Apple Almond Tart

Apple Almond Tart

Pastries with flaky crusts, such as pies and tarts, tend to be laden with fat and calories. While phyllo can also supply a wallop of fat (due to each sheet being well-buttered) using egg whites instead can trim hundreds of calories from the dessert. Use the same technique with phyllo for savoury pastries as well.

Ingredients
½ cup (125 mL) natural almonds
1/3 cup (80 mL) granulated sugar
3 tbsp (45 mL) butter
Pinch salt
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 tbsp (15 mL) amaretto or almond liqueur
½ tsp (2 mL) pure almond extract
Vegetable oil cooking spray
4 phyllo pastry sheets, thawed overnight in refrigerator
1 egg white
2 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼ inch (5 mm) slices tossed with 1 tbsp (15 mL) fresh lemon juice
2 tbsp (30 mL) apricot jam

Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). 

Pulse almonds with 2 tbsp (30 mL) sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Add butter, remaining sugar and salt to almond mixture and process until well mixed. Whisk together egg, egg yolk, liqueur and extract in a small bowl and add to almond mixture, processing until combined well. 

Prepare a 10- or 11-inch (25- or 28-cm) tart pan with removable bottom by spraying with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Place 1 sheet of phyllo dough in the tart pan and press into sides of the pan. Tuck edges down towards bottom so that they will not burn during baking. Keep remainder covered with a damp towel to prevent drying. Brush sheet with egg white. Repeat with each sheet of phyllo, crisscrossing to give length to all sides and covering any holes in phyllo. Brush each layer with egg white. 

Spread almond mixture over prepared phyllo, making sure that filling is evenly spread. Place apple slices in concentric circles (may be slightly overlapping). Using scissors, trim excess phyllo so that the phyllo is even with the top of the tart pan. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is golden. Just before removing tart from the oven, melt jam in small saucepan over medium-low heat, about 5 minutes; strain. Brush tart, both top and crust, with apricot jam.

Serves 8

TARTLET VARIATION 

Prepare eight 3-inch (8-cm) tartlet pans by spraying with nonstick vegetable oil spray. Cut 1 sheet phyllo into 4 squares. Keep remainder covered with a damp towel to prevent drying. Place 1 square over a tartlet pan, with half of the phyllo over the edge. Brush phyllo in tartlet pan with egg white. Fold remaining side over and brush with egg white. Repeat with another square of phyllo in the same pan. Repeat with remaining tartlet pans. 

Spoon almond mixture over prepared phyllo (using approximately 2 tbsp/30 mL mixture in each tartlet) making sure that filling is evenly spread. Place apple slices over filling. Proceed as with tart.