This recipe was originally created by one of my fellow students in culinary school. It was {and often still is} made with fresh summer peaches and nectarines, but can be made with poached pears or apples, pitted plums or apricots.
The unusual part of this recipe is not the filling, but the tart dough. It's made with Italian polenta, or coarse cornmeal, which gives it a crunchy texture and toothy bite, not to mention a deliciously sweet corn flavor.
While shopping at the farmer's market one Saturday this summer, I came upon two beautiful cardboard pint cartons of dewberries and blueberries and I just knew I had found
another new filling for this unusual tart.
{Polenta Crostata}
Filling:
1 pint each of fresh dewberries and blueberries
{about 3-4 cups of fruit}
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
½ cup cane sugar
Tart dough:
1 stick plus 2 ½ Tablespoons butter
¾ cup cane sugar
3 egg yolks
1 ¼ cup flour
¾ cup Italian polenta or cornmeal
Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer using the paddle attachment. May also be done by hand with a woodern spoon or food processor. Add the yolks one at a time, mixing completely after the addition of each yolk. Sift the cornmeal, flour, and salt. Slowly add to the mixture on slow speed. When mixture just comes together, remove from mixer and turn out on a lightly floured surface. Knead until smooth and in a ball shape.
Cut ball of dough in half. Wrap one half of the dough in plastic wrap, press into a disc shape and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to an hour, Roll out other half of dough into an 11 inch circle, then transfer to a buttered 8 ½ inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press in the dough making sure bottom and side edges are even. Sprinkle one teaspoon of polenta on bottom of shell to absorb any liquid from the fruit. Bake for 5-7 minutes. Brush bottom with glaze. Top with the fruit filling.
On a lightly floured surface roll out remaining half of dough so that it is large enough to cover tart shell. It is important that surface and rolling pin be floured ro avoid the dough from sticking, and thus breaking.
Either fold the dough in half and place over tart shell, pressing and trimming edges, or cut-out shapes (such as hearts) and place on tart in a circular pattern, pressing at the edges.
Make an egg wash for the tart by lightly mixing 1 Tablespoon cream and 1 egg yolk in a small bowl. Lightly brush on tart crust and edges. Bake at 375 degrees until bubbly and golden brown, about 40-50 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Cook's Note:
If making with peaches or nectarines, here is the recipe for the filling......
3 lb. ripe peaches
3 Tbs. flour
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ cup sugar
Buon appetito! copyright 2010 Alisa Barry
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