted butter - (2 sticks) - softened
1 1/4 cups	247g / 8.7oz	Sugar
2		Eggs - room temperature
1/2 cup	46g / 1.6oz	Blanched almond meal - plus
3 tablespoons	45ml	Blanched almond meal
1 tablespoon	15ml	Vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups	218g / 7.7oz	Cake flour
1 1/2 teaspoons	7.5ml	Baking powder
		Frangipane
1/2 cup	99g / 3.5oz	Unsalted butter - (1 stick)
1/2 cup	99g / 3.5oz	Sugar - plus
2 tablespoons	30ml	Sugar
2		Eggs
1/4 cup	15g / 0.5oz	Flour - plus
3 tablespoons	45ml	Flour
1 cup	93g / 3.3oz	Blanched almond meal
		Assembly
		Sugar Dough - (listed above)
		Frangipane - (listed above)
16		Black Mission figs - (to 20)
		= (or other fresh figs)
2 tablespoons	30ml	Apricot jam
1/2 cup	46g / 1.6oz	Sliced almonds - toasted, plus
2 tablespoons	30ml	Sliced almonds - toasted

Recipe Instructions

Sugar Dough: Cream the butter in a electric mixer with the paddle attachment at medium speed. Add the sugar and scrape down the sides. Add the eggs and beat on medium speed until combined, about 1 minute.

Add the almond meal and vanilla extract. Beat at low speed; add the flour and baking powder and continue to mix at low speed just until well combined. Do not overwork.

Place the dough on a large piece of plastic wrap and form into a rectangle 2 inches thick. Seal in plastic wrap, then cover with foil. Refrigerate overnight.

Frangipane: Cream the butter in an electric mixer using the paddle attachment at medium speed. Add the sugar and eggs, scraping down the sides of the bowl, and beat on medium speed about 1 minute.

In a small bowl, combine the flour and almond meal; add to the butter, egg and sugar mixture while mixing at low speed. Mix until well combined, about 1 minute. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.

Assembly: Lightly butter a (12-inch) tart mold (1-inch deep) with a removable bottom. Place the sugar dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper. Working quickly because the dough will be soft, roll the dough gently to a three-eighths-inch thickness. The circle will be about 15 inches round. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to firm up the dough.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Remove the plastic wrap or parchment from the top of dough. Turn the dough over and place it in the tart mold. Gently remove the second piece of plastic wrap. Press into the sides and bottom and remove excess dough from the rim. With a fork, prick the dough. Place a double sheet of plastic wrap in the tart shell and add dried beans or baking weights. Bake for 15 minutes.

Remove the beans and plastic wrap and bake the tart shell until it's golden brown, an additional 20 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Spoon the frangipane into the shell and spread evenly with an offset spatula. Bake until the frangipane is set, about 15 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes.

Increase the oven heat to 400 degrees. Remove the fig stems and quarter the figs vertically. Starting on the outer edge of the tart, place the fig quarters with the pointed ends facing out and the skin sides down. Continue to form concentric circles with the fig quarters. For the smaller circles in the center, point the ends up to look like a flower. Bake for 15 minutes, then cool for 15 minutes.

Place the apricot jam and a teaspoon of water in a small saucepan. Heat on low heat until the mixture is spreadable. With a pastry brush, delicately brush all of the figs with the glaze.

Before serving, remove the tart from the pan and sprinkle the sliced almonds over the top. Serve warm or at room temperature.

This recipe yields 10 to 12 servings.

Each serving: 683 calories; 10 grams protein; 88 grams carbohydrates; 6 grams fiber; 34 grams fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 116 mg. cholesterol; 84 mg. sodium.

Source:
The Los Angeles Times, 07-14-2004

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