Nectarine And Pomegranate Tarte
Back from Seattle after an amazing workshop and visit with dear friends. I love that the city is becoming like a second home away from home where I can visit and enjoy a great support system of friends and fellow photographers. There is always work associated with a trip to Seattle but it downright feels like a vacay-workathon for me. Yes, it’s work chilling and sipping wine too you know…!
I have yet to go through all my pics from the workshop and our visit there. So much done and so much left to see! It was Bill’s first time in Seattle and he absolutely loved it. The weather was a wonderful reprieve from our scorching hot days. A light breeze and 80F days felt like Spring and absolutely delicious.
We love hanging out with friends who love their city as much as we love ours. It was a treat to spend some time with Jeanne again. She gives the best hugs. Seriously. We were honored to have dinner at Sitka and Spruce with Anita and her husband who flew from San Francisco for the weekend. They never miss an opportunity to visit their old stomping grounds and I was thrilled to finally introduce them to Bill after all these years.
Once again… lots of good times, good wines, good sun, good talks and sunshine. I love how each workshop teaches me "more and better" as I like to say. More about myself so I can always work toward being a better person. Every trip, anywhere, I try not to sweat the small stuff and focus on the bigger picture. Sometimes it is just me and my work, others and the moment, sometimes it is our couple.
A constant work on improving. With taking stance and remaining silent. Much like this tart I want to share with you today. Everytime, with time and experience, it turns out a little bit better. A little bit stronger and definitely a keeper. Until the ext one…
Nectarines in South Carolina right now are as good as the best natural candy you can imagine. Juicy, fragrant. Wonderfully soft and simply at their best. I usually cut up about a pound worth and store it in the fridge so we can have a refreshing treat anytime we get a whiff of that hot humid air.
I got a bigger appetite than the number of days we would be home so I decided to use some of the nectarines I had (over) bought in a tart and take it to my in-laws who were dog(s) sitting for us. As well as watching over the fish. Always seem to forget mentioning Elliot.
I made a regular pie crust (not gluten free) but the mix I usually use (my friend Jeanne’s) works perfectly well with this. I must tell you soon about this Brazil nut crust I tried on Clare and Becky last week though. I want to tweak it one more time first… Bear with me!
In the meantime, I am leaving you with this super simple, yet delicious Nectarine and Pomegranate Tarte. Yes. I know. Pomegranate are not in season in the US at the moment. See, I love pomegranate so much, that once Winter rolls around, I freeze enough pomegranate seeds to last us through Springs and Summer. We use them all the time in refreshing salads, as sprinkles on desserts and so forth. Here, they were in perfect tandem with the sweet ripe nectarines.
Nectarines and Pomegranate Tarte:
Makes one 9 to 10-inch tart:
Ingredients:
For the crust:
2 tablespoons (20gr) slivered almonds
1/2 (60gr) cup powdered sugar, unsifted, divided
1/2 stick (57gr) unsalted butter, at room temperature
pinch of salt
3/4 cup (90gr) all purpose flour or Jeanne’s gluten free all-purpose flour mix
For the filling:
4 to 6 just ripe nectarines, peeled, halved, pitted and sliced thin
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon chopped almonds
2 to 3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds (fresh or frozen)
Directions:
Place almonds and 1 tablespoon powdered sugar in a food processor. Pulse until the nuts are finely ground. In bowl of electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter, ground nuts and salt on medium speed until well-combined. Slowly add remaining powdered sugar and flour and mix well. Add a couple of tablespoons of cold water to help the dough come together if necessary. Shape dough into a ball and flatten into a disc. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate for two hours or overnight.
Place the dough in between two sheets of plastic wrap or parchment paper and roll it out to about 1/4-inch thick round.
Place in a 9-inch tart pan, trim the edges. Prick the dough with a fork and refrigerate 30 minutes up to 2 hours. (you can even freeze the dough in the tart pan at this point and let thaw in the fridge overnight when you are ready).
Once the dough is chilled, preheat the oven to 350F and position a rack in the middle shelf.
Layer the nectarines in the shell, overlapping each other until the whole tarte area is covered. Drizzle with the honey and almonds.
Bake for about 35 to 45 minutes until the tarte is golden.
Remove from the heat and right before serving, sprinkle the top with the pomegranate seeds.
Comments
Marie August 16, 2012 um 2:07 am
Love the pictures, looks delicious!
Faya August 16, 2012 um 3:11 am
The tarte looks absolutely beautiful.
Umida August 16, 2012 um 5:31 am
The tart looks great! But do I need one egg yolk??
Courtney August 16, 2012 um 8:24 am
Freeze pomegranate seeds?!? I had no idea that was possible. Do tell more. How do you freeze them? Do you thaw before use? What a fascinating prospect for this winter's pomegranates.
Isa-Marie August 16, 2012 um 11:38 am
Elle est juste superbe !
Amitiés d'Isa-Marie
Bree August 16, 2012 um 11:52 am
Looks beautiful!
Silver Magpies August 16, 2012 um 11:58 am
As always your images and recipes are gorgeous. Must say the thought of opening enough pomegranates to freeze for use when out of season makes me pause! That's a lot of work.
Seanna Lea August 16, 2012 um 12:05 pm
This looks awesome. I know that there is a shop where I can get pomegranate seeds out of season (and without the small work of removing them from the pithy fruit). I'll have to make this for our next gathering.
Michelle Macphearson August 16, 2012 um 12:15 pm
Can you also share with us how to make a gluten free crust? Thanks! Sure gonna try this 😉
Nanasniftynitch August 16, 2012 um 1:31 pm
I am wondering… Did you sprinkle the tart with extra almonds before baking? It looks and sounds so Delicious, but looks as there are nuts on top with the pomegranate.
I can't wait to try your crust too!!
Thank you so much!
Helene August 16, 2012 um 2:13 pm
Umida: no egg yolk necessary
Courtney: just like you freeze cranberries: baking sheet, single layer, freeze and then bag or box up.
Silver Magpies: no, not really. There are loads of seeds in even one pomegranate.
Michelle: just click on the link to the gluten free flour mix. The recipe is on Jeanne's blog, or you can scroll back to last month where I use it in a galette.
Thanks everyone!
Juls @ JulsKitchen August 16, 2012 um 3:26 pm
As soon as the season of pomegranates comes, I will freeze them. Every year I wonder how to use all of them, and I have just a few ideas. But when the season changes, I find myself craving for pomegranates. So this year I'll freeze them for sure.
I do understand how you feel about the learning process, I feel the same, attending workshops and meeting with people I admire. So also being on the other side is great, and it's so precious to have people like you willing to teach and share their experiences!
Rose August 16, 2012 um 4:17 pm
Miam miam !! As we say in France !
So beautiful ! Bravo !
Anonymous August 16, 2012 um 4:49 pm
Would love to make this, but pomegranates and nectarines are hard to find in the UK. 🙁
I'm glad you love Seattle so much. My trips to Dublin are like that. Really my second home!
DessertForTwo August 16, 2012 um 6:28 pm
So beautiful! I can't wait for the brazil nut crust recipe! 🙂
Jane August 16, 2012 um 6:37 pm
Love your pics, looks so nice and clean.
Anonymous August 16, 2012 um 6:39 pm
I love the combination of colors, flavors and textures that this tart will give you. Thank you for sharing the beautiful words, pictures and recipes!
Helene August 16, 2012 um 7:06 pm
bakingbeardy: a recipe should also be a canvas for your own interpretation. Use any other stone fruit and berry you like. Peaches, apricots, blueberries, red currants, etc…
Kelly August 16, 2012 um 8:07 pm
Yum….nectarines, poms, and tarts! Tasty combo! Can't wait to try this : ) xx
Jaime August 17, 2012 um 10:28 am
Beautiful photos! Can't wait to give this a go…I am currently addicted to baking tarts and pies 🙂
domonique @ a bowl full of simple August 17, 2012 um 4:20 pm
helene,
the shot of the nectarines is enough to make me dive right into this recipe! your photography makes me want to cry! {in a good way}
Christina Conrad August 17, 2012 um 6:16 pm
Isn't Sitka and Spruce wonderful? The new digs are so euphoric! Loving nectarines right now, will certainly have to give this a go.
Christina
www.foodiewithalife.com
Dani Beutell August 18, 2012 um 5:37 am
I look forward to every post you make. The food you create and the beautiful photos to match it is spectacular. This tart looks great and my farmers market has been selling nectarines so I'll have to get some this week!
TIM August 18, 2012 um 7:03 am
Those Pomegranates look so attractive and sweet.They are the healthiest fruits one can put in their body. When i discovered that they are full of fiber, antioxidants and potassium, i decided to never miss a chance to stock them for my family. I freeze and keep in airtight containers for several months. By the way i would do anything to try your recipe. Thanks.
Lottie @ Lottiesworldofcakes August 18, 2012 um 8:46 pm
This looks beautiful! Such lovely photos!
Full Flavored Life August 18, 2012 um 8:58 pm
Nectarines and pomegranates are two of my favorites! Beautiful photos!
Unknown August 29, 2012 um 2:11 am
hey there, your photos are amazing xx
Sini August 29, 2012 um 5:41 am
Made the tart yesterday evening. And although not in season, I couldn't resist to serve it with some pomegranate seeds (I actually never though about the possibility to freeze them, so thank you). It was fantastic! So delicate and full of flavor. And the pomegranate seeds were like little gems on top of it.
Cara October 14, 2012 um 9:09 am
Oh sounds gorgeous!!! SO yummy!
… One problem… my inability to be able to not eat all the nectarines before I get the chance to cook them..
canvas prints October 25, 2012 um 6:32 pm
i have no choice but to make this at the weekend now. it looks so nice.