Lattice-topped Vanilla Bean Pineapple Tart

Martha Stewart Living, 2008

Makes one 8-by-11-inch tart

    Crostata Dough                                                 
    Flour for surface                                              
    1 pineapple xx (4.5 lb) peel, core, quarter                    
    1/4 cup pack light brown sugar                                 
    1/4 cup sugar                                                  
    1 vanilla bean split, scrape, save pod                         
    2 tablespoons lemon juice                                      
    1/2 cup dark rum                                               
    1 egg yolk                                                     
    2 tablespoons heavy cream                                      

On a lightly floured surface, roll each disk of crostata dough into a 9-by-12-inch rectangle, 1/8 inch thick. Place 1 rectangle on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Fit the other rectangle into an 8-by-11-inch fluted rectangular tart pan with a removable bottom. Trim dough flush with top edge of pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Make the lattice: Remove baking sheet from freezer. Using a clean ruler as a guide, cut dough rectangle into eighteen 1/2-inch-wide strips using a sharp knife or a fluted pastry wheel. Lay 9 strips of dough on another baking sheet in pairs of parallel lines that extend slightly past the length of the tart pan. Starting in the center, weave 1 new strip under and over the strips on the baking sheet. Weave a second strip inch away, this time weaving over then under. Repeat, weaving pairs of strips across half of the tart, spacing pairs 1 inch apart. (If dough strips become too soft, return to freezer until firm.) Return to center, and repeat with remaining dough strips to form a lattice pattern. Freeze until ready to use.

Cut each pineapple quarter crosswise into 1/3-inch-thick slices. Combine sugars, vanilla seeds and pod, and lemon juice in a large saute pan. Add pineapple, and cook over medium heat, stirring until sugars dissolve and mixture becomes saucy, about 3 minutes. Add rum, and simmer until pineapple has softened and almost all of the liquid has evaporated, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, and let cool in pan. Discard vanilla pod.

Remove tart pan from refrigerator. Spread pineapple mixture evenly on dough. Combine yolk and cream in a small bowl, and brush some along top edges of tart. Carefully slide frozen lattice onto tart, centering it over filling, and press edges to seal. Trim excess dough. Brush top of lattice with egg wash. Refrigerate, uncovered, until firm, about 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Bake tart for 15 minutes. Reduce heat to 375 degrees, and continue baking until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 40 to 45 minutes. (If crust browns too quickly, tent edges with foil.) Let cool in tart pan on a wire rack. Unmold, and serve immediately.