Instructions

1. INSTRUCTIONS
2. Prepare the pie dough: In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt.
3. Add butter and toss to coat with your fingers. Rub butter into flour with your hands or with a pastry cutter until butter is roughly the size of peas.
4. Pour the water around the edge of the bowl and mix briefly, just until the dough starts to come together. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of flour on a clean countertop. Dump the dough out onto the counter and form into 2 disks. Cover discs in plastic wrap and refrigerate one for at least an hour and up to two days. Freeze the other disc for future use.
5. Preheat the oven to 450 F and line a baking sheet with parchment or a silpat.
6. Prepare fruit and filling: In a large bowl, combine fruit with ¼ cup sugar and orange zest.
7. For the topping, combine flour, the other ¼ cup sugar, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Add butter and toss to coat. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to rub in butter just until the mixture starts to come together. Cover and refrigerate crumble topping until ready to use.
8. Lightly flour a clean countertop and roll the dough into an 11-inch circle. Place dough on baking sheet. Make a circle of fruit inside the dough, leaving a 1½ – 2 inch border all around. Fill in with remaining peaches and toss crumb mixture on top and around sides of fruit.
9. Take the edges of the dough and start folding a few inches at a time over the fruit, pleating as you go to make a circle. (See blog post for photos and descriptions.)
10. For a thicker crostata, refrigerate unbaked pie for 20-30 minutes before baking.
11. Bake crostata for 20 – 25 minutes in the middle of the oven, until crust is golden and fruit is tender. Let cool 5 minutes and transfer (using two spatulas) to a wire rack.
12. Variations: Use apples, pears or berries.
13. Use canned pie filling such as cherry or blueberry or a combination.
14. For a savory tart, leave out the sugar in the tart dough and fill with vegetables and cheese.