Peach Melba Tartlets Recipes

PEACH MELBA TARTLETS

Steps:

• Brush the insides of 8 fluted tartlet cases (preferably loose-bottomed, about 6-7cm in diameter) lightly with a little oil, then line the bases with discs of non-stick baking paper. Dust the worktop lightly with sifted icing sugar and roll the marzipan out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut out eight circles using an 9.5cm cutter (use a small saucer as a template if you don't have a large enough cutter), re-rolling the marzipan trimmings if necessary.
• Fit the marzipan circles into each tartlet case, pressing lightly into the sides. If you have time, leave them to dry out overnight, uncovered, in the fridge.
• Using a blowtorch, brown each case evenly until it turns a caramel colour. Wait a few moments to cool until the marzipan starts to harden before turning out. These can be made up to 4-5 days ahead and stored in an airtight container.
• Heat the sugar and 500ml water slowly in a saucepan until the sugar starts to dissolve, stirring once or twice. Meanwhile, peel 3 or 4 strips of zest from the lemon using a swivel peeler, and drop into the sugar and water. When the sugar has dissolved, bring the mixture to the boil, then boil for about 5 minutes so you have a medium-strength syrup. Pick out a good handful of small basil leaves and reserve for decoration. Put the rest of the basil leaves and stalks into the hot syrup.
• Make a small criss-cross on the top of each peach (this helps the skins burst when cooking, so they are easier to peel). Slip the peaches into the syrup so they fit quite snugly together in a single layer. Cover with foil, then poach on a low heat for 15-20 minutes, depending on the ripeness, checking if done with the tip of a sharp knife. Remove the peaches to a bowl with a slotted spoon and leave to cool.
• When cool enough to handle, peel the skin off each peach. Cut in half and twist to separate the halves then remove the stones. Strain the syrup back over the peaches and allow them to cool to room temperature so they take on the flavour. You can do this overnight if you want to get ahead, but return to room temperature.
• Thaw the ice cream for 15-20 minutes then beat it until slightly slushy. Scoop the softened ice cream into a large piping bag fitted with a medium star-nozzle and, working very quickly, pipe a nest of ice cream into the tartlet cases (or drop spoonfuls into each case to cover). Return the cases to the freezer and freeze until the ice cream is firm - allow at least an hour. Or they can now be frozen for up to 2 days.
• Whizz the raspberries in a blender. Start on low and gradually increase, adding 4 tbsp syrup to thin a little. Add alcohol. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl, rubbing with the back of a spoon. Add lemon juice and icing sugar to taste if needed.
• Just before serving, remove 8 of the best peach halves from the syrup. Put the frozen filled tartlet cases onto 8 small plates and leave for about 5 minutes to soften. Sit a peach half on top of each tartlet. Arrange the reserved raspberries and basil around each tart. Spoon a little Melba sauce over each peach, but don't flood them. Finish with a light sifting of icing sugar and serve immediately, handing round extra sauce in a small jug.

PEACH MELBA SPLIT

Steps:

• Toss the raspberries and raspberry jam in a medium bowl and let stand 20 minutes at room temperature.
• Slice or quarter the peaches, depending on their size, divide among 4 dessert bowls and sprinkle the sugar over the tops. Let sit until they get a little juicy, about 15 minutes, turning them over once or twice.
• To serve, put one scoop of frozen yogurt on top of the peaches. Spoon some raspberries over each scoop. Top each with 1 tablespoon of crushed cookies. Serve immediately.

PEACH MELBA TARTS

Steps:

• Place one of the vol-au-vent on a very lightly floured surface. Roll with a rolling pin until about 5 inches in diameter. Place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining vol-au-vent. Spread the tops of the vol-au-vent with the jam, leaving a 1/2-inch border of pastry on the outside edges. Fan a sliced half peach on top of each tart. Place baking sheet in the fridge for 20 minutes to firm up the pastry (tarts can be made to this point several hours in advance.) Place the oven rack in the middle of the oven, and then preheat to 375˚F. Bake the tarts for 20 to 25 minutes, or until puffed and golden. Cool the tarts on a baking rack to room temperature. Set on dessert plates and dust with the icing sugar. Top each tart with a dollop of the whipped cream and a mint spring, and then serve. Note: Vol-au-vent are available in the frozen foods section. Thaw before using.

PEACH MELBA TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake until slightly golden, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool completely.
• Combine the flour, 1/3 cup of the toasted almonds, the granulated sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough just comes together. Turn out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap and form into a disk; wrap tightly and refrigerate until slightly firm, about 15 minutes. Unwrap the dough and press evenly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Line the crust with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edge of the crust is slightly golden, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and continue baking until the crust is golden brown all over, 15 to 20 more minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Combine the diced peach, granulated sugar, lemon zest and juice, and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until the peach is soft and the glaze is thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove the lemon zest; let the glaze cool.
• Make the filling: Mix the ricotta, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and nutmeg in a bowl with a mixer until smooth; spread evenly in the crust. Arrange the sliced peaches on top of the filling in concentric circles. Brush with all but about 1 tablespoon of the glaze. Gently toss the raspberries with the remaining glaze, then scatter on top of the tart along with the remaining toasted almonds. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours.

PEACH MELBA TRIFLE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, mix raspberries and cornstarch until blended. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until thickened. Strain seeds; cover and refrigerate., In a large bowl, mix yogurt and extract; fold in whipped topping. In a 4-qt. bowl, layer half each of the cake cubes, yogurt mixture and peaches. Repeat layers. Refrigerate, covered, at least 3 hours before serving. Serve with raspberry sauce.

CHEF JOHN'S PEACH TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat.
• Whisk sugar and Chinese five-spice powder together in a small bowl. Beat egg and water together in another bowl.
• Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. When the butter foams, arrange peaches in a single layer in the skillet. Pour sugar mixture over the peaches; cook, turning peaches once, until sugar is melted, bubbling, and syrup has a tan color, about 2 minutes. Transfer peaches and syrup to a bowl to cool completely.
• Cut pie crusts into eight 4 1/2-inch rounds. Set rounds on prepared baking sheet and fold edges of each crust up to form a 1/2-inch rim. Brush each crust with egg mixture.
• Place 2 peach slices, pit-sides facing each other, in the center of each tart. Place 1 peach slice in center, skin-side up, in between the other two peaches. Drizzle excess syrup over the peaches.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden and bubbling, about 15 minutes.

PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a boil. Stir in lemon juice and vanilla. Reduce heat to low. Place peach halves cut side up in pan; cook for 5-8 minutes or until tender. Remove from the heat. Cool peaches in syrup for 30 minutes. , Remove peaches with a slotted spoon and place cut side down in a shallow dish. Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours or until chilled., In a small microwave-safe bowl, heat raspberry jam for 20 seconds; stir until smooth. Place peach halves cut side up in dessert dishes. Top with ice cream; drizzle with jam.

PEACH MELBA TART

Steps:

• Peel and slice the peaches.
• Whisk together 1/4 cup of the sugar, the ascorbic acid, and 1 tablespoon of Signature Secrets or flour (or 1 1/2 teaspoons Instant ClearJel), then mix with the peaches and set aside. Roll the pie crust dough into a 14- to 15-inch circle to fit an 11- to 12-inch tart pan or baking dish. Place it into the pan.
• Stir together the cream, the remaining sugar and thickener, the egg, nutmeg and vanilla; spread over the bottom of the crust. Place the peaches onto the cream filling, arranging them in concentric circles. Spoon any juice from the bowl over the peaches. Fold the edges of the crust in toward the center.
• Bake the tart in a preheated 425°F oven for 20 minutes. Reduce the oven heat to 375°F; tent the edges of the tart with foil, and bake for an additional 30 to 35 minutes. Cool at least 20 minutes before serving. If pie won't be served right away, refrigerate it, and then bring to room temperature before serving. Just before serving, sprinkle with fresh berries and sugar. This is best served the same day.

NOT-SO-CLASSIC PEACH MELBA

Steps:

• Make the raspberry sauce: Put 1 cup raspberries and 2 tablespoons sugar in a blender and whiz to liquify. Pour through a fine-meshed strainer and into a medium bowl. Keep cool.
• Using a paring knife, peel and halve the peaches. Slice the halves into half-moon pieces about 3/8-inch thick. Transfer to a bowl. Add 2 teaspoons sugar and a few drops of lemon juice to taste. Toss to coat.
• To serve, arrange peach slices in the bottom of 6 dessert bowls. Top each serving with a scoop or 2 of vanilla ice cream. Splash raspberry sauce over each portion. Garnish with a few raspberries if you wish.

PEACH MELBA TARTS

Steps:

• Place ice cream in refrigerator to soften slightly.
• In a small nonstick pan, melt jam over low heat, stirring, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in water & cool for 5 minutes.
• Set aside 24 raspberries for garnish; add remaining 1 cup to jam mixture & stir gently.
• Spoon cooled raspberry sauce in tart crusts, about 1 tablespoon each.
• Stir together peaches, almond extract & toasted almonds. Remove ice cream from refrigerator, stir it smooth & fold in peach mixture.
• Working quickly, spoon 1/3 cup ice cream atop raspberries in each shell.
• Place pies on a baking sheet & freeze 4-6 hours.
• Before serving, garnish each tart with 2 reserved raspberried.
• **** To toast almonds, heat oven to 350º. Soread nuts on a baking sheet & bake 8-10 minutes. Cool completely.

PEACH MELBA SHORTCAKES

Steps:

• For cakes:
• Preheat oven to 350#176;F. Brush six 4-inch-diameter tartlet pans with 1 1/8-inch-high sides and removable bottoms* with melted butter. Place pans on baking sheet. Using electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup butter and sugar in large bowl until light. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in vanilla. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt over mixture in bowl. Mix slightly, then add buttermilk; beat until combined. Divide batter among prepared pans (about scant 1/2 cup each).
• Bake cakes until golden and tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 25 minutes. Transfer pans to rack; cool 5 minutes. Push up bottoms of pans to release cakes. Cool cakes on rack.
• For sauce and topping:
• Puree thawed raspberries with their syrup in processor. Strain through sieve set over bowl, pressing on solids to extract liquid. (Cakes and berry sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cover cakes and store at room temperature. Cover sauce and chill.)
• Combine peaches, fresh raspberries and 4 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl; toss to blend. Let stand until juices form, about 30 minutes.
• Beat cream, vanilla and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in medium bowl until stiff peaks form.
• Using serrated knife, cut cakes in half horizontally. Lightly sift powdered sugar over cake tops. Place 1 cake bottom on each of 6 plates. Top each with peach mixture, dividing equally. Spoon cream atop each. Cover with cake tops. Spoon raspberry sauce around cakes.
• *Tartlet pans are available at many cake and candy supply stores or by mail from Jane's Cakes and Chocolates, 2331 Honolulu Avenue, Montrose, CA 91020; 818-957-2511 or 800-262-7630.