Lemon Curd And Chocolate Ganache Tart Recipes

LEMON CURD AND CHOCOLATE GANACHE TART

Steps:

• Grate the lemon zest first, using a fresh, clean lemon. Only grate only the yellow part, avoiding the white pith which can be bitter. Then squeeze the lemons through a strainer for their juice.
• Mix the egg yolks with the sugar in a small heavy bottomed pot. Whisk in the lemon juice.
• Cook on medium heat until the mixture begins to thicken, stirring constantly. Do not boil or the eggs may scramble.
• Turn off the heat and whisk in the butter pieces. When all the butter is incorporated, whisk in the lemon zest.
• Allow to cool in the refrigerator. Yield is approximately 2 cups.
• Heat the cream in a heavy bottomed pot, just until it gets very hot; do not boil.
• Put the chocolate in a heat safe bowl and pour the hot cream over it. Wait a few minutes and then whisk until all the chocolate is melted.
• Yield is approximately 2 cups.
• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Fit bowl with metal blade. Add flour, sugar and butter to bowl (add salt if butter is unsalted).
• Put on the lid and process in short bursts, about 10 times to break up the butter into the flour.
• Mix the egg yolk and water in a small bowl and with the processor on, pour the egg/water mix through the tube in the lid into the bowl. Keep mixing until the dough forms into a ball inside the bowl. Remove and form into a small cake.
• Cut the butter into the flour and sugar, working it through by hand until it becomes like coarse meal or breadcrumbs. Mix in the egg/water mixture with a fork until it's incorporated and the dough comes together in a soft ball.
• Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface. Once it is rolled out, put it in a 10" tart pan with removable bottom and press the dough into the edges, pulling off any excess.
• Because the filling for this recipe is not cooked in the tart shell, the crust needs to be baked by itself. To keep the center of the crust from puffing up and cracking during baking, you'll want to weigh it down.
• Cut a piece of parchment paper or foil to fit the bottom of the tart pan (see tip below).
• Pierce the bottom of the dough with a fork and put the paper on top.
• Weigh down with pie weights or beans.
• Bake for 8 minutes or until the edges of the crust begin to color. Remove from oven, and carefully remove the paper and beans. Put the tart back in the oven and bake until crisp and golden, about another 8 minutes. Remove and let cool. Fill.
• 1 baked tart crust
• 1 chocolate ganache recipe
• 1 lemon curd recipe
• Once the crust is baked, allow it to cool.
• Mix up the ganache and while it is still soft, pour it into the crust and place it in the refrigerator to firm up, about 20 minutes. Then spread the lemon curd on top.
• Optional garnishes; chocolate rose leaves, candied citrus peels or slices, chocolate curls.

LEMON CURD TART

Steps:

• Mix the butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until they are just combined. Add the vanilla. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour and salt, then add them to the butter-and-sugar mixture. Mix on low speed until the dough starts to come together. Dump onto a surface dusted with flour and shape into a flat disk. Press the dough into a 10-inch-round or 9-inch-square false-bottom tart pan, making sure that the finished edge is flat. Chill until firm.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter 1 side of a square of aluminum foil to fit inside the chilled tart and place it, buttered side down, on the pastry. Fill with beans or rice. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and beans, prick the tart all over with the tines of a fork, and bake again for 20 to 25 minutes more, or until lightly browned. Allow to cool to room temperature.
• Remove the zest of the lemons with a vegetable peeler or zester, being careful to avoid the white pith. Squeeze the lemons to make 1/2 cup of juice and set the juice aside. Put the zest in a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the sugar and process for 2 to 3 minutes, until the zest is very finely minced. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter with the sugar and lemon zest. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and then add the lemon juice and salt. Mix until combined.
• Pour the mixture into a 2-quart saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. The lemon curd will thicken at about 175 degrees F, or just below a simmer. Remove from the heat.
• Fill the tart shell with warm lemon curd and allow to set at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE PUMPKIN TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking cocoa, pie spice and salt. Stir in butter until crumbly. Press onto bottom and up sides of a 9-in. tart pan with removable bottom; place on a baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes; cool on a wire rack., Meanwhile, in another large bowl, whisk pumpkin, eggs, brown sugar, orange zest, pie spice and salt. Slowly whisk in cream. Pour into crust. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350°. Bake until filling is set, 40-45 minutes. Cool on a wire rack., For ganache, place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; let stand 10 minutes. Stir with a whisk until smooth. Spread over tart; chill until set. If desired, garnish with crystallized ginger.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE TARTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth; beat in flour. Drop dough by scant tablespoonfuls into greased miniature muffin cups; with well-floured hands, press dough onto bottoms and up sides of cups., Bake at 325° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Place chocolate chips in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream just to a boil. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Transfer to a small bowl; cover and refrigerate until firm., Beat chocolate mixture until soft peaks form. Pipe or spoon into tart shells. Garnish with whipped cream, raspberries and confectioners' sugar if desired.