Katiecooks
New member
Vlaai (pronounced like fly with a "V" instead of an "F" is a traditional pie or tart from the Province of Limburg in the southern part of the Netherlands.
There are many varieties - rice, cherry, white chocolate, apple and rum, crumb, gooseberry, kruimel, etc - one of the most popular is apricot.
Directions:
Sift 4 C of flour with a pinch of salt into a large mixing bowl. Warm 2/3 C of milk. Cream 3/4 oz. of fresh yeast with the milk in a small bowl. Leave in a warm place until it becomes frothy.
Make a hollow in the mound of flour and pour in the creamed yeast. Stir the yeast mixture into the flour. Add 1 large beaten egg. Add 1/2 C melted butter and 1/2 C of sugar and knead to a soft dough which easily comes away from the sides of the bowl.
Shape the dough into a ball, cover the container with a damp cloth and leave for about 1 hour in a warm place until the dough is well risen.
Preheat oven to 450 F.
Lightly grease two large flat flan tins or tart pans. Knead the risen dough on a lightly floured work surface and use it to line the tart pans. Cover the dough with about 2 lbs of apricot compote (spreadable fruit works well) and garnish with 16 apricot halves fresh or tinned (the former being preferable, of course. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes in the center of the oven. Cool the vlaai on a wire cooling rack and serve with whipped cream if desired.
Variation:
This special vlaai can also be decorated with a lattice of pastry. Use slightly less dough for the base of the vlaai and cover the fruit compote with a lattice of pastry strips approximately 1/2 inch thick. Use apple or cherry compote as a filling instead of apricots if desired, and garnish with fresh fruit to concur. If fresh fruit is not available, use a commercial fruit pie filling.
This Limburg pie is a favorite with my family!
There are many varieties - rice, cherry, white chocolate, apple and rum, crumb, gooseberry, kruimel, etc - one of the most popular is apricot.
Directions:
Sift 4 C of flour with a pinch of salt into a large mixing bowl. Warm 2/3 C of milk. Cream 3/4 oz. of fresh yeast with the milk in a small bowl. Leave in a warm place until it becomes frothy.
Make a hollow in the mound of flour and pour in the creamed yeast. Stir the yeast mixture into the flour. Add 1 large beaten egg. Add 1/2 C melted butter and 1/2 C of sugar and knead to a soft dough which easily comes away from the sides of the bowl.
Shape the dough into a ball, cover the container with a damp cloth and leave for about 1 hour in a warm place until the dough is well risen.
Preheat oven to 450 F.
Lightly grease two large flat flan tins or tart pans. Knead the risen dough on a lightly floured work surface and use it to line the tart pans. Cover the dough with about 2 lbs of apricot compote (spreadable fruit works well) and garnish with 16 apricot halves fresh or tinned (the former being preferable, of course. Bake for 15 to 25 minutes in the center of the oven. Cool the vlaai on a wire cooling rack and serve with whipped cream if desired.
Variation:
This special vlaai can also be decorated with a lattice of pastry. Use slightly less dough for the base of the vlaai and cover the fruit compote with a lattice of pastry strips approximately 1/2 inch thick. Use apple or cherry compote as a filling instead of apricots if desired, and garnish with fresh fruit to concur. If fresh fruit is not available, use a commercial fruit pie filling.
This Limburg pie is a favorite with my family!