Egg Custard Tart With Nutmeg Food

CUSTARD TART WITH NUTMEG PASTRY

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll the pastry out to about 1cm thick, then grate over a dusting of nutmeg using a fine grater. Fold the dough in half, then roll out again, to the thickness of 2 x £1 coins and large enough to line a 20cm loose-bottomed sandwich tin with some overhang. Press the pastry into the tin (leaving the excess draped over the sides), put onto a baking sheet and chill for 10 mins. Line the pastry with baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Bake for 20 mins, then remove beans and paper. Bake for another 15 mins until golden and sandy all over. Trim the edges of the tart with a sharp serrated knife.
• Turn oven down to 150C/130C fan/ gas 2. Whisk together the eggs and sugar in a large bowl. Put the cream, milk, vanilla pod and seeds into a saucepan and bring to the boil. Pour onto the eggs, whisking as you go. Sieve into a jug. Put the baking sheet onto the pulled-out oven rack, then pour in the custard, right to the top. You may not need every last drop. Grate over a nice layer of nutmeg, then slide gently back into the oven and bake for 1 hr. When it's ready, the tart should be set and pale golden on the top, and have just the merest tremor in the centre when you jiggle the tray. Cool completely, then serve in slices.

TRADITIONAL EGG CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Put the oven on to 190C, 375F,Gas 5
• Make your shortcrust pastry. Use our recipe for making your own pie crust if you prefer. Grease your flan dish & make sure you grease up the sides too.
• Roll out the pastry into the shape of your flan dish. Make sure there is enough to reach up the sides of your dish. I just place the dish over the pastry to see if I've rolled enough.
• Use your rolling pin to transfer the pastry to the dish.
• Gently push the pastry around the sides of the dish. It's easier to lift the pastry a little and then push into the sides.
• Use a sharp knife and trim the edges to make it tidy.
• If you spot any holes or bits of pastry missing, use some of your cut-offs to patch up.
• Now you will need to prepare the flan case to take the wet filling. You need to first 'Bake blind' the pastry. See here for more information. You need to bake blind for 20 minutes in the oven. 5 minutes before the end of baking blind, remove the weights used and return to the oven.
• Once you have baked blind your pastry, you need to get all your filling ingredients ready if you haven't done so already and reduce the oven temperature to 180 C, Gas 4, 350 F
• Prepare custard filling by hand whisking eggs in a mixing bowl.
• Heat milk & sugar in a pan and bring to the boil.
• Add the milk to the whisked eggs gradually, stirring as you pour, to prevent the eggs from scrambling.
• Pass the mixture through a sieve and allow to cool for 15 minutes, or immerse the bowl in cold water in the sink to cool the custard down a little.
• Carefully pour the mixture into the pastry case and sprinkle some nutmeg on the surface.
• Place in the oven, after 30 minutes, check if it's done. If the surface of the custard 'wobbles' too much when you move the dish, leave for a further 5 minutes.
• When done, leave to cool before removing it from the flan dish
• Some like to eat this tart warm, I enjoy it more after it has been chilled for an hour in the fridge. It is also easier to slice when it has cooled.

OLD-FASHIONED BAKED EGG CUSTARD TART WITH NUTMEG

Steps:

• To make the pastry, first of all sift the flour with the pinch of salt into a large bowl, holding the sieve up high to give it a good airing. Then add the lard and butter and, using only your fingertips, lightly and gently rub the fat into the flour, again lifting the mixture up high all the time to give it a good airing.
• When everything is crumbly, sprinkle in about 1 tablespoon of cold water. Start to mix the pastry with a knife and then finish off with your hands, adding a few more drops of water, till you have a smooth dough that leaves the bowl clean. Then pop the pastry into a polythene bag and let it rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, pre-heat the oven to gas mark 5, 375°F (190°C) and pop the baking sheet in to pre-heat on the centre shelf.
• After that, roll the pastry out into a circle on a surface lightly dusted with flour, giving it quarter turns to keep its round shape; it's a good idea at this stage to put the tin lightly on top of the pastry - the size needs to be 1 inch (2.5 cm) bigger all round. Now transfer it, rolling it over the pin, to the tin, and press it lightly and firmly around the base, sides and rim. Now take a sharp knife and trim the overlapping pastry. Then press the rim of the pastry so that about ¼ inch (5 mm) overlaps the edge.
• Next, roll the trimmings and cut out about 24 leaves, making veins in them with the blunt side of the knife. Now brush the whole surface of the pastry case with some of the beaten eggs, arranging the leaves all around the rim, overlapping them. Brush these, too, with beaten egg. Now prick the base of the tart with a fork, then place it on the baking sheet and bake on the centre shelf for 20 minutes, until the pastry is crisp and golden. Check after 4 minutes to make sure that the pastry isn't rising up in the centre. If it is, prick it again a couple of times, pressing it back down with your hands. After 20 minutes, remove it from the oven, leaving the baking sheet there, and reduce the temperature to gas mark 3, 325°F(170°C).
• Now place the cream in a saucepan and bring it up to a gentle simmer, then whisk the beaten eggs and sugar together in a large heatproof jug using a balloon whisk - but not too vigorously because you don't want to make bubbles. Then pour the hot liquid over the beaten eggs, add the vanilla extract and half the nutmeg and whisk briefly again.
• Now place the pie tin back on the baking tray with the oven shelf half out and have ready the rest of the grated nutmeg on a piece of foil. Carefully pour the filling into the pastry case (it will be very full) and scatter the rest of the nutmeg all over, then dot with the softened butter and bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes, until the filling is golden brown, firm in the centre and slightly puffed up. Serve it warm or slightly cooled at room temperature.

CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• The Case: Roll out the pastry into a rectangle and brush with beaten egg. Sprinkle on some icing sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Tightly roll the pastry, along the longest side, into a sausage roll and slice into discs (about 1-inch thick). With the palm of your hand press down into each disc, then roll out each one into a circle.
• Grease the bottom and sides of 6 oven-proof glasses with butter, then dip each into a bag of flour so that the flour sticks to the butter and shake off any excess. Put the center of the pastry circles on top of the floured oven-proof glass, and gently press the sides of the pastry onto the side of the glass (it should look a bit pleated). Place the glasses (rim side down) on a tray in a preheated 350 degree F.oven). When they are cooked, take them out of the oven and press the bottom of each pastry case, this will ensure that they have a flat bottom.
• The Custard: Break the eggs into a mixing bowl with the sugar and orange zest and whisk thoroughly. Scrape out the seeds inside of a vanilla pod and stir this into the egg mixture. Pour the cream into a saucepan and remove from the heat just before it boils. Pour the hot cream into the bowl of eggs, stirring all the time. Then transfer this mixture back to the saucepan, on medium heat and stir continuously until it has thickened.
• Pour the custard into the pastry cases and let sit to cool.
• Heat the sugar and water on a high heat until you have a golden caramel. As soon as this is ready, pour a thin layer on top of the custard.;

A TASTE OF HOME - BAKED EGG CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• In a thick bottomed pan mix the milk and cream, scrape out the seeds of the vanilla pod and add them to the mix.
• Heat the milk and cream mix and simmer for a couple of minutes to infuse the flavour - do not allow to boil.
• Remove from the heat and transfer to a cold mixing bowl.
• In a separate large mixing bowl add the flour, cornmeal, and butter.
• Rub together until like breadcrumbs.
• Add the almonds and sugar to the mix.
• Bind together with the egg (use only the whole egg).
• If too dry add a little additional beaten egg until the consistency is right - DO NOT add any liquid other than egg or it will become biscuity when cooked.
• Allow the pastry to rest in a cool place for 30 minutes.
• Pre heat the oven to 120°C degrees.
• Roll out the pastry until approx 3mm thick.
• Using round a pastry cutter cut out circles of the pastry and line individual tartlet cases.
• Allow these to rest for 20 minutes in a cool place.
• Bake in the oven until blind baked - approx 10 minutes.
• Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Brush the insides of the pastry cases with the liquid egg yolk so they are just coated - this is to seal the pastry case before adding the egg custard mix so the pastry stays as crisp as possible.
• Return to the oven for 5 minutes to seal the cases.
• Into the milk and cream mix that has been allowed to cool completely add the eggs and sugar - whisk these together well.
• Through a fine sieve strain the egg mix to ensure the custard has no shell in it.
• Pour the custard mix carefully into the tartlet cases - taking care to not over fill.
• Grate a light covering of nutmeg over the tarts.
• Place carefully in the oven
• If possible and your oven shelf will pull out and remain steady put the tray of tartlet cases on the oven shelf before filling so as to not have to move the filled tartlets except to push the shelf back in the oven.
• Cook for approx 20 minutes.
• When the custard is firm to the touch the tarts are done.
• Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
• Serve as desired but with a pouring of fresh cream is delicious.

EGG CUSTARD TART WITH NUTMEG

Steps:

• Make the crust: In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar, and salt to combine. Add butter, and pulse until combined. Whisk together egg yolk and water; drizzle over flour mixture, and pulse until dough just comes together, not more than 30 seconds. Shape dough into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 1 hour or up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to an 11-inch round, 1/8 inch thick. Fit into a 9-by-2-inch round fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Refrigerate or freeze until firm, about 30 minutes. Line with parchment, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake 15 minutes. Remove weights and parchment, and bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes more. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. (Keep oven on.)
• Make the filling: With the tip of a paring knife, scrape seeds from vanilla bean into a saucepan, and add pod. Add cream and milk, and bring to a simmer. Remove pan from heat, and cover. Let stand 10 minutes.
• In a large bowl, whisk together egg yolks and granulated sugar until pale and thick, about 2 minutes. Still whisking, add warm cream mixture in a slow, steady stream. Add arrowroot and nutmeg. Whisk until smooth. Strain through a fine sieve into baked and cooled crust. Skim foam from surface.
• Bake until edges of filling are firm but center is still slightly wobbly, about 40 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Refrigerate 4 hours (or, wrapped tightly in plastic, up to 1 day). Before serving, unmold, sprinkle with lots of nutmeg, and dust lightly with confectioners' sugar.