Tart with Homemade Lekvar (Plum filling)

Lekvar from Plums

3 cups Italians plums, pitted
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup water room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dough

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter, cold and large grated
1/4 - 1/2 cup sugar
2 egg yoks (2 egg whites for the filling)
1 & 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
A couple dashes of salt
2 tablespoons milk

Filling

2 egg whites
1 cup lekvar
Some almond flour for sprinkling

For lekvar, add plums and water to a wide pan and heat through, then add sugar and vanilla paste. Cook over medium heat until plums break down, about 30 mins.

Let mixture cool a bit, transfer to a food processor, and give it a whirl

Put the mixture back in the pan and cook until a thick paste forms. Make sure to stir constantly. Otherwise, it will burn if you don’t stir!

When you scrape the spoon through the mixture and see a trail, the lekvar is almost ready. It should take about 15 minutes. (Make sure you cook this down enough. You don’t want the filling to be too runny and not hold the bar shape. You have to get all the water out of the fruit. This step is critical!) Lekvar should be made in advance and kept refrigerated in an air-tight container.

For the dough, add flour to a bowl and rub the butter into the flour until pea-size crumbles form. In a bowl, add milk, sugar, baking powder, and yolks; mix with a fork into flour. Transfer to a floured surface; knead into a ball. Divide into 2 parts (60% and 40%) wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour.

Heat oven to 350 F (180 C). Grease the rectangular tart pan with some oil and non-stick baking spray.

Transfer the bigger piece of the dough to a floured surface; roll it out to a 5 x 16 inches rectangle. Transfer dough to a rectangular tart pan (4 × 14-inches) with a removable bottom; press into the bottom and sides. Trim dough edges; reserve scraps. Place a smaller piece of the dough into the freezer.

For filling, add egg whites to a medium clean bowl and whip with an electric mixer to stiff peaks. Add 1 cup of lekvar and carefully whisk together with a spoon. Sprinkle the bottom of the dough with some almond flour and spread the filling all over the bottom with a spoon. Sprinkle again with some almond flour.

Remove the dough from the freezer and grate on large holes in the grater. Spread all over the filling. Bake for about 35 minutes until light brown color. Remove from the oven and cool completely. Cut into 8-9 pieces. Serve with wine, milk, or just a cup of tea.