Grape And Ricotta Crostata Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Heat an oven-proof 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and onions and reduce the heat to medium. Cook, stirring often, until the onions are a dark golden-brown, about 15 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Stir in the balsamic and sprinkle the oregano over the top. Turn off the heat and spread the onions evenly over the bottom of the pan, using a rubber spatula.
• Place the ricotta in a small bowl. Season with 1/8 teaspoon each kosher salt and black pepper. Dollop the ricotta over the onions in 8 to 10 places. Using a fork, prick the puff pasty a few times evenly. Place the puff pastry over the top of the filling, pressing down gently to make sure the dough is touching the ricotta and onions.
• Bake until the pastry is puffed and golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and cover with a plate slightly larger than the skillet. Invert the crostata onto the plate, replacing any onions that may have stuck to the pan. Set aside to cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, in a small bowl, dress the arugula with the lemon juice. Sprinkle the arugula over the cooled crostata and nestle the tomatoes into the onions. Slice into wedges or squares and serve.

Steps:

• For the pastry: Sift together the flour and sugar in a mixing bowl. Combine the butter, egg yolks, whole egg and lemon zest in a separate bowl. Mix the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, and then knead into a dough. Let rest 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• For the filling: Whip the egg whites with 1/2 of the sugar to stiff peaks in a mixing bowl. Whip the remaining sugar, ricotta and lemon zest together in a separate bowl, and then gently fold into the egg whites.
• Roll out the pastry and fit into a pie plate. Spread the ricotta filling into the crust, sealing with more pastry as you would a pie. Bake 15 to 20 minutes.

Steps:

• For the fennel crust: Add the flour, ground fennel and crushed sea salt to a food processor and pulse to combine. Next add the butter and pulse to pebble-size granules. With the food processor running, slowly stream in the cold grape juice -- stop when the dough comes together, even if you haven't added the full 1/4 cup. Remove the dough from the food processor, form into a disc, and wrap with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
• For the grape and ricotta filling: To a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the crumbled almond paste, granulated sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the crushed sea salt. Turn the mixer on low speed and slowly increase the speed to medium-high. Continue to beat the almond paste on high speed for 3 to 4 minutes, until the sugar is completely combined with the almond paste. (The mixture will have softened for the most part, but some of the almond paste will still have the texture of sand.) Add the ricotta, lemon zest, cinnamon, nutmeg and one of the eggs. Beat on medium-high for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, scraping the sides and bottom of the bowl halfway through to ensure the almond paste is completely combined with the ricotta. Set aside at room temperature until ready to use.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Remove the rested dough from the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature; this can take anywhere from 30 minutes to over an hour.
• Just before rolling out the dough, combine the green grapes, red grapes, honey and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon crushed sea salt in a bowl. Set aside. (Do not let the mixture sit for any length of time or the grapes will release too much liquid.)
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough into a 14-inch round. Roll the crust onto the rolling pin, then unroll it onto the prepared baking sheet; arrange in the center of the baking sheet (the sides will overhang by a couple inches). Using an offset spatula, evenly spread the ricotta frangipane onto the crust, leaving a 2-inch border. Mound the grape mixture (and any honey from the bowl) in the center of the frangipane, leaving at least a 2-inch border of frangipane. Gently fold the sides of the crust toward the center, covering 1 to 2 inches of the grapes. Allow the dough to fold over and land naturally; the galette doesn't have to look perfect, as long as all the sides are folded over to seal the filling inside the dough.
• Whisk the remaining egg and brush it generously over the crust. Sprinkle the turbinado sugar over the crust and grapes. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes. When done, the crust will be a deep golden brown, the grapes will have browned slightly but still hold their shape, and the frangipane will look set except for a little bubbling in the center. Let cool.
• For the red wine syrup: In a medium saucepan, combine the red wine, granulated sugar and fennel seed. Bring to a boil and cook until reduced to about 3/4 cup, 15 to 20 minutes. Strain the fennel seeds from the syrup and let cool; the syrup will thicken as it cools. If the syrup becomes too thick, stir in warm water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency. (Makes 3/4 cup.)
• To serve: Slice the galette and drizzle with red wine syrup.

Steps:

• For the dough: To the bowl of a food processor, add the butter, flour, granulated sugar, salt and lemon zest. Pulse until it resembles coarse sand. Add the egg yolk and a tablespoon of water. Pulse until the mixture forms a crumbly dough, but holds its shape when pinched. (If too crumbly, add a little bit more water.)
• Turn the dough out onto a clean work surface. Knead very lightly until the dough comes together. Pat into a disc, then roll into a 1/4-inch-thick circle, turning the dough regularly and flouring as needed to ensure it doesn't stick.
• Spray six 4-inch ring molds with the nonstick spray. Cut out 4 dough rounds slightly larger than 4 inches, then transfer a piece of dough to the center of each ring mold, bringing it up the edges to make a rustic tart crust. Slide a spatula underneath to transfer to a half-sheet tray lined with parchment paper. Place in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brown the butter in a medium skillet over medium-high heat, cooking until it is light brown in color and smells nutty. Transfer the browned butter to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the granulated sugar and vanilla extract. Turn on the mixer and gradually add the flour. Add 3 eggs, one at a time. Scrape down the sides and mix to combine.
• Remove the dough from the fridge. Fill the tarts evenly with the filling and top with the grapes. Make an egg wash by beating the remaining egg in a bowl with a bit of water and brush the crusts. Sprinkle with the turbinado sugar. Transfer to the oven and bake for 20 minutes.
• To finish: Add the vin santo and lemon juice to a medium saute pan. Turn on the heat to medium-low and reduce until thick and caramel-like, 5 to 6 minutes. Carefully add the heavy cream and swirl the pan to incorporate. Allow the mixture to come back to a boil, then lower the heat add the butter one pat at a time.
• Spoon the mascarpone into quenelles (little oblong dollops) and place on a sheet tray lined with parchment. Place in the fridge to chill for 10 to 15 minutes.
• To plate: Spoon a bit of vin santo caramel on the bottom of a plate and dot with the vin cotto. Place the crostata down and top with a mascarpone quenelle. Garnish with thyme leaves and powdered sugar. Repeat to make 5 more servings.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Toss the grapes with the red wine, thyme, 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and some salt and pepper. Place on a small baking sheet or baking dish. Roast until the grapes are tender, wilted and juicy, about 25 minutes.
• Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Brush the bread slices with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Grill on both sides until crisp and lightly charred in some places, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Spread the ricotta evenly on the bread. Top with the roasted grapes and their juices. Sprinkle with lemon zest and flaky salt, then serve.