Spiced Pear Tartlets Recipes

Steps:

• Poach the pears: Combine 2 cups/480 milliliters water, sugar, vanilla extract and star anise pods in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Place the pears in the poaching liquid and cover with a lid. Keep just below a simmer and cook until the pears are tender, about 40 minutes depending on the ripeness of the pears. Remove the pears from the liquid to a plate and cool completely. Slice each pear half crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Set aside.
• While the pears poach and cool, make the pastry: Trim a sheet of puff pastry to one 4 1/2-by-12 inch rectangle. From the remaining puff pastry, cut two 1-by-12-inch strips. Transfer rectangle and strips to a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
• Using a pastry brush, brush the beaten egg in a thin 1-inch strip along both long edges of the puff pastry, then place the strips of puff pastry on top. (You should have a rectangle of puff pastry with a puff pastry border down each of the long sides.) Use the back of a chef's knife or the tines of a fork to gently press the strips of puff pastry into the rectangle. Prick the pastry all over with a fork, then refrigerate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, heat the oven to 325 degrees.
• Brush the puff pastry all over with egg wash, then line the center with parchment and fill with baking weights or dried beans. Bake for 20 minutes, turning halfway through. Remove the parchment and baking weights. Bake until golden brown, about 3 more minutes. As soon as you pull it out of the oven, trim the edges with a knife so the layers line up, if necessary. If the center has puffed up, gently prick with a fork or toothpick to release air. Allow to cool completely.
• While the pastry bakes and cools, make the pastry cream: Combine the milk, vanilla extract, and half the sugar (using 2 tablespoons/30 grams) in a pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-low. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons/30 grams sugar and the cornstarch, then whisk in the yolks. Whisking the eggs and cornstarch continuously, carefully add 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture to the egg yolks, and whisk well to combine. Now, whisking the hot milk mixture in the pot continuously, add the egg yolks and cornstarch mixture to the pot. Continue whisking until it thickens. (It happens fast!) Immediately remove from the heat and whisk in the softened butter until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the pastry cream. Allow to cool to room temperature.
• While pastry cream cools, make the glaze: Combine the pear purée, sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a medium saucepan and bring to a simmer until slightly reduced and glossy, about 3 minutes. Strain and chill.
• Transfer the puff pastry to a serving platter. Spread about 1 1/2 cups pastry cream down the center of the pastry shell. Place the sliced pear halves over the pastry cream in alternating directions. Brush each pear with a thick layer of pear glaze. Garnish any areas between the pears with toasted almonds. Dust the whole tart with confectioners' sugar just before serving.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F. Cut pastry into 4 squares. On ungreased cookie sheet, place pastry squares.
• Peel pear, and cut into quarters; remove seeds. Slice each pear quarter into very thin slices. Arrange pear slices over pastry squares, leaving 1/2-inch border.
• Bake about 20 minutes or until pastry is puffed and browned. Spread 1 tablespoon preserves over top of each warm tartlet to cover pears. Cool on cookie sheet 10 minutes before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
• On a cutting board, cut the pears lengthwise in 2 halves, removing the cores. Slice into ¹⁄₁₆-inch (1 mm) thick slices. Slice all the way through, but keep the pear halves together.
• Lay the pie crust on the prepared baking sheet and arrange the pear halves on top, separating the slices to cover the center of the crust, leaving a 1-inch (2 cm) border around the edge.
• Sprinkle the sugar spice mix over and between the pear slices.
• Fold the edge of the crust over the pears.
• Beat the egg in a small bowl, then brush over the crust. Sprinkle coarse sugar on top of the egg wash.
• Bake for 25 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
• Serve warm, with ice cream if desired.
• Enjoy.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
• Arrange tart shells onto prepared pan. Put a piece of Brie cheese into each shell. Sprinkle diced pear and a couple thyme leaves into each shell and drizzle with honey.
• Bake in preheated oven until cheese is melted and tarts are golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Roll out 1 pastry sheet on floured work surface to 1/8-inch thickness (about 12-inch square). Cut out two 6-inch rounds. Repeat rolling and cutting with second sheet, forming total of 4 rounds (reserve remaining pastry for another use). Place rounds on 2 heavy large baking sheets.
• Using 1/2 pear per tartlet, overlap slices in circle atop each round, leaving 1/2-inch border at outside edge. Brush each tartlet with melted butter. Sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon sugar and pinch of cloves. Bake until pastry is golden brown and pears are tender, about 20 minutes. Transfer tartlets to plates. Serve warm with ice cream.

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, toast the cloves, shaking the pan, until they're very aromatic. Add the sugar, vinegar and salt, and bring up to a simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile, peel the pears, and halve them lengthwise, if needed, to fit the pan. (You can pick out the seeds if you like.) Carefully place the pears in the syrup, and simmer gently.
• Stir the pears every few minutes, to make sure they cook evenly, especially if the hot syrup doesn't completely submerge them. Cook them until they are just tender at their thickest parts; check with a toothpick after 15 minutes of cooking. When the pears are ready, remove the pan from the heat and place a clean plate on top of the pears to keep them submerged in the vinegar syrup. Allow to cool for six hours or overnight.
• Serve right away, store in the refrigerator or can. If you store them in the fridge, you can separate the pears and syrup and use them independently. If you plan on canning, Lewis instructs you to strain the syrup and boil it for 5 minutes. Pack the pears in jars, cover with the hot syrup and process according to your jar manufacturer's directions.