Rustic Pear and Fig Crostatas
When I prepare this dessert in the cooking classes I teach, I tell students that the beauty of making a “rustic” dessert means that the crust doesn’t have to look picture perfect. The amazingly easy gluten-free crust was inspired by a local gluten-free bakery called Flying Apron, and it can be a bit crumbly but it still works extremely well as a rustic wrap for fruit. The rich flavor of the figs blends beautifully with several varieties of pears, including Bartlett, Bosc, and Comice. This is sure to be a hit at any dinner party. Top it with cashew cream or some vanilla Coconut Bliss nondairy frozen dessert and you will think you’ve died and gone to heaven.
Ingrediënten
- 7 to 8 fresh figs cut into ½-inch chunks
- 1 large unpeeled pear thinly sliced
- 1½ cups brown rice flour plus more for dusting
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup plus 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 3 tablespoons agave nectar or maple syrup
- 1 to 2 tablespoons cold water
- ¼ cup honey
Instructies
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine the figs and pear in a medium bowl and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine the flour and salt.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the coconut oil until softened, about 1 minute.
- With the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour mixture until incorporated.
- Add the agave and cold water and continue beating until a soft dough has formed.
- (Alternatively, you can mix the dough by hand, kneading the ingredients to incorporate.
- )
- Dust a large piece of parchment paper (placed on top of a cutting board for ease) and your hands well with brown rice flour.
- Divide the dough into 6 equal balls.
- Flatten 1 ball and sprinkle with more flour.
- Roll the dough into a 4-inch disk.
- Spread 2 large spoonfuls of the fruit mixture into the center, leaving ½-inch of dough around the edges.
- Pull the dough up around the edges of the fruit, leaving the very center exposed.
- Repeat with the remaining dough balls and fruit.
- Carefully transfer the parchment with the crostatas to a baking pan.
- Drizzle honey over the top of each crostata and bake for 25 minutes, or until the crusts are golden brown and the pears are soft.
Notes / Tips / Wine Advice:
Pears contain some unique phytonutrients called flavonols, which help improve blood sugar balance, support the immune system, and decrease inflammation.
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