Gooseberry Creme Fraiche Tart Recipes

GOOSEBERRY CUSTARD TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees with rack in center. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to about 3/8 inch thick. Cut out eight 7-inch rounds, and transfer each round to a 4-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom. Fold edges under, and press dough into sides and corners of tart pans. Chill in freezer until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Prick bottoms of shells all over with a fork. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Line each shell with parchment, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until pale golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove parchment and weights. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk eggs, yolk, and 1/3 cup sugar in a small bowl. Pour in cream, whisking until combined.
• Toss gooseberries with remaining 1/4 cup sugar in a medium bowl. Pile sugar-covered gooseberries into tart shells (a scant 1 cup per tart), and slowly pour in custard (about 1/4 cup per tart). Dip a pastry brush into each custard filling, and lightly brush onto edges of shell. Sprinkle tops with sugar.
• Bake, rotating halfway through, until custard is just set and gooseberries are soft, about 35 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool 15 minutes. Serve warm.

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 MERINGUE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/fan160C/gas 4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface, then use it to line a 23cm loose-bottom tart tin. Line with non-stick baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 15 mins. Remove the beans, then cook for 10 mins more until golden. Remove from the oven, then reduce the heat to 140C/fan 120C/gas 1.
• While the case is cooking, heat the butter and brown sugar in a shallow pan. When the sugar has completely dissolved, throw in the gooseberries and toss in the caramel. Cook for a few mins until they start to split, but before they have burst completely. Remove from heat and leave to cool. Once cool give them a stir, then tip into pastry case.
• For the meringue topping, whisk the egg whites to soft peaks. Whisk in the caster sugar a spoonful at a time, then whisk in the cornflour. Carefully blob the meringue over the gooseberries and gently spread to cover. Bake for about 40 mins until the meringue is cooked and lightly browned.

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.