Placek with Prunes – 2

• I have an earlier post –  prune placek, which is quite different from this one.
• This placek – flat cake- has a filling of prunes.
•  The pastry used is a variation on my Polish  kruche ciasto – shortcrust pastry.
• Prunes often feature in Wigilia – Christmas Eve dishes.
• A prune filling like this is used in a tart baked in Belgium and eaten on Ash Wednesday. (17 February in 2021)

Ingredients – Pastry

• 225g plain flour
• 110g butter
• 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
• 2 egg yolks
• 5 tablespoons of water
• *
• 1 tablespoon of caster sugar to sprinkle

Ingredients – Filling

• 300g of prunes – stoned
• 1 small cinnamon stick
• 2 sprigs of rosemary
• 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar
• 1 lemon – grated rind and juice

Method – Filling

This filling needs to be cold – so make this first.

• Put the prune, cinnamon stick and rosemary in a large bowl.
• Cover these with boiling water.
• Leave overnight.
• *
• Remove the cinnamon stick and rosemary.
• Put the prunes and liquid  into a  pan.
• Add the lemon rind and juice.
• Heat gently  and stir occasionally until the prunes are soft and the water is adsorbed.
• Use a stick blender to turn the prunes into a pulp.
• You might have to heat gently again to make sure the pulp is thick.
• Leave to go completely cold.

Method – Pastry

• A rich pastry is made in the traditional rubbed in method with the ingredients listed above.
• Chill the pastry for around 30 minutes.
• *
• Pre-heat the oven to GM 5 – 190°C.
• Grease and line a shallow tray 21cm x 26cm.
• Divide the pastry into two.
• Roll out one piece to line the bottom of the tin.
• Spread the filling evenly over the pastry – not quite to the edges.
• Roll the second piece of pastry out and use to cover the filling.
• Press the edges down to seal.
• Make some diagonal slashes across the top.
• Bake for around 30 minutes until golden.
• Remove from the oven and sprinkle with the caster sugar.
• Leave to cool in the tin.
• Cut into squares when cold.

Royal Doulton – Counterpoint tea plates – 1973-1987