Apple and Calvados Tart
Ingredients
1 3/4 lb Gala apples
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup plus 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar
Calvados applesauce
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 1/2 tablespoons apple jelly
1 cup chilled heavy cream
1 tablespoon confectioners sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons Calvados
Directions
Special equipment: parchment paper; a large baking sheet (at least 14 inches wide)
Roll out pastry on a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin into a rough 16-inch round (1/8 inch thick), then transfer carefully to parchment-lined large baking sheet. Loosely fold in edge of pastry where necessary to fit on baking sheet, then chill, covered loosely with plastic wrap, 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 425F.
While pastry is chilling, peel and core apples, then cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Toss slices with lemon juice and 1/3 cup granulated sugar. Put baking sheet with pastry on a work surface and unfold any edges so pastry is flat.
Spread applesauce over pastry, leaving a 2-inch border, and top sauce with sliced apples, mounding slightly. Fold edges of dough over filling, partially covering apples (center will not be covered) and pleating dough as necessary. Dot apples with butter, then brush pastry edge lightly with water and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 tablespoon granulated sugar. Bake galette in middle of oven until pastry is golden and apples are tender, 40 to 45 minutes.
While galette is baking, melt apple jelly in a very small saucepan over moderately low heat, stirring.
Slide baked galette on parchment onto a rack, then brush with melted jelly and cool galette until warm or room temperature.
Beat together cream and confectioners sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer until cream just holds soft peaks, then beat in Calvados. Serve galette topped with dollops of Calvados cream.
Cooks' note:
• Galette can be made 8 hours ahead and kept at room temperature. Makes 8 servings.
ALL-BUTTER PASTRY DOUGH
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (not unbleached)
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
9 to 12 tablespoons ice water
Special equipment: a pastry or bench scraper
Directions
Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with small (roughly pea-size) butter lumps. Drizzle evenly with 9 tablespoons ice water and gently stir with a fork (or pulse in food processor) until incorporated. Squeeze a small handful: If it doesn't hold together, add more ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until just incorporated, then test again. (Do not overwork mixture, or pastry will be tough.)
Turn out mixture onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 8 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather dough together with scraper and press into a ball, then flatten into a 6-inch disk. Chill dough, wrapped in plastic wrap, until firm, at least 1 hour.
Cooks' note:
• Dough can be chilled up to 1 day. Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes before rolling out. Makes enough for a 12-inch single-crust galette or a 9-inch double-crust pie.
Source: Gourmet, Photo: Miki Duisterhof