Seckel Pear Tart With Poire William Cream

Serves: 5

Santos Walker

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

52

Spice

54

Sweetness

54

Sourness

41

mins

Prep time (avg)

5

Difficulty

Ingredients:

3 cup

Sugar

3 large

Egg Yolk

1.5 tbsps

Cornstarch

Directions:

1

Make shell: Roll out dough on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 20-by 8-inch rectangle, reflouring surface as necessary

2

Transfer to tart pan, gently fitting dough into pan without stretching

3

Trim overhang to 3/4 inch, cutting off corners

4

Fold overhang inward to reinforce side, then trim flush with edge of pan

5

Reserve excess pastry for another use if desired

6

Prick bottom of tart shell all over with a fork and chill until firm, about 30 minutes

7

Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle

8

Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights, then bake until sides are set, about 20 minutes

9

Remove foil and weights and bake shell until golden brown all over, 15 to 20 minutes more

10

Cool completely in pan

11

Roll out dough on a floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a 20-by 8-inch rectangle, reflouring surface as necessary

12

Transfer to tart pan, gently fitting dough into pan without stretching

13

Trim overhang to 3/4 inch, cutting off corners

14

Fold overhang inward to reinforce side, then trim flush with edge of pan

15

Reserve excess pastry for another use if desired

16

Prick bottom of tart shell all over with a fork and chill until firm, about 30 minutes

17

Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle

18

Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights, then bake until sides are set, about 20 minutes

19

Remove foil and weights and bake shell until golden brown all over, 15 to 20 minutes more

20

Cool completely in pan

21

Poach pears: Put wine in a wide 4-quart pot and set a sieve lined with dampened flour sack cloth over it

22

Grate Bartlett pears (including skin) on large holes of a box grater into cloth, then bunch up cloth around mixture and squeeze as much clear juice as possible through cloth into pan with wine

23

Discard solids remaining in cloth

24

Transfer wine mixture to a 2-cup measure and add enough water, if necessary, to bring total to 2 cups liquid, then return to pan and stir in sugar

25

Carefully peel Seckel pears, leaving stems intact, then core through bottom with tip of vegetable peeler or a small knife to remove seeds

26

Bring wine mixture to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then add pears, in 1 layer if possible

27

Simmer, tightly covered, turning occasionally, until tender, about 20 minutes

28

Carefully transfer pears with a slotted spoon to a rack set over a 4-sided sheet pan to drain and cool, standing them upright

29

Transfer pear syrup to cleaned 2-cup measure, adding any juices from sheet pan under pears (you will have 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups syrup), and reserve for pastry cream and glaze

30

Put wine in a wide 4-quart pot and set a sieve lined with dampened flour sack cloth over it

31

Grate Bartlett pears (including skin) on large holes of a box grater into cloth, then bunch up cloth around mixture and squeeze as much clear juice as possible through cloth into pan with wine

32

Discard solids remaining in cloth

33

Transfer wine mixture to a 2-cup measure and add enough water, if necessary, to bring total to 2 cups liquid, then return to pan and stir in sugar

34

Carefully peel Seckel pears, leaving stems intact, then core through bottom with tip of vegetable peeler or a small knife to remove seeds

35

Bring wine mixture to a boil, stirring until sugar has dissolved, then add pears, in 1 layer if possible

36

Simmer, tightly covered, turning occasionally, until tender, about 20 minutes

37

Carefully transfer pears with a slotted spoon to a rack set over a 4-sided sheet pan to drain and cool, standing them upright

38

Transfer pear syrup to cleaned 2-cup measure, adding any juices from sheet pan under pears (you will have 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups syrup), and reserve for pastry cream and glaze

39

Make pastry cream: Whisk together egg yolks and cornstarch in a small bowl, then whisk in 1 cup pear syrup

40

Transfer to a small heavy saucepan and scrape in seeds from vanilla bean, reserving pod for another use

41

Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking, then cook, whisking, 2 minutes

42

Remove from heat and whisk in poire William and butter

43

Transfer to a bowl and cool completely, its surface covered

44

Whisk together egg yolks and cornstarch in a small bowl, then whisk in 1 cup pear syrup

45

Transfer to a small heavy saucepan and scrape in seeds from vanilla bean, reserving pod for another use

46

Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking, then cook, whisking, 2 minutes

47

Remove from heat and whisk in poire William and butter

48

Transfer to a bowl and cool completely, its surface covered

49

Make glaze: Stir together poire William and gelatin in a very small bowl and let stand 1 minute

50

Bring remaining pear syrup to a boil in a very small heavy saucepan, then boil, if necessary, until reduced to about 1/3 cup

51

Stir in gelatin mixture until dissolved

52

Remove from heat

53

Remove side of tart pan

54

Whisk cooled pastry cream to loosen, then spread in shell

55

Stand pears upright on pastry cream, arranging them in 8 rows of 2 or 3

56

When glaze has cooled and thickened slightly (to speed cooling, set pan in an ice bath), brush it on pears

57

If glaze gels in pan, reheat very briefly

58

Stir together poire William and gelatin in a very small bowl and let stand 1 minute

59

Bring remaining pear syrup to a boil in a very small heavy saucepan, then boil, if necessary, until reduced to about 1/3 cup

60

Stir in gelatin mixture until dissolved

61

Remove from heat

62

Remove side of tart pan

63

Whisk cooled pastry cream to loosen, then spread in shell

64

Stand pears upright on pastry cream, arranging them in 8 rows of 2 or 3

65

When glaze has cooled and thickened slightly (to speed cooling, set pan in an ice bath), brush it on pears

66

If glaze gels in pan, reheat very briefly