April 10, 2012

RHUBARB AND STRAWBERRY TART

rhubarb and strawberry tart1

The idea for this recipe comes from one of my favourite cookbooks, “The Popina Book of Baking”. 

macaroons9

There are a couple of tarts in the book made using the same basic recipe, which consists of a pastry case, a sponge mixture filling and fruit arranged on top of that before baking. rhubarb and strawberry tart2 I decided to use rhubarb and strawberry because they had both just arrived in the shops and make a lovely combination of flavours.

rhubarb and strawberry tart4It baked perfectly, as it always does when I use this recipe.  I used a ready-made sweet pastry for the base, which I usually do, and although baking blind is not stated in the recipe I have never yet had a soggy bottom !!

I also always put on the apricot glaze, as it is worth the little extra effort for the glamour it adds to the finished tart.

The fruit combinations in the book are plum and apple, and nectarine and berry, the one which appears so temptingly on the cover.  Variations I have made myself are damson and apple (gorgeous) and a plum, blueberry, strawberry and raspberry version, basically using up the bits and pieces lurking in the fridge, which was also lovely.

TART3

 My plum, blueberry, strawberry and raspberry version of the tart.

Definitely a recipe to experiment with and it works beautifully every time.  You can use your imagination when deciding what fruit to put in !!

This is what you need.

1 sweet pastry case, home-made or shop bought.

40g unsalted butter at room temperature

90g caster sugar

1 egg

1½ tsp baking powder

90g plain flour

A few sticks of pink rhubarb

A handful of strawberries

2 tblsp apricot jam

This is what you do.

Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°fan/gas mk 3.  Grease a 20cm tart tin or dish.

Line the tart dish with the pastry. 

Beat the butter and sugar together until smooth.  Beat in the egg.  Add the flour and baking powder and combine.

Pour the mixture on top of the pastry case and level.

Cut the washed rhubarb into suitable lengths and arrange with the halved strawberries on top of the sponge mixture.

Bake for about 40 minutes until the sponge is golden and risen.  Remove from the oven and cool while you make the apricot glaze.

Put the apricot jam in a small saucepan and heat gently until runny.  Brush the melted jam over the still-warm tart.  Serve warm with cream or ice-cream.  Also nice cold.

Serves 6.

8 comments:

  1. good lord this is tarte heaven... I love this kind of bake, so buttery and light. The pictures are all fabulous and makes you want to reach in for a slice... can I?

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    1. Dom, sorry, we ate it all, but it's very easy to make !!

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  2. Jean, your recipes and photos make my mouth water every time. This is definitely one I'll be trying.

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    1. Perpetua, it's worth having a go......especially when you can get that lovely ready-rolled sweet pastry in France !! It would be super with some fresh French apricots......

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  3. Our rhubarb is looking good not too long now:) This recipe looks perfect. Diane

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    1. Diane - we are just back from France for a week and our own rhubarb has been under a bucket all winter - I just noticed that one of the plants has tilted the bucket over......best go take a look !!

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  4. A heavenly combination Jean- I've a whole bag full of rhubarb kindly donated by a generous neighbour... I think I've found where my next recipe is coming from!

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    1. Kate, a friend of mine pointed me in the direction of the rhubarb and strawberry combination last year and it's a match made in heaven.

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