Every once in a while I’m inspired, really inspired. I can come up with a dish on the fly when I need to (like when it’s dinner time and I don’t have the ingredients for what I was planning to make from my menu). But, then there are other times when I’ll glance over, say, at the pluots that we got in our Abundant Harvest Organics box, sitting in a basket 6 feet away from me and my brain kinda goes, “Pluots… Oooh! I could picture them on a tart with reduced balsamic vinegar drizzled over it… the Flavor Bible says black pepper goes with pluots… would anyone besides me like that? Is that weird? Pepper with pluots? I think it sounds yummy. It also says onions… what if I caramelized them? That would be good I think, not gross, because they’re caramelized. Ooh, and I should chop some strawberries and sprinkle them over top… black pepper also goes with strawberries… Brown sugar could be the “sauce” and I could use some of the pizza dough that I made last week so I don’t have to make pie crust! I should warn people that there’s pepper on it, so they’re not surprised… Pluot Tart with Black Pepper. Done.”
I call it a tart, but I’m not sure if that’s really what it is. I’m OK with that.
It could be eaten on it’s own, of course. But, I think it would be good as part of a meal. Perhaps alongside a dinner of… Grilled Beef and an Arugula Salad with a Lemon and Olive Oil Vinaigrette (lemon and olive oil both go well with arugula, beef, and pluots). You could try it for breakfast/brunch with some scrambled eggs and strong coffee.
Want to know the reason I made this dish today?! Once a month at Husband’s work, in the Digital Media department, they do a birthday celebration. Does this remind anyone else of this Office episode: Michael goes out into the “wilderness” leaving Jim in charge. Jim decides to combine all the birthdays into one party. He fails miserably. This seems like a successful version of the episode. For the March birthday celebration I made a BLT Pizza and brought it over. Today, inspired by the pluots, I’m making a dish that I created specifically for the celebration.
Here’s to work parties, fun co-workers, and birthday celebrations! Yay for May birthdays!
Last modified on 2012-06-01 23:05:57 GMT. 0 comments. Top.
| Pluot Tart with Black Pepper |
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Recipe Type: Savory dessert, Appetizer, Side
Author: Rachel Oberg – De Ma Cuisine
Inspired by May birthdays and sweet, summery pluots, this dish would be a great appetizer, side dish, or savory dessert.
- 1 pizza crust
- 3 T reduced balsamic vinegar (start with about 1/2 C)
- 3-4 pluots, thinly sliced
- 1/2 t freshly ground black pepper
- pinch nutmeg
- pinch salt
- 4 strawberries, chopped
- 1/2 C red onion, sliced
- 2 T maple syrup
- 1/4 C brown sugar
- 1 T butter, melted
- In a small saucepan bring balsamic vinegar to a boil, then reduce to a simmer over low heat. Cook until thickened and syrupy, about 8-12 minutes. Keep an eye on it so it doesn’t burn!
- In a hot, dry pan, cook onions with maple syrup and salt. Cook over medium-low heat until caramelized, about 10 minutes.
- Thinly roll crust. Bake crust for 5 minutes at 425F.
- Brush crust with melted butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and press it into the crust with a spatula (just a little).
- Top with onions, pluots, nutmeg, and pepper. Bake for 7-9 more minutes (until crust is to your desired doneness).
- Top with strawberries and drizzle reduced balsamic vinegar.
- Serve at room temperature, or warm.
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