Cherry Tart

Photo: flickr user avlxyz

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup chilled unsalted butter - (2 sticks) cut ½" c

1 lrg egg

1 cup cherry preserves

1 cup chopped dried Bing (sweet) cherries (abt 2 ½ oz)

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

1 teaspoon almond extract

1 cup unsalted natural pistachios chopped

1 lrg egg

2 tablespoons whole milk

2 tablespoons sugar

Preparation

For Crust: Combine flour, sugar, and salt in processor; blend 5 seconds. Add butter and cut in, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles fine meal. Add egg and process just until moist clumps form. Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Flatten each half into disk. Wrap in plastic and chill until firm enough to roll, about 1 hour. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep chilled.)

For Filling: Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 325 degrees. Mix preserves, chopped cherries, peel, and almond extract in medium bowl.

Roll out 1 dough disk on lightly floured surface to 11-inch round. Transfer round to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Press dough gently into pan; trim overhang even with top of pan sides. Spread filling in crust; sprinkle with pistachios.

Roll out second dough disk on lightly floured surface to 11-inch round; cut into 3/4-inch-wide strips. Arrange several strips, spaced 3/4-inch apart, over filling. Top with more strips at slight angle, forming lattice. Press strip ends to edge of pan, trimming overhang.

For Glaze: Beat egg and whole milk in small bowl to blend. Brush some of glaze over lattice crust; sprinkle with 2 tablespoons sugar.

Bake tart until crust is golden brown and cherry filling is bubbling thickly, about 1 hour 5 minutes. Cool tart completely in pan on rack. (Tart can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and store at room temperature.)

This recipe yields 8 to 10 servings.

Comments: From Malta - This thin, cookie-like tart with a lattice crust is offered on a feast day that commemorates the birth of the Virgin Mary and the exit of the Turks in 1565.