Go Back

Anise, Pear and Almond Crostata

Servings 6
Prep Time 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Ingredients

Crostata Crust:

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 stick butter cut into 1/2-inch cubes and frozen
  • 1/2 teaspoon Spice Islands Fine Mediterranean Sea Salt
  • 1/4 cup ice water

Anise Almond Filling:

  • 1 cup blanched slivered almonds
  • 3/4 teaspoon Spice Islands Anise Seeds
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon Spice Islands Vanilla Extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon Spice Islands Fine Mediterranean Sea Salt
  • 2 tablespoons butter at room temperature
  • 3 Fiorelle or small pears sliced into thin wedges
  • 2 tablespoons sugar plus extra for sprinkling
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 2 tablespoons Polaner Apricot Preserves heated
  • cream or ice cream optional

Instructions

  • To make crust: In food processor, combine flour, frozen butter and salt. Pulse until dough is size of large peas. Add 3 tablespoons ice water and pulse several times. Pinch dough to see if it is holding together; if not, add water a couple of teaspoons at a time, pulsing once or twice after each addition, until dough holds together. Form dough into disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill 30 minutes.
  • Heat oven to 400° F.
  • To make filling: In food processor, blend almonds, anise seeds, sugar, egg, vanilla and salt until paste forms. Add room temperature butter and blend again. Set aside.
  • Toss sliced pears with 2 tablespoons sugar and lemon juice. Set aside.
  • On sheet of floured parchment paper, roll out dough into 13-inch circle; transfer on parchment to rimless cookie sheet.
  • Spread almond paste onto circle, leaving 2-inch border. Scatter pears on top, covering almond paste. Fold dough up and over pears, overlapping dough as needed. Brush with egg wash and sprinkle crust generously with extra sugar.
  • Bake until pears are tender, 40-45 minutes. If crust starts to get too brown, lightly cover with foil. Remove tart from oven and brush pears with heated apricot preserves. Serve with cream or ice cream, if desired.