Apple, Pear & Fig Crostata

This is a very easy dessert to prepare, with store bought puff pastry. You can substitute the filling of apple, pear and fig with other fruits, such as fresh peaches, bananas and other berries. I always use fresh fruit though, as it is much healthier and natural than the canned kind.


APPLE, PEAR & FIG CROSTATA
Serves 4

1 green apple
1 large pear
5 small, fresh figs
2 tablespoons brown sugar + 1 tablespoon for sprinkling
1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
pinch of salt
Juice and rind of 1 lemon, microplaned
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Fresh mint leaves
1 sheet puff pastry
1 egg, beaten

Procedure:

1.  Preheat your oven to 400F and put your baking pan into the oven. This will ensure that the pan is hot when you put the pastry, so that the base won't be soggy. Dice the apple, pear and figs, and put in a container with the lemon juice. Add the sugar, cinnamon, salt and sliced mint leaves and mix well.

2.  Set aside. Once you're ready to bake the dessert (after setting up the pastry), put the cornstarch and mix well.

3. Take out the puff pastry and put it on top of some baking paper. This will make it easy to move the pastry onto the preheated baking pan in the oven. Trim the four corners of the pastry as such:

4.  Pile the fruit in the centre of the pastry, leaving about 1.5" border. Fold the edges toward the middle, and overlap with each fold. Leave a 1 cm distance between the edges of the fruit and the pastry, to allow for expansion while baking.

5.  Continue to fold all the way. Brush the pastry with beaten egg.

6.  Sprinkle the pastry with some brown sugar. (I used demerara sugar, which has larger crystals.)

7. Lift the baking paper with the pastry, and put it on the preheated baking pan, in the oven. Bake the pastry for about 20 minutes, making sure you turn the pan halfway to allow for even browning. Take it out once it is puffy and golden. Sprinkle with some lemon rind and fresh mint leaves. Serve with cream.