Nadia Hussain Tarte Tatin Recipes

RHUBARB TATIN

Steps:

• You'll need a large, heavy-based ovenproof frying pan (ours was 22cm), or a tatin pan. Using the pan as a guide, cut the rhubarb into batons to fill the pan - longer pieces look better than small pieces - then set aside.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/ gas 7 and tip the sugar into the frying pan. Bubble until the sugar has dissolved and turns a shade or two darker. Add the star anise, then remove from the heat and lay the rhubarb in the pan, curved-side facing down. Dot with the butter and sprinkle over the lemon juice.
• Trim the pastry to a circle slightly larger than the pan and put it on top of the rhubarb, tucking it in around the edges. You can now chill for up to 24 hrs, or cook straight away.
• Bake for 15-20 mins until the pastry is golden and puffed and the caramel is bubbling around the edges. Put your serving plate over the pan and carefully flip it over (be wary of the hot juices). Serve in the middle of the table with ice cream piled on top, or cut into slices.

TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Roll the pastry to a 3mm-thick round on a lightly floured surface and cut a 24cm circle, using a plate as a guide. Lightly prick all over with a fork, place on a baking sheet, then cover and freeze while preparing the apples.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Peel, quarter and core the apples. Put the sugar in a flameproof 20cm ceramic tatin dish or a 20cm ovenproof heavy-based frying pan and place over a medium-high heat. Cook the sugar for 5-7 mins to a dark amber caramel syrup that's starting to smoke, then turn off the heat and stir in the 60g diced chilled butter.
• To assemble the tarte tatin, arrange the apple quarters very tightly in a circle around the edge of the dish first, rounded-side down, then fill in the middle in a similar fashion. Gently press with your hands to ensure there are no gaps. Brush the fruit with the melted butter.
• Bake in the oven for 30 mins, then remove and place the disc of frozen puff pastry on top - it will quickly defrost. Tuck the edges down the inside of the dish and, with a knife, prick a few holes in the pastry to allow steam to escape. Bake for a further 40-45 mins until the pastry is golden brown and crisp.
• Allow to cool to room temperature for 1 hr before running a knife around the edge of the dish and inverting it onto a large serving plate that is deep enough to contain the juices. Serve with crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

FOOLPROOF TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• At least one day before you plan to cook the tart, prepare the apples: Slice off the bottom of each apple so it has a flat base. Peel and quarter the apples. Use a small sharp knife to trim the hard cores and seeds from the center of each quarter; don't worry about being too neat. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate, lightly covered, for at least one day or up to three days. (This key step reduces the amount of liquid in the tart. Don't worry if the apples turn brown; they will be browned during the cooking anyway.)
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 375 degrees (or 350 if using convection). Thickly coat the bottom of a 10-inch heavy ovenproof skillet, preferably nonstick metal, with butter. Sprinkle sugar evenly on top.
• Cut one piece of apple into a thick round disk and place in the center of the skillet to serve as the "button." Arrange the remaining apple pieces, each one standing on its flat end, in concentric circles around the button. Keep the pieces close together so that they support one another, standing upright. They will look like the petals of a flower.
• On a floured surface, roll out the puff pastry about 1/8-inch thick. Place an upside-down bowl or pan on the pastry and use the tip of a sharp knife to cut out a circle about the same size as the top of your skillet. Lift out the circle and drape gently over the apples. Use your hands to tuck the pastry around the apple pieces, hugging them together firmly.
• Place the skillet on the stovetop over medium heat until golden-brown juice begins to bubble around the edges, 3 minutes (if the juices keep rising, spoon out as needed to remain level with pastry). If necessary, raise the heat so that the juices are at a boil. Keep cooking until the juices are turning darker brown and smell caramelized, no longer than 10 minutes more.
• Transfer skillet to the oven and bake 45 to 50 minutes, until puff pastry is browned and firm.
• Let cool 5 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a round serving plate. (Or, if not serving immediately, let cool completely in the pan; when ready to serve, rewarm for 15 minutes in a 350-degree oven before turning out.) If any apples remain stuck in the pan, gently use your fingers or a spatula to retrieve them, and rearrange on the pastry shell. Cut in wedges and serve warm with heavy cream, crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

BANANA TARTE TATIN

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Melt the sugar and butter together on a low heat without stirring the mixture. Once the sugar has melted, turn up the heat and bubble until it turns a deep caramel colour. If the butter separates from the caramel, take the pan off the heat and add 1 tbsp of warm water, stirring until the butter emulsifies again.
• Pour the caramel into a 23cm cake tin with a solid base and spread the caramel out quickly with the back of a warm spoon. Slice the bananas into 2cm-thick pieces and arrange them, cut-side down, in concentric circles in the tin, then sprinkle over a pinch of sea salt and half the orange zest.
• Cut the pastry into a circle 3cm larger than the tin. Lay the pastry on top of the bananas and tuck the edges down inside the tin. Bake in the oven for 25-30 mins until the pastry is risen and cooked through. Whisk the double cream with the icing sugar until soft peaks form. Add the rum, cinnamon and remaining orange zest, and whisk until just combined.
• Leave the tart to cool in the tin for 5 mins, then carefully turn the tart out onto a large plate, wearing oven gloves in case the hot caramel splashes. Serve with the cream.