Blood Orange Crostata

Make the most of the short Blood Orange season by whipping up this Blood Orange Crostata. The buttery, sweet pastry case is the perfect vehicle for the floral citrus notes of the oranges and can be easily whizzed up in a food processor.

Blood Orange Crostata

Serves: 4
Preparation: 15 minutes (plus chilling time)
Cooking: 15 minutes

Ingredients

Pastry
1 1/3 cups (200g) plain flour
½ cup (110g) sugar + 2 tablespoons extra
160g cold butter, diced + 1 tablespoon extra
2 tablespoons (40ml) iced water

Filling
6 (approx) Blood Oranges
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
2 tablespoons sliced almonds
1 large egg yolk whisked with 2 tablespoons of water

Syrup
¼ cup (60ml) strained Redbelly blood orange juice
1/3 cup (75g) sugar

To serve: Crème Fraiche or ice cream

Method

1. Place flour and sugar in a food processor. Blend to combine, then add the butter and pulse 15-20 times until it looks like breadcrumbs. Add the iced water all at once and blend only until just combined. Do not overwork the pastry or it will shrink. Turn the mixture into a plastic bag, compress it into a ball and chill in the freezer for 30 minutes. (You can, of course, make this well in advance and leave it in the fridge.) Divide dough into four. Roll each piece out on a floured surface with a rolling pin into rounds 4mm thick. Place each on a baking paper lined flat baking sheet and refrigerate for 15 minutes, or until chilled.
2. Meanwhile, peel the blood oranges, removing all the bitter white pith. Thinly slice crosswise; remove the pips, place in a colander and drain off any excess juice. Reserve juice for syrup.
3. Combine 1 tablespoon extra sugar with cardamom. Sprinkle one teaspoon over each of the pastry bases. Arrange the orange sections on the pastries, keeping like colours together, leaving a 3cm border all around each one. Sprinkle another teaspoon of extra sugar (without cardamom) over the oranges on each of the Crostata. Using a paring knife, thinly slice the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter over the oranges. Fold the pastry over the oranges in a rustic fashion with little pleat-like folds leaving most of the oranges uncovered; brush the pastry with egg wash and sprinkle with sliced almonds. Refrigerate again for 15 minutes while the oven heats to 200°C. Bake for 25-30 minutes.
4. For the Syrup: Combine juice with sugar in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently to dissolve sugar until it bubbles. Reduce heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Cool.
5. Remove Crostata from the oven, cool for 5 mins or so, then slide onto serving plates. Serve with Redbelly syrup, crème fraiche or ice-cream, as desired.

Try some of my other Blood Orange recipes:

Blood Orange Compote with Yoghurt
Glazed Chinese Duck with Blood Orange and Ginger
Blood Orange Salad with Baby Beets, Feta and Pinenuts