Vanilla Rhubarb Tart Food

RHUBARB & CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Put the flour, icing sugar and a pinch of salt in a large bowl and mix together. Add the butter and rub together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 1 egg yolk, the vanilla and 1 tbsp cold water, and mix together until it just starts to come together as a dough. Tip the mixture onto a clean work surface and gently bring together with your hands. Wrap the pastry in cling film and chill for at least 1 hr before rolling out. Can be made 3 days ahead, or frozen for 2 months.
• Put the vanilla beans scraped from the pod (or the paste) in a pan over a medium-high heat, add the milk and bring to the boil. Meanwhile, tip the egg, yolks, sugar and cornflour into a bowl and whisk together until smooth. Pour the milk over the egg mixture, whisking to combine. Pour the custard back into the pan and cook, whisking constantly, for 2-3 mins until thickened. Scrape into a bowl and add the butter, mixing until melted and combined. Press a sheet of cling film onto the surface of the custard to stop a skin forming, and chill for 3 hrs. Can be made and chilled 3 days ahead.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry into a large rectangle big enough to line a 30 x 20cm fluted rectangular tart tin. Roll the pastry onto the rolling pin and carefully drape it into the tin, carefully lifting and pressing into the corners and edges. Roll your rolling pin over the tart tin, cutting off the excess. Chill for 30 mins or until the pastry is firm.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Line the tart with a piece of crumpled baking parchment and fill with baking beans or rice and place on a baking tray. Bake for about 30 mins, then remove the parchment and the beans, and return to the oven for another 5 mins or until the base is golden brown. Brush the inside of the tart with the remaining beaten egg yolk and return to the oven for 1 min to set (this creates a seal, meaning the pastry won't become soggy as quickly). Set aside to cool.
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Put the rhubarb batons in a small roasting tin (so that they are in one flat layer) and sprinkle over the sugar, the vanilla pod and its scraped out seeds, and the orange juice. Roast for 15-20 mins, or until the rhubarb has softened but is still holding its shape and a vibrant pink syrup has formed. Remove from the oven, discard the vanilla pod and allow to cool.
• Remove the custard from the fridge, beat to loosen, then pour over the pastry and smooth with a spatula. Top with the roasted rhubarb, brushing a little of the syrup on top, then sprinkle over the pistachios. Best eaten on the day its made.

FRENCH RHUBARB TART

Steps:

• Cut the rhubarb into 10.5cm batons, using pieces that are roughly the same width. Put the vanilla pod, sugar, lemon juice and 300ml water (or enough to just cover the rhubarb) in a wide frying pan or shallow casserole set over a low heat. Once the sugar has dissolved, add the rhubarb and simmer for 5 mins. Remove from the heat and leave to cool in the syrup, preferably overnight, or for at least 1 hr. This way your rhubarb should be perfectly cooked, but still hold its shape.
• To make the pastry, put the flour, almonds, sugar and butter in a food processor. Blitz until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. While the motor is running, add the egg yolk and dribble in 1-2 tbsp cold water. Tip onto a work surface and knead briefly to bring the mixture together to form a dough. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins.
• While your pastry chills, make the crème patisserie. Heat the milk and reserved vanilla seeds in a pan set over a medium heat until nearly boiling. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks, sugar and flours together in a large bowl until pale. Continue whisking while you pour the hot milk over the egg mixture. Wipe out the saucepan and strain the liquid back into the pan through a sieve. Set over a medium-low heat and stir continuously until the mixture has a thick custard consistency. Scrape into a clean bowl, cover the surface with cling film to prevent a skin from forming and chill for at least 1 hr or up to 2 days.
• Remove the pastry from the fridge. If it is a little hard, leave it at room temperature to soften for 10 mins or so. Roll out to 1mm thick on a lightly floured surface. Use the pastry to line a 12 x 35cm fluted rectangular tart tin, making sure you press the pastry into the fluted edges (you can use the blunt end of a knife to help you do this). Leave any excess pastry overhanging. Chill for 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Remove the pastry case from the fridge, line with baking parchment and fill with baking beans. Blind-bake for 20 mins, then remove the parchment and beans, and continue baking for 8 mins more until pale golden and biscuity. Use a sharp serrated knife to trim off the overhanging pastry to give you a clean edge. Cool in the tin.
• Remove the rhubarb pieces from their syrup and set aside. Return the syrup to the hob and boil until thick and sticky. Leave to cool slightly. To finish the crème patisserie, whisk the cream until it holds soft peaks and fold this into the chilled mixture. This is easier if you start by beating in a little cream and then folding in the remaining.
• Remove the pastry case from the tin and put on a plate. Fill with the crème patisserie and smooth over the surface. Carefully line up the rhubarb down the length of the tart case, trying to fit them in quite snugly. Use a pastry brush to glaze the tart with the rhubarb syrup. Chill for 30 mins before serving. This tart will keep for 3 days in the fridge, however it is best eaten on the day it is made.

RHUBARB MACAROON TART

Steps:

• Prepare the crust: Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the coconut in an even layer on a large rimmed baking sheet and toast until deep golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes, tossing occasionally and keeping a close eye in the last 5 minutes to avoid burning. Let cool completely. Using butter, grease an 8 1/2-by-12-inch fluted rectangle or a 10-inch fluted round pan with a removable bottom. Line the bottom with parchment and grease the parchment with butter.
• In a large bowl, combine the coconut, egg whites, sugar and salt; press into the prepared tart pan. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet until set, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Prepare the custard: Set a fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl. In a separate medium bowl or a large glass measuring cup, whisk together milk, cream and egg yolks. Add sugar and cornstarch to a medium saucepan; gradually whisk in milk mixture until smooth. Add the 2 tablespoons butter and vanilla bean and seeds and cook mixture over medium heat, whisking constantly, until it has thickened and just come up to a low boil, 6 to 7 minutes. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, for another minute. Pour custard through sieve, using a spatula to scrape it through and discarding any solids. Stir rose water into custard, if using, then pour mixture into prepared crust. Let cool slightly, then cover with plastic wrap pressed against the surface of the custard and chill until firm, at least 4 hours.
• Prepare the rhubarb: In a medium pot, combine sugar, 2 cups water and the vanilla bean and seeds, and bring to a boil. Simmer until the sugar dissolves, about 2 minutes. Stir in rhubarb, simmer for 1 minute, and remove from heat. Let cool completely.
• Gently remove the rhubarb from the cooled pot, letting the syrup drip back into the pot. Top the chilled tart with the rhubarb in a decorative pattern. Lift the tart out of the rim to serve.

VANILLA-RHUBARB TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to a 10-by-13-inch rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to prepared sheet and refrigerate 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together granulated sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Using your fingers, work vanilla seeds through mixture evenly. Add rhubarb and lemon juice; stir to combine.
• Arrange rhubarb mixture over dough, in a herringbone pattern if desired, leaving a 1 inch border. Fold edges of dough over to partially cover rhubarb. Brush crust with egg, sprinkle with sanding sugar, and bake until bubbling in center, 45 to 50 minutes.
• Using a pastry brush, spread bubbling juices over rhubarb to glaze. Let cool at least 30 minutes. Tart can be stored, tented with foil , at room temperature up to 1 day.

RHUBARB TART

Steps:

• For crust:
• Mix flour and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in, using off/on turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add sugar and egg yolks and process briefly to blend. Add 2 tablespoons water and process just until moist clumps form. If dough is dry, add more water by teaspoonfuls to moisten. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate until dough is firm enough to roll, about 30 minutes. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let soften slightly at room temperature before rolling.)
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Roll out dough disk on floured surface 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Trim crust overhang to 1/4 inch. Fold overhang in, creating double-thick sides. Freeze tart crust 15 minutes.
• Line crust with foil. Fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until sides are set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Bake until crust is golden brown, piercing with fork if bubbles form, about 15 minutes. Brush crust with jam and bake until jam is set, about 5 minutes more. Transfer pan to rack and cool.
• For filling:
• Combine sugar and water in heavy large skillet over low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves. Add lemon peel and cinnamon stick. Increase heat and bring to boil. Add rhubarb and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover pan and simmer until rhubarb is just beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Let stand covered until rhubarb is tender, about 15 minutes. Uncover and cool completely.
• Using slotted spoon, remove rhubarb from cooking liquid and arrange in concentric circles in crust. Strain cooking liquid into heavy small saucepan. Boil liquid until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Cool syrup completely. Spoon syrup over rhubarb. (Can be prepared 6 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

HAZELNUT PAVLOVA TART WITH VANILLA-SCENTED RHUBARB

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 275°F Lightly grease a 9-inch springform pan and line both the bottom and sides with parchment paper.
• Stir the ground hazelnuts with 1/3 cup of the sugar and the cornstarch and set aside.
• Whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy, then slowly pour in the remaining 2/3 cup of the sugar while beating and continue to whip the whites until they hold a stiff peak when the beaters are lifted (the whites will be thick and glossy).
• Fold the hazelnut mixture into the whipped whites, then fold in the vinegar and vanilla. Spoon the meringue into the prepared pan and use your spatula to spread it into a tart shape, spreading the meringue fully up the sides of the pan and an inch in thickness (it will shift a little when it bakes, but ultimately holds its shape).
• Bake for 90 to 120 minutes, until the meringue just starts to turn light brown and fills firm to the touch.
• Cool the meringue for 15 minutes, then gently pop the latch and carefully remove the springform ring. Cool completely and then peel away the parchment paper. If the paper does not peel away easily, return the meringue to the 275F oven (without the springform ring) for 10 ti 15 minutes just to dry a little more.
• Prepare the rhubarb by stirring the fruit with the sugar and the scraped seeds from the vanilla bean in the saucepot, and simmer on low heat, stirring occasionally until the rhubarb is tender, about 1 minutes. Stir the cornstarch with 2 tbsp of cold water and stir this into the rhubarb. Return the mixture to a simmer, stirring gently until thickened. Then remove from the heat and chill until ready to assemble.
• Whip the cream until it holds as soft peak, then stir in the sugar and vanilla and chill until ready to assemble.
• The pavlova should be assembled immediately before serving. Carefully place the meringue onto a platter, then dollop the Chantilly cream in the centre and spread gently. Spoon the rhubarb over the cream and serve. Slice and serve as you would a cake or tart.

RHUBARB CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Dough: Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor until combined. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal, with some pea-size pieces remaining. Drizzle 4 tablespoons ice water over mixture; pulse several times to combine. Add more water as needed, pulsing until mixture holds together when pinched. Shape dough into a rectangle and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day, or freeze up to 3 months; thaw completely in refrigerator before using.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle, about 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to a 9-by-12 1/2-inch rimmed baking sheet or a fluted tart pan with a removable bottom, fitting dough into corners and folding over extra to create a double-layered edge. Refrigerate 15 minutes.
• Line dough with parchment and fill to top with dry rice or beans, or pie weights. Bake until edges are golden and bottom is beginning to dry out, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove parchment and pie weights; continue baking until golden brown on bottom, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool 15 minutes.
• Filling: Meanwhile, cut rhubarb into 11-inch lengths (if some are shorter, that's okay). Using a sharp knife, score rhubarb along rounded sides on a diagonal at 2-inch intervals (this helps heat penetrate and break up the fibers, so the tart is easier to slice once cooked).
• In a medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, salt, eggs, cream, and vanilla; pour mixture into cooled crust. Arrange rhubarb lengthwise over top, scored-sides up; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Bake until tart is puffed, golden, and just set in center, 45 to 55 minutes.
• Let cool on a wire rack at least 1 hour before serving. To serve, run a spatula under tart to release from sheet, then slide onto a cutting board. Cut into squares; serve at room temperature or chilled. Tart is best eaten the day it's made, but can be refrigerated, covered, up to 1 day.

RUSTIC RHUBARB TART

Steps:

• Crust: In a food processor, combine flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse to mix. Add butter; pulse until coarse crumbs form. Pour 3 Tablespoon of the water over top of crumbs and pulse just until dough begins to come together. (If dough is dry, add the remaining water.) Gather dough into a ball; press into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.
• Filling: In a large bowl, toss rhubarb, 1/2 cup of the sugar, cornstarch, and 1/2 teaspoon of the grated orange zest until combined. Let stand 25 minutes, stirring occasionally. In a small cup, combine the remaining 2 Tablespoon sugar and the remaining 3/4 teaspoon grated zest.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured surface, with a floured rolling pin, roll dough into a 13-inch circle, pressing any cracks together at edges. Drape dough over rolling pin and transfer to baking sheet.
• Gently stir raspberries and ginger into rhubarb mixture. Spoon filling onto dough circle, leaving a 2-inch border of dough uncovered. Fold edge of dough up onto filling, pleating dough and pressing any cracks. Dot filling with butter. Brush dough with water and sprinkle sugar-zest mixture over dough and filling.
• Bake 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 375 degrees F. Bake 25 to 30 minutes longer, or until crust is brown and filling is bubbly. Let tart cool on pan on wire rack 15 minutes. With a spatula, slide tart onto wire rack to cool completely.

RHUBARB TART

Steps:

• On a lightly floured piece of parchment paper, roll out the dough to a 12-inch square, about 1/8 inch thick. With a dry pastry brush, sweep off excess flour; fit dough into a 9-inch square fluted tart pan with a removable bottom, pressing into corners. Using a sharp knife or a rolling pin, trim dough flush with pan. Prick the bottom of the dough all over with a fork. Chill tart shell until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line chilled shell with parchment, leaving at least a 1-inch overhang. Fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until edges are just beginning to turn golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove parchment and weights; continue baking until crust is deep golden brown all over, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool completely on a rack.
• Stir together 1 1/2 cups water, 1 1/2 cups sugar, vanilla bean and seeds, and beet (if using) in a large skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is completely dissolved and the mixture comes to a boil. Add rhubarb; turn off heat. Cover, and let stand until the rhubarb is tender and gives only slight resistance when pierced with the tip of a sharp paring knife, about 20 minutes.
• Carefully remove the rhubarb from the skillet with a slotted spoon, and spread it in a single layer in a baking pan lined with several layers of paper towels. Strain 1 cup of poaching liquid into a medium skillet. Cook over high heat until the syrup has thickened to a glaze, about 10 minutes; set aside until cool.
• Combine cream cheese, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar, and lemon zest in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; beat until smooth. Add sour cream, and beat until mixture is very smooth.
• Using an offset spatula, spread cream-cheese mixture evenly over the bottom of the cooled crust. Carefully arrange the poached rhubarb on top of the cream-cheese mixture, and drizzle with the reserved cooled syrup. Chill tart in the refrigerator, loosely covered with plastic wrap, until ready to serve, up to 4 hours.
• Cream-Cheese Tart Dough
• Place flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in the bowl of a food processor, and pulse several times to combine. Add the butter, and pulse until pieces are the size of peas. Add the cream cheese, and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Turn out the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap; use the plastic to help bring the dough together into a ball. Flatten to form a square, and wrap well with plastic. Chill the dough for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day before using.
• Rhubarb Tart how-to
• Adding a sliced beet to the poaching liquid helps the rhubarb take on a rosier hue; the vanilla bean adds an extra note of flavor.