Crostata, a free-form tart, is free from rules and loves life. I made this beautiful tart for Jimmy, who received this recipe in a very detailed format before I was even twenty years old. Jimmy is the only reason why this perfect-from-the-start crostata is even documented. His spirit is embodied in this perfectly imperfect creation.
Ingredients
Granola Topping
- 5 tablespoons (70 g) organic unsalted butter
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons (45 g) rolled oats
- ¼ cup + 2 teaspoons (40 g) organic unbleached all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (50 g) packed light brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Maldon sea salt flakes
- 1/8 teaspoon ground Ceylon cinnamon
Filling
- 23 ounces (650 g) ripe Comice pears, nectarines, or another sturdy, stone fruit (about 5 fruit)
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
- ½ teaspoon fresh orange zest
- ½ batch Flaky Pie Dough, rolled out and frozen
Egg Wash
- 1 large pasture-raised egg (50 g)
- 1 large pasture-raised egg yolk (20 g)
- Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
How to Make It
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To make the Granola Topping
- Combine the topping ingredients in a small bowl. Using your thumb and forefinger, pinch the ingredients together to form a crumble. Place in the fridge until ready to use. To make the Filling
- Peel the pears and slice vertically into eighths. Place in a bowl and toss with the thyme leaves and orange zest. Set aside.
- Place the pie dough round on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and allow it to thaw slightly until pliable.
- Pile the fruit into the center of the tart, leaving a 1½-inch (4 cm) border all around. Sprinkle the granola crumble generously over the top of the fruit. To make the Egg Wash
- Whisk the egg and yolk together in a small bowl. Brush the border with the egg wash.
- Fold the dough inward over the fruit, overlapping, to enclose the fruit with a frame of pie dough. Brush the folded-over edge of dough with egg wash and place the crostata in the freezer to chill briefly, about 10 minutes.
- Place the crostata in the oven and bake for 40 minutes, turning halfway through that time, until golden. Serve with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar.