Gingery Pear Tart (Vegan + GF)

In a medium mixing bowl combine the sorghum flour, brown rice flour, tapioca flour, ground chia seeds, and salt. Whisk until well combined. Next, add the cubed vegan butter and break the butter down into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter, fork, or clean hands. The texture should look sandy, with no lumps of butter larger than a pea. Add the lesser amount of water and stir. At this point the dough should hold together when squeezed — if it’s not, add more water 1 Tbsp at a time until the dough starts to come together. Turn the dough out onto a piece of parchment or wax paper and shape into a flat disk. Place in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes.

Meanwhile, prepare your pears by quartering them, removing the cores, and then slicing uniformly lengthwise in very thin slices (1/16”-1/8”). Try to keep each quarter’s slices gathered together so when you finish slicing it still looks like a uniform quarter (see photo). This will be helpful when arranging your pears.

In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and ginger powder. Set aside.

After chilling the dough, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (204 C). Prepare a 9-10 inch tart pan by lightly greasing the pan with vegan butter (or use a non-stick springform pan for ease). Remove the dough from the refrigerator and sprinkle a clean work surface with sorghum or brown rice flour. Roll out the dough into an even circle (about 12 inches in diameter), working quickly. To transfer your crust, gently roll it up onto your rolling pin and unroll in the tart pan, or quickly (and confidently!) flip it into the pan. Press the dough into the sides of the tart pan and patch any holes or cracks with your fingers. Trim any excess dough with a paring knife.

To the bottom of the prepared tart shell add about 2/3 of the brown sugar and ginger mixture, reserving the rest for the top of the tart. Use your hands to disperse the sugar and spice evenly. Next, place each sliced pear quarter on top of the crust, fanning them out so they spread slightly. Repeat with the remaining pear quarters. There is no set way to do this, just go with the shape of the pear and try not to leave any gaps. You can definitely overlap them! Drizzle the lemon juice over the pears, sprinkle with the remaining brown sugar and ginger, and top with 2 Tbsp of sliced vegan butter.

Cover the tart with foil, place on a baking sheet (just in case, to catch any drips) and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 28-35 minutes, until the crust is dark golden brown and the pears are extremely tender when tested with a knife.

Leftovers keep covered at room temperature for 1 day or in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Not freezer friendly.