Wow family and friends with a stunning strawberry tart. A lovely centrepiece dessert for summer dining, it’s made with homemade pastry and crème pâtissière.
Prep: 35 mins
Cook: 45 mins + chilling
Difficulty: Easy
Serves: 12
INGREDIENTS
125g unsalted butter, softened slightly
85g icing sugar
1 egg
200g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
100g strawberry jam
500g strawberries, (small hulled, large sliced)
2 tbsp apricot jam
For the crème pâtissière
300ml milk
150ml double cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 egg yolks
60g caster sugar
3½ tbsp cornflour
50g butter, cubed and softened
METHOD
- Beat the butter and sugar together until smooth, but not fluffy. Mix in the egg until combined, then add the flour. Bring together with your hands to form a dough. Wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 mins.
- Dust a surface with flour and roll out the pastry to a 26cm circle (or 3cm bigger than your tin). Line a 23cm fluted tart tin with the pastry, leaving an overhang. Prick the base with a fork to stop any air bubbles forming. Chill for 30 mins.
- Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line the pastry case with a scrunched up sheet of baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 15 mins. Remove the parchment and beans and bake for 15-20 mins more until crisp and golden. Leave in the tin to cool.
- To make the crème pâtissière, heat the milk, cream and vanilla in a pan over a medium heat, stirring occasionally. Bring up to a simmer. Meanwhile, whisk the yolks and sugar in a bowl for 3 mins until pale, then stir in the cornflour until combined. Pour a quarter of the hot cream over the egg mix, whisking continuously, then pour the warm egg mix into the pan with the rest of the cream. Stir over a low-medium heat for 5-8 mins until the crème pâtissière thickens. Transfer to a large bowl and cool for 15 mins, whisking occasionally. Gradually whisk in the butter until smooth, cover and put in the fridge until needed.
- Beat the strawberry jam to loosen it, then spread over the bottom of the pastry case. Put the crème pâtissière into a piping bag and pipe in a spiral on top of the jam. Arrange the strawberries on top in a pattern. Heat the apricot jam in a small pan with 1 tbsp water until warm. Whisk to loosen the jam, then leave to cool slightly. Brush over the top of the strawberries.
Recipe from bbcgoodfood.com
