Denise says:
Nectarines are truly delicious and can add real flavour and colour to many recipes, including this perfect summer pie -they are fanned in a spiral on top of an almond filling encased in a chocolate pastry. To give the pie a shiny glaze, melt some apricot jam and brush over the surface for a final elegant touch.
If you wish, you can make this dessert in stages; make the pastry first – you can even freeze it (and bake fresh from frozen,) then the almond filling and complete with the nectarine slices. Apples, apricots and raspberries make ideal alternatives to the nectarines should you prefer.
Preparation Time: 35 minutes plus 30 minutes refrigeration
Cooking Time: 45 minutes
Serves: 8 people
Ingredients:
For the Pastry100g plain chocolate –broken into pieces
300g plain flour plus extra for dusting
150g unsalted butter or margarine
4 tablespoons ground almonds
2 drops of almond essence
1-2 tablespoons cold water
For the Filling
225g blanched almonds
110g caster sugar
150g unsalted butter or margarine
2 egg yolks
4 egg whites
2 drops almond essence
5-6 ripe nectarines – de stoned and sliced
Glaze
4 tablespoons apricot jam
1 tablespoon water
Method
1)Place the chocolate in the food processor until it resembles crumbs. Stir in the flour, butter, ground almonds, eggs and water.2)Continue to pulse the food processor until a dough has formed. Remove from the bowl, slightly flatten and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
3)Lightly dust the work surface with some flour. Roll out the pastry so that it fits a 25 cm/ 10 inch loose – based flan tin. Chill until ready to use.
4)Pre-heat the oven to 190 C/ 375 F/gas mark 5.
5)Process the almonds and sugar together pulsing until finely ground. Add the butter, egg yolks, egg whites, and almond essence and pulse briefly until combined.
6)Spoon the filling into the base of the chocolate pie.
7)Top with the sliced peaches positioning them in a spiral shape.
8)Bake for 50 minutes or until set and golden.
9)Melt the jam and water together either in a small saucepan or put in a glass bowl, cover and place in the microwave for 1 minute.
10)Brush the glaze over the nectarines.
To Serve the Stylish way: Dust with icing sugar and serve warm with ice cream or thick yoghurt.