Egg Custard Tarts With Bananas And Caramel Food

EGG CUSTARD TARTS

Steps:

• Make the puff pastry: Cut the butter into 3/4 cup flour in a medium bowl with a fork, then knead with your hands until the dough comes together. Transfer the "oil dough" to a piece of plastic wrap and pat into a 7 1/2-inch square; wrap in the plastic and refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix the egg, water and remaining 3/4 cup flour in a separate bowl, then knead with your hands until the dough comes together, adding more flour as needed if the dough is too sticky. Transfer the "water dough" to a piece of plastic wrap; wrap in the plastic and refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Unwrap the "water dough" and roll out into an 11-inch square on a lightly floured surface. Place the "oil dough" square on top and turn it so that it looks like a diamond. Fold the sides of the "water dough" over the "oil dough" to enclose completely.
• Roll out the folded dough into an 11-inch square and mark it into thirds. Fold in the outer thirds over the center third, like a letter. Roll out the folded dough into a large square again. Repeat twice (folding like a letter, then rolling into a square), refrigerating the dough as needed if it becomes too soft.
• Mark the square of dough into fourths. Fold the outer fourths into the center, then fold in half like a book and roll out again. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 20 minutes.
• Butter 12 small (2 1/2- to 2 3/4-inch-diameter) fluted tart pans. Unwrap the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out circles with a round cutter (about 1/4 inch larger than your tart pans). Refrigerate 20 minutes, then press the dough into the tart pans. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• Make the egg custard: Heat the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, 3 to 5 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Whisk the eggs into the cooled sugar syrup, then stir in the evaporated milk, vanilla and salt. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup.
• Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Arrange the tart pans on a baking sheet. Divide the custard among the pans, filling each about three-quarters full. (Do not overfill or the tarts could overflow; you may not use all of the custard.)
• Bake until the crusts are golden and the filling puffs slightly, about 45 minutes. Let cool 5 to 10 minutes in the pans, then carefully tap the bottoms to remove the tarts and transfer to a rack to cool completely.

BANANA CARAMEL TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450F.
• For the Crust: In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar, with an electric mixer, until blended.
• Beat in yolk, vanilla, and salt.
• Add flour and beat until moist clumps form.
• Press dough into bottom of 9 inch tart pan with removable bottom.
• Pierce with fork and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Bake crust until golden (about 15 minutes).
• Cool.
• For the Banana Topping: Reduce oven temperature to 375F.
• Overlap banana slices on crust, covering completely.
• Brush melted butter over banana slices and sprinkle with sugar.
• Bake until just warmed through (4 minutes).
• Drizzle with some caramel sauce (recipe follows).
• Sprinkle with macadamia nuts.
• Serve with ice cream and pass extra caramel sauce around.
• For Caramel Sauce: In a heavy saucepan, heat the cream over medium low heat until bubbles form, along the edges of the pan.
• Keep warm.
• In a heavy saucepan, combine the sugar and lemon juice until well mixed.
• Cover the pot and place it over medium high heat until the sugar melts and bubbles, about 4 minutes.
• Remove the cover and occasionally swirl the pan or stir the mixture until the syrup is a golden amber color, 5 to 8 minutes.
• While cooking, brush the sides of the pan with a wet brush just above the bubbling sugar to keep crystals from forming.
• Stirring constantly, slowly pour in the warm cream.
• Bring to a boil, continuing to stir constantly.
• Cook until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes.
• Remove the sauce from the heat, add the butter, and stir until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth.
• Serve immediately or cool to room temperature, then cover tightly and refrigerate for up to two weeks; reheat in a pan of simmering water or a microwave.

HONG KONG EGG TARTS

Steps:

• For the butter dough: Put the flour and butter in a food processor and process to a thick, smooth paste, about 2 minutes. Transfer the dough to plastic wrap using a metal spoon and shape into a 5-inch square. Chill in the refrigerator until needed.
• For the water dough: Put the flour, sugar, salt and 3 tablespoons of the beaten egg in the same food processor (reserve the remaining beaten egg for the egg filling). Pulse a few times to combine. Stream in the cold water while pulsing until a ball forms that is shaggy and not sticky, about 2 minutes. Wrap the dough into a rough square with plastic wrap and chill in the freezer for 20 minutes.
• For the egg filling: While the doughs are resting, put the milk and sugar in a small pot and heat over high heat until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Let cool completely, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk together the eggs and reserved beaten egg in a large bowl until no visible egg whites remain, about 1 minute. Whisk in the evaporated milk, vanilla extract and cooled milk mixture. Strain the filling through a fine-mesh sieve twice into a 2-cup liquid measuring cup with a spout. Skim off any foam on the surface of the egg filling. Wrap the measuring cup with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until needed.
• Prepare the pastry: Roll the water dough on a lightly floured surface using a rolling pin to a 10-inch square. Position the butter dough in the center of the water dough in the shape of a diamond. Wrap the outer dough around the butter layer and seal in the edges; make sure to brush away excess flour with a pastry brush. Roll the dough out to a 6-by-12-inch rectangle. Fold both short sides toward the center and then fold in half like closing a book. Wrap in plastic and chill in the freezer for 20 minutes.
• Roll out the dough to a 6-by-12-inch rectangle with the smooth side of the dough to the left side. Fold both short sides toward the center and then fold in half like closing a book. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the freezer for 20 minutes. Repeat this process of folding and resting one more time.
• After the final 20-minute rest, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to an 11-by-14-inch rectangle, slightly thinner than 1/4-inch thickness. Cut out 12 rounds of dough using a 3 1/4-inch round cutter. Stack the rounds with plastic wrap between each layer and chill in the freezer until firm, about 10 minutes.
• Center one dough round onto each of twelve 3-inch egg tart molds and press the dough up the edges of each mold from the bottom to the top, thinning out the bottom. Put the egg tart molds on the prepared baking sheet. Dock the bottom of each dough round 3 times using the tines of a fork. Chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Adjust an oven rack to the lowest position and preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Carefully pour the egg filling into the 12 tart shells (about 1 1/2 tablespoons in each; there should be about 1/4 inch of space between the egg filling and top edges of the crust). Bake the egg tarts until the crusts are starting to brown around the edges, 20 to 22 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue to bake until the crusts are light golden brown and the fillings have puffed slightly, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool in the oven with the door ajar until the egg filling gently settles back down, about 5 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack until cool enough to handle, about 15 minutes. Remove the egg tarts from the molds and enjoy slightly warm or completely cooled.

BAKED CARAMEL CUSTARD

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Melt brown sugar in a saucepan over medium heat until it turns to liquid and begins to caramelize. Pour into 6 custard cups, shaking cups to make sure the sugar is evenly distributed. Don't touch the sugar because it will be very hot.
• Mix the remaining ingredients together and pour into each custard cup. Fill a large baking pan with 1-inch of hot water. Place custard cups in the water bath and bake for about 45 to 50 minutes, or until just set. Cool in the baking pan until they reach room temperature. Remove from water bath and chill. To serve, quickly turn each cup over onto an individual serving plate. The sugar will have turned into a delicious syrupy glaze. For an extra treat, serve with fruit and whipped cream.

EGG TARTS

Steps:

• For the tart crust: Combine the flour and salt in a medium mixing bowl and whisk together. Add the butter and coconut oil and rub between your fingers until nickel-size flakes of fat are evenly dispersed into the flour. Add the cold water and gently mix into a shaggy mass. Turn out onto a piece of plastic wrap, press together into a disc, wrap tightly and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Spray a muffin tin with 2 1/2-inch-diameter cavities with cooking spray. On a lightly floured countertop, roll out the dough to 1/8 inch thick. Cut rounds with a 3 1/2-inch cutter or bowl. Press the rounds into the greased muffin tin and refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• For the filling: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• While the crust is chilling, bring the sugar, salt and 1/3 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Let cool to warmish. In a measuring cup (or something with a spout), beat together the whole eggs and yolk. Add the warm sugar syrup and whisk to combine. Add the cream and almond extract and whisk to combine. Strain the filling through a mesh sieve.
• Pour the filling into the prepared shells (they should be about 85% filled). Bake until the filling has puffed up and set and the crust is golden, 30 to 35 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from the muffin tin and eating. The egg puff will fall, but it's ok. These will keep in the refrigerator for a couple of days.

BANANA CUSTARD TARTS

Steps:

• Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a 20p coin. With a 14cm wide saucer, cut out 6 circles of pastry, then use to line six tartlet tins, 9cm in diameter. Chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line each pastry case with crumpled baking parchment, then fill with baking beans. Bake the pastry for 15 mins, then remove the paper and beans. Bake for another 5 mins until the pastry is cooked and lightly golden. Remove from the oven, then leave to cool. Reduce oven to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2.
• In a pan, heat the milk and cream together to scalding point. Beat the eggs, egg yolk, sugar and nutmeg together, then pour in the hot milk and cream and gently beat, incorporating as little air as possible. Toss the bananas in lemon juice, divide them between the pastry cases, cut-side up, then fill with custard. Bake for 30 mins until just set. Remove from the oven and leave in the tins for 5 mins, before turning them out to cool on a wire rack. Finish with an extra grating of nutmeg.

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.

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.

CHINESE EGG TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease 12 small (3 1/2-inch) fluted brioche pans.
• Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together in a mixing bowl. Add butter and cold water; mix until dough forms into a ball.
• Roll dough on a lightly floured work surface with a lightly floured rolling pin to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut dough into rounds and press lightly into the prepared pans.
• Mix hot water and sugar in a bowl until sugar melts. Whisk in eggs; pour in evaporated milk and vanilla extract and mix well. Divide egg mixture between dough shells.
• Bake in the preheated oven until egg is almost firm in the middle, 14 to 16 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

CHINESE STYLE EGG CUSTARD TARTS

Steps:

• Direction to make crust.
• Mix sugar, butter and flour.
• Then add egg and vanilla extract.
• Mix well.
• Texture of dough should be slightly moist, not dry (add margarine if too dry), and not oily (add flour if too oily).
• Pull dough and make a ball shape to about 1.
• 5 inch diameter, then press into tart mould, start from the center then push up until it goes higher than the side, then use two fingers to shape the edge to a A shape.
• Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted.
• Cool down to room temperature.
• Add eggs, vanilla extract and evaporated milk.
• Filter the mixture through the strainer.
• Pour into the tart crust.
• Preheat oven for 10 minutes.
• Bake at 230 degrees (C) for 15-20minutes until golden brown and the filling raise up a little bit.

EGG CUSTARD TARTS

Steps:

• Beat the eggs, stir in the milk and the sugar.
• Add the yellow food coloring if using.
• Let the filling rest for a few minutes to let some of the air bubbles burst.
• Pour into tart shells.
• Bake at 350 about 35 minutes or until the custard is cooked and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• Cool.