Sunday 3 August 2014

Strawberry Devonshire Tart

  photo SAM_6404_zps53ec51ec.jpg

If you have never tasted an English Strawberry . . .  freshly picked, with the straw still clinging to it's leaves and the warmth of the sun still on it's flesh . . .  well, you have missed out on something very special indeed.  That is not to say that you can't get lovely berries in other places  . . .  and I may be a bit biased in saying this . . .  but I do believe that English berries are the best!




 photo SAM_6405_zps78c4875b.jpg

We are about at the end of ours now . . .  which makes me kind of sad because, other than the ones I managed to freeze, or make into jam . . .  that's it for a whole 'nother year.  Sigh . . . I won't eat berries in the winter that are lacklustre and dull . . . and flown in from hundreds or maybe even thousands of miles away.  They just cannot compare to British summer berries.  End of.

 photo SAM_6398_zps49eecf2c.jpg

And so . . .  I don't do them any other time of year.   Fresh and local does it for me, every time.   I took advantage of the last of our berries this year and made a delicious Strawberry Devonshire Tart.  I had no made one in ages and ages . . .

  photo SAM_6407_zpsfa3ec839.jpg

I used to make one at least once or twice a season when the kids were growing up.   With it's crisp buttery pastry and creamy base . . .  not to mention those tart/sweet berries layered on top and glazed with a sweet strawberry glaze, I found myself wondering why I had waited so long?

 photo SAM_6409_zps387d203d.jpg

Why indeed!  I had never made one of these for Todd.  (We will have been married 14 years in November, which tells you just how long it had been since I made one!)  He thoroughly enjoyed.  I don't think I'll be getting away without making one next year!

  photo SAM_6412_zps114bd8ce.jpg

*Strawberry Devonshire Tart*
Makes one 9 inch tart
This is a must make every summer.   Crisp pastry, with a creamy filling topped with sweet berries and a delicious glaze.  Fabulous!


For the pastry:
140g of plain flour (1 cup)
1 TBS sugar
6 TBS butter at room temperature
1 large free range egg yolk, beaten with 1 TBS ice water

For the filling
1 small package of cream cheese, at room temperature (85g or 3 ounces)
3 TBS sour cream
1 TBS icing sugar, sifted
900g of strawberriess (about 1 1/2 quarts)
200g sugar (1 cup)
3 TBS corn flour (cornstarch)
few drops red food colouring

 photo SAM_6411_zps06688a57.jpg

Make the pastry first.    Put the flour and sugar into a food processor.  Blitz to combine.   Drop in the butter, cut into bits. Pulse until the mixture resembles fine bread crumbs.  With the motor running on low, add the egg yolk mixture a bit at a time to combine.  Tip out onto a lightly floured surface and shape it into a flat round.  Wrap with cling film and chill for about half an hour.

 photo SAM_6414_zpsd4772c9d.jpg

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5.  Have ready a 9 inch tart tin with a removable bottom.  Roll the pastry out between two sheets of cling film in a round large enough to  line the tart tin.   Remove the top piece of cling film.   Lower the pastry down into the tart tin, centering it.   Gently ease it into the corners all around.  Pull off the cling film gently and press the pastry into the pan.  Trim off any excess by rolling a rolling pin across the top of the pan.  Prick all over with a fork.  Bake for 15 minutes until crisp and golden brown.   Cool completely before proceeding.

 photo SAM_6415_zps4202d2bd.jpg

Beat the cream cheese, sour cream and icing sugar together to combine.  Spread on the bottom of the tart base.     Wash and hull the berries.   Place in an even round covering the cheese mixture, pointed sides up, reserving about 1 cup for glaze.   Place in the refrigerator to chill while you make the glaze.   Mash the remaining berries.  Put through a sieve into a saucepan.  Mix in the sugar and corn flour.  Add 113ml of cold water (1/2 cup).  Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until the mixture is clear and thickened.   Allow to cool slightly.  Whisk in a couple drops of food colouring.   Pour this mixture evenly over top of the berries in the tart.  Chill in the refrigerator for about an hour before serving.

8 comments

  1. I love strawberries Marie and we can find amazing strawberries here but not yet.I have to wait until spring...
    This tart look perfect and beautiful.
    xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Gloria. It IS quite a nice tart. I always think it is so amazing that your seasons are the reverse to ours. Part of what makes this planet so amazing I guess!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh dear, what a pity!!! I have spent 6 months in Devon and I've never tried berries .. Have a nice sunday!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh Serena! The berries are lovely! You need to try some before they are all gone! xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. That looks like perfection Marie.!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thanks Monique! The pastry is nice and crisp!

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by. I love to hear from you so do not be shy!


BEFORE LEAVING A COMMENT OR RATING, ASK YOURSELF:
Did you make the recipe as directed? Recipe results are not guaranteed when changes have been made.

Is this comment helpful to other readers? Rude or hateful comments will not be approved. Remember that this website is run by a real person.

Are you here to complain about ads? Please keep in mind that I develop these recipes and provide them to you for free. Advertising helps to defray my cost of doing so, and allows me to continue to post regular fresh content.

Thanks so much for your understanding! I appreciate you!