Adriana's Italian Recipe for Crostata con Fichi e Marsala


Ingredients:

For the filling:
1 and 1/4 pounds dried Calimyrna figs, stemmed, coarsely chopped
1 and 3/4 cups dry Marsala wine
1 and 3/4 cups water
1/4 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

For the crust:
2 and 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons (1 and 3/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs

Directions:

For the filling:
Combine all ingredients in heavy large saucepan and bring to boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low.

Cover and simmer until figs are very tender, about 1 hour.

Uncover and simmer until liquid reduces slightly, about 8 minutes.

Transfer mixture to medium bowl. Cool slightly. Refrigerate until cool, stirring occasionally (mixture will be thick), about 45 minutes.

Discard cinnamon sticks. Filling can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.

For the crust:
Preheat oven to 375° F.

Mix flour, sugar, fennel seeds, and salt in processor. Add butter and 1 egg. Using on/off turns, process until dough forms.

Gather dough into ball; divide in half. Flatten each half into disk.

Wrap 1 disk in plastic wrap; refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.

Press remaining dough disk onto bottom and up sides of 10-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom.

Pierce bottom all over with fork.

Chill until firm, about 10 minutes. Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and keep chilled.

Roll out chilled dough disk on waxed paper to 12-inch round.

Transfer dough on waxed paper to rimless baking sheet.

Cut dough into twelve 3/4-inch-wide strips.

Chill strips while filling tart. Spread filling evenly in crust.

Place 6 dough strips atop filling, spacing evenly. Place remaining 6 strips diagonally atop first 6 strips, forming diamond lattice pattern. Press ends of strips against edge of tart pan to trim.

Whisk remaining egg in small bowl to blend; brush over lattice.

Bake tart until juices bubble thickly around edges and crust is deep golden, about 55 minutes.

Cool on rack 1 hour. Using small knife, gently loosen tart from pan sides. Remove sides.

Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with ice cream. Serves 8.

That's it!