The crostata, or tart, is as common in Italy as pie is in America. It is one of the best ways to showcase seasonal fruit as a dessert. Once the crust is made for the filling, add some marzipan and some plump, juicy seasonal blueberries. There is no need to add cornstarch to bind the juice of the berries—they will nestle into the marzipan.

　　

Ingredients

serves 8 or more

　　

for the crust

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

　　1/3 cup sugar

　　1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

　　1 stick unsalted butter, cold, cut into small pieces

　　

for the filling

10-ounce can almond paste

　　1/2 cup sugar

　　2 large eggs

　　2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

　　1 pint blueberries

　　1/4 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted

　　

Step 1

For the crust: Pulse to combine the flour, sugar, and salt in the work bowl of a food processor. Drop in the butter pieces, and pulse just until the dough comes together in clumps, about ten to fifteen pulses. Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan. Let the crust rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

　　

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Combine the almond paste and sugar in the same food-processor bowl (no need to wash it). Process until you have fine crumbs, then crack in the eggs and sprinkle in flour. Process until smooth.

　　

Step 3

Spread the almond filling in an even layer in the chilled tart shell. Top with the blueberries, and sprinkle with the pine nuts. Bake until the crust is deep golden brown and the filling is set, about 1 hour to 1 hour and 20 minutes.

　　Reprinted with permission from Lidia's Italy in America by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Copyright © 2011 by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich and Tanya Bastianich Manuali. Excerpted by permission of Knopf, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. Buy the full book from Amazon or Bookshop.