Apricot Almond Tart

Name: Apricot Almond Tart
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: 1 9 inch pie crust; 1/4 cup apricot preserves; 3/4 cup slivered almonds; 7-9 apricots; 1/3 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon butter (cut into small pieces); special equipment: 9" tart pan with removable bottom

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It’s apricot season! So instead of gnawing on those leathery dried wannabes in the raisin aisle, we can actually sink our teeth into the real deal! Apricots on their own are wonderfully tangy and aromatic, but stick them in a pastry shell with some sweet preserves and crunchy almonds and you’ve taken them to an entirely new level. This Apricot Almond Tart is jammy, rubbly and the perfect balance between puckery and sweet. Best of all, it’s so easy — I made two!

My Mom has been making this dessert for years and I’d never gotten a piece! She’d fix it for her friends or for company, but strangely I was never around when this tart made an appearance. Coincidence? I think not! I’m pretty sure she’s been holding out on me knowing that once I tried it, there was no going back. She’s right. I’m doomed!

I made two tarts because my Mom and I were hosting a joint dinner party last weekend. We were having 20 or so people and wisely hired a private chef to make our paella main course while we handled the Sangria, hors d’oeuvres and desserts. Mom made two absolutely stellar almond cakes, which I promise to share with you soon. I was debating a few other desserts to make, when she mentioned this one — the one that I’d always heard about, but never tried. Finally – it was my turn! I stocked up on Apricots from Costco and she e-mailed the recipe to me.

I used ready made pie-crusts ’cause you know I hate to make pastry – but if you’ve got a good recipe and technique – have at it. Par bake the crust in a tart pan with a removable bottom. (I used one round and one square). Pulse the almonds a few times in a food processor until you achieve fine crumbs — but not powder.

Blanch the apricots a few at a time in boiling water for just 10-20 seconds. Plunge them into cold water to stop the cooking and use a sharp paring knife to peel away the skins. Slice them in half and discard the pit. Now you’re ready to assemble the tart.

Spread the bottom of the pastry with apricot preserves. If they’re really lumpy or have big chunks of apricot in them, you may want to pulse it in the food processor. ( I used Publix brand and they were the perfect consistency for spreading.)

Then evenly sprinkle the jam with the almonds and arrange the apricots on top in concentric circles for the round pan or rows if you’re using a square or rectangular tart pan.

Sprinkle the apricots with sugar and dot with bits of butter and bake. I could tell from the aroma that it was going to be wonderful — and oh, it was! The apricots are tart and sweet at the same time. The almonds add a satisfying crunch. I could have eaten the whole thing myself, but there was that whole dinner party thing… damn guests. Next time, I’m not sharing.