Taste of Summer–Rustic Peach & Blueberry Crostata
Are there any more endearing moments in life than cooking with someone you love? When we made our plans to go to Nantucket, the first thing our oldest said she wanted to do was: “Bake a Crostata with Grandpa.”
And here they are, remember life is about the journey…not just the destination.
First pulsing the pasty dough in a “vintage Cuisinart”
Carefully laying the dough out
Final touches include an egg wash and light dusting of sugar atop. This is the perfect time to make this dessert considering fresh summer peaches and berries now hitting the scene.
You really must try this recipe yourself, it’s a taste of pure summer.
RUSTIC PEACH & BLUEBERRY CROSTATA
Recipe courtesy of Tyler Florence
Ingredients
Pastry:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
* 3 tablespoons sugar
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 lemon, zest finely grated
* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, cold and cut into small chunks
* 1 large egg yolk
* 2 tablespoons ice water, plus more if needed
Filling:
* 4 large ripe peaches, pitted and sliced
* 1 pint fresh blueberries
* 1/2 lemon, juiced
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
Glaze:
* 1 large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* Vanilla ice cream, for serving
Directions
To make the pastry: combine the flour, sugar, salt, and lemon zest in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender or your hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg yolk and pour in the ice water; work it in to bind the dough until it holds together without being too wet or sticky. Squeeze a small amount together, if it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 teaspoon at a time. Form the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
To make the filling: combine the peaches, blueberries, lemon juice, sugar, and flour in a large mixing bowl. Toss the mixture gently to coat the fruit.
Prepare your wooden burning brick oven according to manufacturer’s directions or place a pizza stone in a conventional oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Most people don’t have wood burning brick oven’s however, we found that a regular oven works too;)
Sprinkle the counter and a rolling pin lightly with flour. Roll the dough out into a 14-inch circle, about 1/4-inch thick; it doesn’t have to be perfect, free-form is the look you want for this rustic tart. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured pizza paddle. Spoon the fruit mixture into the center of the dough, leaving a 2-inch border all around; brush the border with the egg wash. Lift the edge of crust over the filling, leaving the fruit exposed in center. Gently fold and pinch the dough to seal any cracks. Brush the crust with the remaining egg wash and sprinkle with sugar. Bake the crostata directly on the brick oven floor towards the front or on the preheated pizza stone for 30 to 40 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and fruit is bubbly and tender. Slide a pizza paddle under the tart to remove it from the oven. Serve warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream.
Voila!
