Pistachio Plum Crisp Recipes

Steps:

• Halve larger plums and stone them, and leave smaller ones whole. Put into a saucepan with 2 tbsp sugar and 1 tbsp cornflour. On the heat, stir for 1-2 mins until the cornflour disappears into the plum juices, then stir in 100ml water and the jam or conserve. Cover and simmer for 10-20 mins until the plums are tender and the sauce syrupy - splash in some more water if it looks a little dry. Scrape the pan contents into a large, shallow baking dish.
• Heat oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Whisk the egg whites in a clean mixing bowl until stiff. Whisk in the 200g sugar in 3 batches, beating the whites back to stiff between each addition. Whisk in remaining cornflour and vanilla and keep going until you have a lovely shiny, stiff mixture.
• Scoop 6 large spoonfuls of the meringue on top of the plums, scatter with pistachios, then bake for 30-40 mins until the meringues are crisp on top but still pale, and soft underneath. Eat warm or at room temperature, with cold crème anglaise or cold custard for pouring over.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.
• Place silpat on a large baking sheet, or if not using a silpat or nonstick baking sheet, line a large baking sheet with parchment. Put rounded teaspoons of cheese 2 inches apart on baking sheets and spread each into a 1 1/2 inch circle.
• Sprinkle each round lightly with chopped pistachios (about 1/8 teaspoon for each) and bake until just golden, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Let crisps cool on sheet 1 minute then transfer to a rack to cool completely. Bake more crisps in same manner on cooled sheet, wiping nonstick or silpat in between batches (if using), or replacing parchment with each new batch.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine the flour, walnuts, and butter and mix well. Press the mixture into the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake in the preheated oven until the nuts are fragrant and the crust is lightly browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Cool.
• Mix together the cream cheese, vanilla, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup whipped topping. Beat well, and spread the filling over the cooled crust. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Mix the instant pudding with milk until thick. Spread the pudding over the cream cheese layer. Top with remaining whipped topping, sprinkle with nuts, and decorate with maraschino cherries.

Steps:

• The night before you make the pastries, wrap 120g butter in foil and freeze until solid. Combine the flour, icing sugar and ¼ tsp salt in a large bowl. Add the chopped butter and rub into the flour mixture until it resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in 7 tbsp very cold water (if it still seems a little dry, add an extra 2 tbsp). Lightly knead the dough until it just comes together, then roll out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle. Using a coarse cheese grater, grate half the frozen butter over the middle and bottom thirds of the pastry. Fold down the top third and fold up the bottom third, as if folding a letter. Turn the pastry 90 degrees and repeat with the rest of the frozen butter. Wrap and chill for at least 30 mins.
• Put 75g of the pistachios in a heatproof bowl. Cover with boiling water, then leave to soak for 5 mins. Drain, tip into a food processor and blitz for 5-10 mins until you have a smooth paste. Set aside.
• Put the milk and double cream in a small pan set over a medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then remove from the heat. Whisk the egg yolks, caster sugar and flours together in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the milk mixture in several additions, then pour into a clean pan set over a low heat. Cook, stirring continuously, until the custard is thick. Simmer for 2 mins more, then stir in a small pinch of sea salt. Transfer to a bowl and leave to cool. Once cooled, tip into a food processor with the pistachio paste and blitz until smooth. Put in a bowl and set aside.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/ gas 6. Put the plums in a roasting tin, cut-side down. Sprinkle over the sugar and vanilla. Roast for 15 mins until softened but holding their shape. Set aside to cool. Turn the oven up to 220C/200C fan/gas 8.
• Roll the chilled pastry out on a lightly floured surface to a rectangle of about 38 x 24cm. Trim the sides with a sharp knife, then cut the pastry into eight 11 x 10cm rectangles. Score a 1cm border around each, then put on a baking tray lined with baking parchment (you may need two trays). Brush with the beaten egg, then chill for 15 mins. Bake for 20 mins. Push down the centres, then pipe or spoon in the pistachio custard and top each with a plum half. Bake for 10-15 mins more. Finely chop the rest of the pistachios and scatter them over the warm pastries. Leave to cool completely before serving.