DATE AND ALMOND TART OF YVONNE MAFFEI

This is a recipe from Yvonne Maffei she is a writer and wanted to share this recipe with us..this is her website http://www.myhalalkitchen.com/2009/08/bring-on-the-dates-fruit-that-is/comment-page-1/#comment-330

The original recipe calls for a homemade pastry dough. I have improvised, however, by suggesting you use a pre-made pie crust (preferably the Trader Joe’s brand) in order to save time. I’ve also made more specifications on the types of ingredients used.

Filling Ingredients:
1 frozen pie crust, defrosted in the refrigerator and kept chilled until just before use
½ cup whole-milk, unsalted butter
7 Tb. caster sugar or brown sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup ground almonds
2 Tb. white whole-wheat flour
2 Tb. orange flower water (orange blossom water)
12-13 fresh dates, stoned and cut in half long ways
4 Tb. apricot jam

1. Preheat the oven to 400º F/200ºC. Place a baking sheet in the oven.
2. Cream the butter and sugar until light, then beat in the egg.
3. Stir in the ground almonds, flour and 1 Tb. of the orange flower water, mixing well.
4. Roll out the pie crust onto a glass baking dish. Spread the mixture evenly over the base of the pie crust.
5. Arrange the dates, cut side down, on the almond mixture.
6. Bake on the hot baking sheet for 10-15 minutes, then reduce heat to 350º F/180ºC. Bake for another 15-20 minutes until light golden and set.
7. Transfer the tart to a rack to cool.
8. Gently heat the apricot jam, then press through a sieve. Add the remaining orange flower water.
9.Brush the tart with the jam and serve at room temperature.

Bismillah and Buon Appetito!