Plum and Almond Crostata

Ron Nebrerecipes, Tarts, Pies & Pastries

plum crostata
What better way to take advantage of any fresh, seasonal fruits than with a crostata? Topping anything with streusel just makes it so much better. We know from experience.
Makes: 8 servings
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients

For the pastry:

  • 218 g / 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
  • 112 g / 1/2 cup Mirage margarine, chilled
  • 2 g / 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 13 g / 1 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 g / 1/4 tsp salt
  • 45 ml / 3 tbsp ice water

For almond streusel:

  • 60 g / 1/4 cup ground almonds
  • 32 g / 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 73 g / 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 60 g / 1/2 cup slivered almonds
  • 75 g / 1/3 cup Mirage margarine
  • 3 g / 1 tsp ground cinnamon

For filling:

  • 60 g / 1/4 cup apricot jam (or jam of choice)
  • 7 medium sized plums, pitted and cut into 1/2″ (1 1/4 cm wedges)
  • 62 g / 4 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 10 g / 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 3 g / 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions for the pastry

  1. In a food processor using the metal blade, blend flour, lemon zest, sugar, and salt.
  2. Scatter margarine over dry ingredients and pulse until mixture resembles crumbs with some pea sized pieces.

    3. ingredients before blended
    ingredients in food processor

  3. After dough has rested, pat evenly into the bottom of a springform pan, covering bottom and up the sides to 1″/ 2 1/2 cm. Dough will be about 1/4″ / 1 cm thick. Refrigerate while preparing streusel and filling.

    4. dough
    dough in spring form pan

Directions for the almond streusel

  1. In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and ground almonds.

    2. ingredients in bowl

  2. Using your hands, rub in the chilled margarine. Having a few larger pieces is fine.
  3. Gently toss in slivered almonds. Chill while preparing filling.

    4. ingredients in bowl with almonds

Directions for the filling

  1. Pre-heat oven to 375ºF (190ºC)
  2. Spread jam in even layer over pastry bottom.

  3. In a large bowl, toss plum slices, sugar, cornstarch, and cinnamon.

  4. Place plums over jam layer and sprinkle streusel over plums. Bake in pre-heated oven 45-55 minutes until juices begin to bubble through streusel.

    5. plums on pastry
    plums with streusel

  5. Cool completely in pan before releasing crostata.

Chef Notes

  • Pastry and streusel can be prepared well in advance. Just wrap well and freeze for up to one month. Bring pastry to room temperature before proceeding while the streusel doesn’t need to be thawed.