Ina's plum tart with walnuts and whole rye

Back from Croatia and all I feel like having is either ice cream, rucola or red wine. I've figured why... all to keep Summer in my mind. So today, to bring things back somewhat closer to normal (???....) I turned the oven on and made a pie. 

Ina's plum tart with walnuts and whole rye
adapted from Ina Garten and Gray Apron

time: 20 min preparation / 45 min baking / 20 min cooling

ingredients
1 kg (2 lbs) Italian type (small) plums
50 g (1/3 cup) walnuts blended/chopped fine (preferably toasted)
180 g (12 Tablespoons) cold butter diced
480 ml (2 cups) flour (I used whole rye: 2 cups = 220 g)
165 g (3/4 cups) brown sugar
1 vanilla bean, cut open, seeds removed

vanilla ice cream (hardly optional)

instructions
Preheat oven to 400 F/ 205 C (fan forced function). Line a 26 cm (10 inch) baking form with parchment paper. To line a baking dish: I cut a piece of paper large enough, crush it between my hands, soak it under water, squeeze the water out, shake (gently) the paper to open and line the dish.

Slice the plums open (just about all the way). Remove the pits.

In a large bowl, mix flour with walnuts, sugar and vanilla seeds. Add butter. Using your hands and working rather fast combine and cover everything (but the plums) with butter to make a crumble-looking mass (the process should last about 1 minute). Place about half of the crumble on the bottom of the form and press it with your fingers (it does not have to be exact). 

Arrange the plums, starting from the outside, in an organized matter (plums standing upright). Throw the rest of the dough on top of the plums. 

Place it in oven for about 45 minutes. Take it out, let it cool for at least 10 minutes. 

notes

• I made the Ina's plum tart almost exactly a year ago on a similar occasion;
• it's September and plums are abundant, delicious and around the corner; 
• the crust tastes rich and rustic, just sweet enough;
• when cooled to room temperature, the bottom cuts pretty well;
• baked plums taste like plums but better.

Thanks, everybody, for nice comments and wishes while I was away. I hope you all had a great Summer. Ours was fantastic... so good I forgot to take pictures :).