Fig Tartlets With Port And Cinnamon Recipes

FIG AND PORT TARTLETS

Steps:

• Combine preserves and port in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until thickened, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
• Fill each tart shell with 1 tablespoon fig/port mixture.
• Whip cream in a large ice cold bowl, using an electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar and cinnamon extract and whip until stiff peaks. Place the whipped cream in a resealable plastic bag and cut 1/2 inch off the corner of the bag.
• Top each tartlet with a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish with a dusting of cinnamon and powdered sugar.

ROASTED FIG TARTLETS

Steps:

• Make the dough: Pulse flour, granulated sugar, salt, and egg yolk in a food processor until combined. Add butter, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. With machine running, gradually add ice water, and process until dough comes together. Divide in half, and shape into disks. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate 30 minutes (or up to 3 days).
• Make the filling: Beat cream cheese with a mixer until fluffy. Beat in creme fraiche and confectioners' sugar until smooth. (Filling can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 day; bring to room temperature before using.)
• Roast the figs: Preheat oven to 350. Combine port, anise, cinnamon, peppercorns, zest, granulated sugar, and honey in a roasting pan. Use the tip of a paring knife to scrape vanilla seeds into port mixture, then add pods. Add figs, and turn to coat. Roast, basting once, until figs are soft and liquid is syrupy, about 45 minutes. Let cool. (Figs and syrup can be refrigerated up to one week.)
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thick. Using a 4-inch fluted tartlet pan turned upside down as a guide, cut out 8 rounds. Fit dough into tartlet pans. Prick bottoms with a fork. Place shells on a rimmed baking sheet, and refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Bake tartlet shells until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer molds to a wire rack. Let cool completely.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons filling into each shell. Top with figs, and drizzle with syrup. Garnish with orange zest. (Tartlets can be refrigerated for up to one hour.) Remove molds and serve immediately.

ROASTED FIG TARTLETS

Steps:

• With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in crème fraîche and confectioners' sugar until smooth. (Filling can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 day; bring to room temperature before using.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine port, star anise, cinnamon, peppercorns, zest, granulated sugar, and honey in a roasting pan. Use the tip of a paring knife to scrape vanilla seeds into port mixture, then add pods. Add figs, and turn to coat. Roast, basting once, until figs are soft and liquid is syrupy, about 45 minutes. Let cool. (Figs and syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 1 week.)
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough 1/8 inch thick. Cut out eight 5-inch rounds. Fit dough into 4-inch tartlet pans, and trim excess dough flush with rims. Pierce bottoms of shells all over with a fork. Place shells on a rimmed baking sheet; refrigerate or freeze until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Bake tartlet shells until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Let cool completely.
• Spoon 2 tablespoons filling into each crust. Top with figs, and drizzle with some syrup. Garnish with orange zest curls. Tartlets can be refrigerated up to 1 hour. Unmold, and serve immediately.

WARM FIG TART WITH CINNAMON-ALMOND CREAM AND PORT REDUCTION

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Using the bottom of a small saucepan, crack together cloves, cinnamon stick, cardamom seeds, peppercorns, and allspice berries, then place inside the pot. Add the honey and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and allow mixture to cool.
• Lightly dust work surface with flour, and roll out puff pastry 1/4 inch thick. Cut out four 4 1/12-inch rounds and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Place another piece of parchment paper on top of the dough and weigh down with a second baking sheet. Bake until the dough is deep golden brown, 25 to 35 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack; set aside.
• Strain the spiced honey mixture; stir in vinegar. Place the figs in a medium bowl and add half of the spiced honey mixture. Toss to coat. Remove figs from honey, and place cut sides up on a baking sheet. Bake figs for 20 minutes, basting once with the remaining spiced honey mixture. Remove from oven and transfer figs to a plate; set aside.
• Turn oven down to 350 degrees. Place puff pastry rounds on a baking sheet. Spread puff pastry with a 1/4-inch layer of cinnamon-almond cream. Divide candied almonds evenly between pastry rounds, and bake until the cream topping begins to dry around the edges but remains soft in the center, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and place 6 fig halves, upright, on each round. Drizzle figs with remaining spiced honey. Lightly sprinkle with fleur de sel. Serve with port reduction and creme fraiche.

FIG TARTLETS WITH PORT AND CINNAMON

Steps:

• Bring 1 cup Port, 1 cup water, sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon to simmer in heavy medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add figs; cover and simmer until figs are very tender and mixture is reduced to 2 1/2 cups, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes. Transfer 1 1/2 cups figs with liquid to processor and blend to thick puree. Melt butter in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add remaining figs with liquid, 1/2 cup Port and 1/4 tsp cinnamon. Simmer until liquid is reduced to syrup, stirring often, about 4 minutes. Preheat oven to 400. Roll out each pastry sheet on work surface to 11" square. Using 4" diameter plate, cut out 3 rounds from each sheet. Transfer round to large baking sheet. Pierce pastries all over with fork. Place another large baking sheet atop pastries. Bake until pastries are brown, about 12 minutes. Remove top baking sheet. Spread fig puree over pastries. Rewarm figs in syrup over medium heat. Using slotted sppon remove fig quarters from syrup and arrange atop puree. Tartlets can be made 3 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Reserve syrup in skillet. Preheat oven to 375. Bake tartlets 2 minutes to heat through. Bring syrup to simmer. Transfer tartlets to plates. Top with ice cream; drizzle with syrup.