Candied Kumquat Tartlets Recipes

Steps:

• Thinly slice kumquats crosswise with a sharp knife, discarding seeds.
• Bring water and 2 cups sugar to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar is dissolved, then simmer syrup, uncovered, 5 minutes. Stir in kumquats and simmer gently 10 minutes. Drain and cool kumquats in a sieve set over a bowl, then return drained syrup to pan and boil until reduced to about 11/3 cups, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Finely grind fennel seeds in coffee/spice grinder, then transfer to a bowl and whisk together with ricotta, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and a pinch of salt just until ricotta is slightly smoother. Whisk in sour cream until just combined and spread evenly over bottom of tart shell.
• Arrange kumquats as evenly as possible over ricotta using your fingers or a small spoon, separating slices as necessary with a skewer, then brush kumquats with some of reduced syrup.
• Remove side of tart pan.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 36 1 1/4-inch round fluted tartlet pans with nonstick cooking spray, working in batches if necessary, and set aside.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out pate brisee to a scant 1/4 inch thick. Using a 2-inch round cutter, cut out 36 rounds. Fit each round into a prepared tartlet pan; trim as necessary. Place on a baking sheet and transfer to freezer until chilled, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Weight down each tartlet with a second 1 1/4-inch round fluted tartlet pan. Transfer to oven and bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove second tartlet pans and continue baking until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes more. Let tartlets cool completely in pans before removing.
• Fill each cooled tartlet with pastry cream and top with candied kumquats; serve.

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, cover the fruit with cold water and bring to a boil. Drain. Cover the fruit with cold water and bring to a boil again. Drain and set aside.
• In the same saucepan, combine 1 cup water and the sugar, bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
• Pierce each piece of fruit 2 or 3 times with a paring knife. Drop the fruit into the sugar syrup and continue to simmer for 15 minutes for kumquats or 20 minutes for lemons.
• Remove from heat and leave the fruit steeping in the syrup unrefrigerated for 8 hours or overnight.
• Bring the syrup and fruit to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Cool and store in a glass jar. Fruit and syrup will keep in the refrigerator for 3 months.

Steps:

• Place sugar in a medium saucepan and add 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat; cook, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved. Reduce heat to a simmer and add kumquats; let simmer for 1 hour. Carefully remove kumquats from liquid and place in an even layer on a wire rack, set over parchment paper, to dry, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.