Spiced Ginger and Pear Crostata

Ingredients

For the pastry

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 lb unsalted butter (1 stick) frozen and cut into small cubes
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup ice water
• 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
• Turbinado sugar for sprinkling

For the filling

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 tbsp lemon zest
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 tbsp fresh ginger minced
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 3 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 pears, halved, cored, thinly sliced

Optional Whipped Cream

• 1 cup chilled heavy cream
• 2 tbsp confectioner’s sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 400°.
2. Add flour, sugar, and salt in the food processor and pulse to combine. 
3. Next, add the butter and pulse until the butter turns to small pieces (about the size of a pea).
4. Using a small bowl, mix vinegar and ice water.
5. Pouring slowly, add the vinegar water to the food processor, pulsing to combine. Stop right when the dough begins to come together.
6. Turn out the dough onto a clean surface and pat together, shaping the dough into a round disc. 
7. Cover dough in plastic wrap and transfer to the fridge for at least 1 hour, no longer than 2 days.
8. For the filling, combine sugar and lemon zest in a small bowl, massaging with your fingers to help release oils. It should be fragrant. 
9. Next add the ginger, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg and mix until combined. 
10. Take dough from refrigerator, and roll it out into a circle, 10-12 inches in diameter.
11. Take the paste and spread it evenly in the middle leaving a 3 inch border all around. 
12. Take the sliced pears and fan them out making sure to cover the paste. 
13. Gently fold the edges over the pears, pressing gently to seal.
14. For the egg wash, whisk egg and 1 tbsp of water together and brush the dough evenly. 
15. Finish generously with turbinado sugar and bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown.
16. Meanwhile, if you are making the whipped cream, combine chilled heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla and mix with a hand mixer or stand mixer with whisk attachment on medium-high speed until medium peaks form, about 3-4 minutes. 

Yours Truly,

Inspired by Eyeswoon