Author Notes
I have recently become addicted to the combination of peaches and basil. My dessert of choice this summer has been vanilla bean ice cream with peaches poached in basil simple syrup, and I've been thinking about what else I could do with the two. Why not put them in a tart shell? The cornmeal shell is light and gives a slightly salty contrast to the sweet, juicy peaches and basil baked inside. —duclosbe1
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Ingredients
- Basil Simple Syrup
-
1/2 cup
sugar
-
1/2 cup
water
-
1 cup
packed basil leaves
- For the tart:
-
1 cup
flour
-
1/4 cup
yellow cornmeal
-
2 tablespoons
powdered sugar
-
1/2 teaspoon
salt
-
1 stick
butter, chilled
-
2 tablespoons
vegetable shortening, chilled
-
3 tablespoons
ice water
-
2 pounds
peaches (6 medium-sized)
-
1/4 cup
basil simple syrup (see above)
-
1 tablespoon
basil leaves, chiffonaded
Directions
-
Make the simple syrup: Combine sugar and water in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and add basil leaves. Cover and let steep until cooled, 45-60 minutes.
-
Make the tart crust: Sift the dry ingredients together into a large bowl. Add half the butter and shortening and cut into the dry ingredients until it looks like cornmeal. Add the remaining butter and shortening and cut in until the dough forms pea-sized pieces. Add up to three tablespoons of ice water to bring the dough together. Bring the dough together into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
-
Prepare the peaches: peel, pit, and slice the peaches about 1/4 inch thick. Toss with simple syrup and extra basil.
-
Assemble the tart: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Roll out the tart dough and press it into a 9 inch tart pan. Prick the dough and prebake it for 10 minutes to set the crust. Allow the crust to cool. Arrange the peaches quasi-artfully into the prebaked shell and return to the oven until the crust browns and the peaches release their juices, 40-45 minutes. Cool on a rack before serving.
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