Tarta Tatin

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Tarta Tatin
Photo Credits: instagram.com/evievaewa

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 to 8 large, firm-fleshed apples, preferably Braeburn, or use a mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith
  • 80 grams salted butter, very soft
  • 135 grams granulated or light brown sugar
  • 1 sheet all-butter puff pastry, about 225 grams (store-bought)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Prepare the apples by slicing off the bottom of each apple so it has a flat base. Peel and quarter the apples. Use a  knife to trim the hard cores and seeds from the center of each quarter, so only the flesh remains.
2. When ready to cook, heat oven to 375 degrees Thickly coat the bottom of a 10-inch heavy ovenproof skillet, preferably nonstick metal, with butter. Sprinkle sugar evenly on top.
3. Cut one piece of apple into a thick round disk and place in the center of the skillet. Arrange the remaining apples, each one standing on its flat end, in concentric circles around the center. Keep the pieces close together so that they support one another, standing upright. They will look like the petals of a flower.
4. On a floured surface, roll out the puff pastry about 1/8-inch thick. Place an upside-down bowl or pan on the pastry and use the tip of a sharp knife to cut out a circle about the same size as the top of your skillet. Lift out the circle and drape gently over the apples. Use your hands to tuck the pastry around the apple pieces, hugging them together firmly.
5. Place the skillet on the stovetop over medium heat until golden-brown juice begins to bubble around the edges, 3 minutes (if the juices keep rising, spoon out as needed to remain level with pastry). Keep cooking until the juices are turning darker brown and smell caramelized, no longer than 10 minutes more.
6. Transfer skillet to the oven and bake 45 to 50 minutes, until puff pastry is browned and firm.

Viola! Let cool 5 minutes, then carefully turn out onto a round serving plate. If any apples remain stuck in the pan, gently use your fingers or a spatula to retrieve them, and rearrange on the pastry shell. Cut in wedges and serve warm with heavy cream, crème fraîche or vanilla ice cream.

Credits to: cooking.nytimes.com