Gooseberry Creme Fraiche Tart Recipes

GOOSEBERRY CREME FRAICHE TART

Steps:

• Firstly, sift the flour into a bowl, then add the fat, cut into smallish lumps, then take a knife and begin to cut the fat into the flour. Go on doing this until it looks fairly evenly blended, then begin to rub the fat into the flour using your fingertips only and being as light as possible. Being light with your fingers is not a special gift, it's just what's needed here, so don't go on rubbing all day, just long enough to make the mixture crumbly with a few odd lumps here and there. Sprinkle 1½ tablespoons of cold water over the mixture, then, with a knife, start bringing the dough together, using the knife to make it cling. Then discard the knife and finally bring it together with your fingertips. When enough liquid is added, the pastry should leave the bowl completely clean. If this hasn't happened, keep adding a spot more water (sometimes it really only needs your fingers dipped into water to bring it together). All pastry must be rested before rolling out. If you're in a hurry, this can seem like an awful bore, but I promise you it will, in fact, save you more time in the end. So place it in a polythene bag and leave it in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to gas mark 5, 375°F (190°C). Place a solid baking sheet in the oven to pre-heat as well. Then roll the pastry out to a circle, line the pastry tin and prick the base with a fork. Use some of the egg yolk for the filling to paint all over the sides and base of the pastry. Now place the pastry-lined tin on the hot baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes until the pastry is just beginning to turn golden. Remove it from the oven and turn the heat down to gas mark 4, 350°F (180°C). Next whisk the crème fraîche, egg yolks, sugar and balsamic vinegar together. Arrange the gooseberries in the flan case, pour the crème fraîche mixture all over and then return the flan to the oven and bake until the custard is set, which will be about 40-45 minutes. Then remove it from the oven and allow it to settle for about 20 minutes before serving. It also tastes extremely good served cold.

GOOSEBERRY CRèME BRûLéE TART

Steps:

• Tip the gooseberries into a saucepan with 100g of the sugar and 100ml water. Simmer for 8-10 mins until the fruit is soft and the juices are syrupy. Tip the fruit into a sieve set over a jug and leave to strain - you will need about 150ml of the syrupy juices. Tip the pulp into a bowl and leave to cool.
• In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with 50g of the sugar, then beat in the cream and gooseberry syrup. Strain through a sieve into another jug and set aside.
• Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin, then lift into a 23cm tart tin. Press down gently on the bottom and sides, leaving a slight overhang. Line the tart with foil and fill with baking beans. Bake for 10 mins, then discard the foil and beans, and bake for another 20 mins. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.
• Reduce oven to 150C/130C fan/gas 2. Spread the pulp evenly over the base of the tart, then carefully pour the cream mixture over it to create 2 layers. Bake for 35-40 mins until the cream layer has the slightest wobble to it. Remove from the oven and trim the pastry edges. Leave to cool completely, then scatter over the remaining sugar, caramelise with a blowtorch, if you like, and serve straight away.

GOOSEBERRY & VANILLA CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until large enough to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Trim the excess pastry from around the edge, then line the pastry case with baking parchment, fill with baking beans and chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the pastry case for 15 mins, then carefully lift out the parchment and beans, and bake for 5 mins more or until biscuity. Meanwhile, beat the eggs, cream, sugar and vanilla together, then strain into a jug.
• Scatter the gooseberries into the pastry case, then pour in the vanilla custard mixture. Bake for 35-40 mins until the custard is set and the gooseberries are tender. Cool a little before serving, or cool completely and eat cold, dusted with icing sugar, if you like.