Almond Oat Crusted Fig Tart with crushed almonds and oats in the crust, mascarpone and orange blossom custard, topped with lots of fresh figs.
Fresh Figs
Growing up, I only knew of one kind of fig. It was sandwiched between some soft dough, and called a cookie.
Then I grew up and had a real fig! Oh My, what a game changer that was!
I now grow a few fig trees on my property, and every year, by the end of summer, I am so excited to see their plump, juicy little faces hanging high on my trees.
It then becomes a race between me and the ants to see who gets the ripe ones first!
Fascinating Fig Facts
Fascinating fig fact, is that figs are actually an inverted flower and not a true classification of a fruit!
Who knew that fig trees are either male or female? If this is sounding weird by now, hang in there cause it gets even more weird!
The male fig flower is the only place where the female wasp can lay her eggs.
There is an entire fig and wasp relationship that is far too complicated for me to explain, but totally worth knowing about.
And no, knowing this has not changed my love for figs one bit!
Fig Leaves
An interesting thing I recently discovered, while growing my own figs, is that the leaves are edible! Well, sort of.
The leaves, when freshly picked, have a white milky sap that begins to drizzle out from the leaves immediately after picking.
Wanting to taste the essence of the leaf, I took several leaves, cut them and boiled them into a tea. Coconut!
That’s right, it tasted and smelled just like coconut.
Cooking With Fig Leaves
After sipping a few tablespoons of the fig leaf tea, I realized it also left an oil-like texture on the tongue.
What to make with fig leaves?
I am still experimenting but for sure I would wrap them around anything you might wrap a banana leaf around to steam, roast or smoke what has been wrapped inside.
Fish Roasted In Fig Leaves is what I made for a new television series airing in Summer of 2022 and for me, this is a winning recipe I will never forget!
Oat Flour For Almond Oat Crust
I will admit also, that growing up I only knew oats as porridge, in cookies and sometimes in bread.
I never gave it a thought to turn my raw oats into flour. That also became a game changer in my hunt for wheat-free baking!
I am not apposed to wheat, not at all.
In fact, in my family I am known as the bread queen because I have been making bread with anything I can get my hands on for as long as I can remember.
Not everyone wants to eat wheat though, and so grinding other grains and nuts, even seeds into flour gave me so many more options to make something yummy for everyone!
Oat flour makes for so many delicious recipes, Orange Blossom Oat Flour Cookies is one you are sure to love!
Ingredients Needed
- Almonds or almond flour so you don’t have to grind your own.
- Oats or oat flour so you don’t have to grind your own.
- Butter
- Eggs
- Sugar
- Salt
- Orange rinds
- Mascarpone
- Orange blossom water
- Fresh figs
- Raw coarse sugar
Equipment Needed
- Food processor
- Removable bottom tart pan
- Mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Cutting board
- Chopping knife
- Measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- Oven
Almonds
Finally I get to tell you that while growing up, almonds were the most popular nut in our home, instead of peanuts. Why?
My mom was Syrian, and almonds are used in so many of the recipes in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking.
Then, there’s those confection covered, pastel colored almonds found at every Middle Eastern weddings and funerals, called Jordan Almonds.
I’ve since learned that every culture that celebrates with these almonds has a different meaning, mostly for good and ‘sweet’ luck!
Almond Flour Tart Crust
Almonds have such a delicate, slightly sweet flavor that makes them so likable by just about everyone.
The oil in the almond is a lovely addition to cooking, as well as great for the skin… eaten or rubbed!
I’ve found that grinding almonds, in the food processor to use with my pie or tart crusts, even pizza crusts, have been the easiest and most affordable way to make this crust.
Sad Facts About Almonds
While cooking with almonds, drinking lots of almond milk and using almond oil in our beauty creams makes all of us happy, almonds are a huge drain on the earth.
With droughts becoming more prevalent, almonds will certainly be at risk of vanishing.
Each almond takes over 1 gallon of water to produce.
Imagine that. While visiting the area of Paso Robles recently, a beautiful area of California, we passed a long stretch of abandoned almond farms.
Some of the trees were in beautiful floral bloom while most just looked dead.
Rain and irrigation are vital to the production of almonds, as are bees, but that’s another sad story.
How To Make Almond Oat Crust Fig Tarts
If you’re like me and keep containers of almond flour (freshly ground at home), and oat flour (also freshly ground at home), making this crust will take just a few minutes.
Often times I will grind extra almonds to make a similar pie for winter that uses dried figs, when the fresh figs are finished.
Dried Fruit and Almond Torte with Carob Butter, is rich, almost too healthy to be a dessert but so rich in flavors.
If not, get out your food processor or blender, and grind just enough almonds and oats for this recipe.
In fact, just grind them together, then toss the remaining crust ingredients into the processor and you will have the crust ready to press into a tart pan quickly.
A removable bottom tart pan makes serving a fruit tart easy. If you don’t have one, simply take a few lids off the wide-mouth mason jars you are sure to have, and use those! How?
Simply flip the lid part, upside down into the lid rim (so the seal strip is facing away from the crust), and go ahead and press the crust into several of these.
Same sort of thing as a tart pan only cheap!
Making The Custard For Fig Tarts
The custard is simply a rich creamy mascarpone, whisked with egg yolks, a little sugar and my favorite flavor enhancer – Orange Blossom Water.
I use this way more than vanilla. It is delicately floral and much more delicate than rose water.
The custard gets poured into the prepared crust, topped with fresh figs and baked to perfection!
Fresh Figs vs Dried Figs
While fresh figs are what I used in this recipe and are usually abundant the end of summer months, dried figs can be used as well.
If using dried figs it helps to soak them a little to soften them, which I will use a little rum or orange juice.
Almond Oat Fig Tart – The Great American Recipe
For many years, in the early autumn, I make this delicately flavored fig tart. Who knew I would end up making it on national television!
As a contestant on The Great American Recipe, and ‘In The Finales’ I chose those elegant tart for my finale recipe.
I called it My Fig Finale. It is the most creative dessert recipe one could make for such an occasion!
Almond Oat Crusted Fig Tart
Equipment
- 1 Removable Bottom Tart Pan or 4 individual tart pans
- Food processor or blender
Ingredients
- 1 cup Raw Almonds crushed to a powder
- 2 cups Rolled Oats crushed to a powder
- 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter softened
- 3 Egg whites lightly whisked
- 2 tbsp Sugar
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 tbsp Orange zest
- 1 cup Mascarpone
- 3 Egg yolks
- 1/3 cup Sugar
- 1/2 tsp Orange Blossom Water
- 10 whole Fresh Figs sliced *notes
- 1 tbsp Raw coarse sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325.
- In a food processor place the crushed almond, crushed oats, butter, egg whites, sugar, orange zest and salt. Whisk until the ingredients come together into a dough ball. If too sticky, add a bit more oat flour. Press the crust into one removable-bottom tart pan, or 4 mini tart pans. Crimp the edges.
- In the food processor, whisk the mascarpone, egg yolks, sugar and orange blossom water together. Pour into the tart crust.
- Place the sliced figs beautifully around the top of the custard. Sprinkle the coarse sugar sparingly across the top of the figs. This adds a beautiful caramelized finish.
- Bake until the custard is firm in the center and crust is golden. This will vary, depending on the size and depth of the pan you use, about 45-minutes.
- Cool and serve.
Video
Notes
I believe the table... that place that draws people to gather, is the most powerful symbol of togetherness. All that happens before the table is set, the planning, the gathering, the preparing, are all an intricate part of the dance that create the mood of celebration to share with friends and loved ones.