CROSTATA ALL'ARANCIA - Italian sweet orange tart

This recipe makes a sweet, tangy and delicious Italian tart using orange flavoured pasta frolla (pastry) and an orange marmalade filling. Pasta frolla is similar to a traditional pie shortcrust but has a sweeter and lighter flavour and texture. It's possible to make Pasta Frolla ahead of time, keeping it in the fridge for 2 or 3 days maximum. Alternatively, you can freeze it and keep it in the freezer for about 3 months. When you want to use it, defrost in the fridge.

Unbalanced

% Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Step 1

In a large bowl, add the soft (room temperature) butter and the sugar, and beat together with a pastry whisk until you get a creamy homogeneous mix. You can also do this step in a mixer with a beater attachment, but I prefer hand mixing it to minimise the heat added to the dough.

Step 2

Now you need to flavour / perfume the mix. Add the vanilla extract and the zest of 1 large orange and mix until integrated. You can also do this step in a mixer with a beater attachment, but I prefer hand mixing it to minimise the heat added to the the dough.

Step 3

Add the egg and the yolk and beat until you get a homogeneous emulsion. You can also do this step in a mixer with a beater attachment, but I prefer hand mixing it to minimise the heat added to the the dough.

Step 4

We don't want to develop or strengthen the gluten in this dough, so if you've been using a mixer, it's time to put it to the side. Add the flour, salt and baking powder to the bowl, and incorporate as much of it as you can, by folding it in and pushing with a spatula, without stirring or over mixing it. When it looks like the flour is no longer integrating, stop.

Step 5

Pour the pastry mix on a working surface. Don't knead it hard, just push and drag bits of it, stretching it against the surface using the palm of your hand to integrate the flour that has not yet joint the mix. Should take one or two goes over the dough to integrate all of the flour; don't do this for more than 3 times. Don't overwork or overheat the dough with your hands, as this will develop the gluten and affect the finish.

Step 6

Make a big puck with the dough, wrap it in cling film and cool in the fridge for at least 2 hours. For best results, you should make pasta frolla the day before using it, and leave it resting overnight in the fridge, wrapped in cling film. This cools down and firms up the pastry, and allows butter to fully moisten the flour and sugar, for a better integration of the dough. If you can't wait, you can accelerate the cooling in the freezer for 20 minutes; this will cool it and firm it up, but will produce a more crumbly and fragile dough than slow cooling it in the fridge, that will be harder to roll and transfer to the tin without cracks.

Step 7

Once the cooling time has passed, preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF).

Step 8

Get the pastry out of the fridge, cut it in 2/3 and 1/3 pieces. The 2/3 size piece will make the base of the tart and the rest will make the lattice. Re-wrap and return the 1/3 piece to the fridge while you work on the base of the tart. Flour the surface and roll the 2/3 piece into a disc of about 7-8mm (1/3") thickness. I use a pastry mat to ease transfer of the pastry and make cleaning easier.

Step 9

Line the bottom of a 25cm (10”) metal quiche tin with parchment paper. You can use a slightly larger tin, up to 28cm (11") with this amount of dough. I use a non-stick tin with fluted sides and loose bottom. If yours isn't non-stick, it's probably wise to lightly butter the sides of the tin to ease getting the tart out once cooked.

Step 10

With the help of a rolling pin or pastry mat, put the pastry over the quiche tin and using your fingers work it into the tin bottom and sides, leaving an even thickness of about 7-8mm (1/3"). Make sure that there's no air bubbles between the pastry and the tin. Roll any pastry excess over the edge of the tin and pass the rolling pin over the top to cut any excess. Pierce the base all over with a fork.

Step 11

If you are using a fan oven, blind bake the base for 10min at 180ºC (350ºF), to prevent ending up with a tart that has a soggy bottom. Note that it may rise a bit, but the piercing will minimise this. After the 10 minute blind bake, get the base off the oven, and wait a few minutes until the tin has cooled. If you are using a non fan oven, you can skip this step.

Step 12

While the tin is cooling, take the rest of the pastry out of the fridge and roll it out over a floured surface until reaching a thickness of about 7-8mm (1/3").

Step 13

If the sides of the tart have shrunk or slid down a bit during blind baking, patch them up with the leftover pastry, so pastry is back up to the edge of the tin. Pour the 500g orange marmalade into the middle and flatten it to an even layer with a spatula. paint the top edge with egg white, then cut the pastry in strips about 8mm wide and place them vertically leaving even spaces in between (1-1.5cm). Press each strip against the edge of the tin so it sticks to the base and cuts tidily. Once you are done with the vertical strips, paint them with egg white, then place the horizontal strips in the same way and paint them with egg white.

Step 14

If you are using a fan oven, bake the tart for 30min at 180ºC (350ºF). If you are using a non fan oven, bake the tart for 40min at 180ºC (350ºF).

Step 15

Once baked, remove from the oven and let it cool completely to room temperature before unmoulding. Enjoy!

Step 16

If you have leftover pastry, roll it with a rolling pin to 5mm thickness, cut biscuits with a cookie cutter or small glass, paint them with egg white, and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Step 17

Bake them at 180ºC (350ºF) until slightly golden (about 15min). Let them cool down and enjoy delicious orange biscuits! Fantastic with your coffee!