Trinidad Style Coconut Tart Recipes

COCONUT TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Place a shallow 23cm flan tin on a baking tray. Tip the spices, coconut and sugar into a pan with 150ml water and cook over a low heat for about 5 mins, stirring frequently to ensure the mixture doesn't catch. Set aside to cool.
• Meanwhile, roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface and use to line the flan tin. Trim off the excess pastry, fill the pastry case with baking parchment and baking beans and cook for 15 mins. Remove the beans and cook for 5 mins more so the pastry on the base of the tin is just cooked, but not brown.
• Beat the egg and melted butter into the cooled coconut mixture, then spoon into the pastry case and smooth the top. Bake for 25 mins until the pastry is golden and the coconut pale golden. Serve with cream or real vanilla ice cream and some Cape gooseberries, then follow with cups of black Rooibos tea.

COCONUT SWEET BREAD - TRINIDAD

Steps:

• Mix and sift flour, baking powder and salt four times.
• Add sugar and fruit; blend evenly.
• Add coconut, cinamon and grated nutmeg and stir well.
• In another bowl combine the whipped eggs, milk, essence and cooled melted butter. Mix well.
• Make a well in the flour mixture.
• Pour the egg mixture into the well and stir with a spoon. Batter will be heavy and mixture will be fairly stiff.
• DO NOT KNEAD or bread will be tough. Mix entirely by spoon, assisted by a knife.
• Pile into 2 non-stick or greased loaf tins.
• Bake at 325 degrees for 50 - 60 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean.
• OPTIONAL: When done, glaze with mixture of 1 tablespoon sugar and one tablespoon water. Sprinkle with granulated sugar and Return to the oven for 3 -4 minutes.

COCONUT TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place frozen mini tart shells on a baking sheet.
• Beat the butter, sugar, egg, evaporated milk, and vanilla extract, mixing until fully combined. Stir in the coconut. Place 1/2 teaspoon of jam into each mini tart shell, and fill the shells with about 1 tablespoon of the coconut mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the shells and topping are lightly golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

TRINIDAD SWEETBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 5x9 inch loaf pans and set aside.
• Blend together the butter, sugar, eggs, evaporated milk and almond extract.
• Sift together the flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Add to wet ingredients and stir.
• Add coconut, coarsely mixed dry chopped fruit and raisins. Mix well and pour into prepared loaf tins.
• Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack.

TRINIDAD COCONUT TARTS

Steps:

• 1. In a shallow saucepan add sugar and coconut and cook over medium heat until mixture starts to bubble. The mixture will water a little. Add spices and continue to stir until the mixture comes together, about 20 to 30 minutes. Add a little water to prevent sticking. Remove and cool.
• 2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out pastry to about a quarter inch thick, cut out a four-inch diameter round. Place 1 Tbsp. of filling on the bottom portion of the pastry, leaving an edge of 1/4-inch around the filling. Bring the top portion over the coconut to cover it, crimp edges and seal with a fork. Repeat until all the pastry and coconut is used.
• 3. Brush with beaten egg and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

COCONUT TARTS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl of food processor. Add the butter and shortening, and pulse until crumbs the size of peas form. Slowly add 1 cup cold water until the dough just comes together. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
• In the meantime, combine the coconut, sugar, mixed essence, and 1 cup of water in a saucepan, and simmer the mixture until the sugar melts and liquid thickens to the consistency of maple syrup, about 30 minutes. Cool.
• To make the tarts: Preheat the oven to 350°F degrees. Dust the chilled dough with flour and divide into 15 balls. Flatten the balls and then roll out to 1/8 inch thick, dusting with flour as necessary to prevent sticking.
• Place 1 tablespoon of filling on the center of a disk. Lightly brush the edges of the disk with water and fold the dough over the filling to create a half-moon. Crimp the edges closed, using a fork. Repeat with the rest of the dough.
• Beat the egg yolk and milk together, and brush over the tarts. Prick each tart once or twice so that steam can escape. Bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the tarts are golden brown. Cool and serve.

CARIBBEAN COCONUT TART

Steps:

• Prepare the pastry as directed: In a bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and grated orange peel.
• With a pastry blender, cut in butter until fine particles form.
• Add 1 lightly beaten egg and stir with a fork until well blended; work with your hands until dough holds together in a ball. Divide into thirds.
• Set aside 1/3 of the pastry for lattice strips.
• On a lightly floured waxed paper, roll out the other 2/3 to a 12-inch circle. Use the paper to lift and gently turn pastry into a 10 1/2-inch tart pan with removable bottom (or 10-inch pie pan).
• Shape to bottom and sides of pan; trim excess from top edge of tart pan (or away from rim of pie pan).
• Bake in a 325*F oven for 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, divide remaining pastry into 10 pieces; on a lightly floured board roll each into a 10 to 12 inch rope. Cover and refrigerate while mixing filling.
• Filling: In a bowl lightly beat the eggs, then stir in sugar, salt and flour. Add coconut, orange juice and melted butter; mix well. Pour into prepared crust.
• Criss-cross ropes of dough on top of filling. Trim and press ends to edges of pastry. Return to a 325* oven and bake until crust is golden brown and center is set, about 40 minutes.
• Warm the jelly or jam until melted and carefully brush it over top of hot tart. Cool completely, as long as 24 hours, then remove sides of pan and cut tart in wedges.