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Ingredients

For crème pâtissière

For the tarts

  • 300g shortcrust pastry
  • 400g mixed summer fruit, such as small strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and redcurrants
  • icing sugar, for dusting
  • a few chopped pistachios, if you like

Method

  • STEP 1

    To make the crème pâtissière, pour the milk into a pan. Split vanilla pod down its length using a small sharp knife (do not cut in half completely). Twist tip of the knife inside the pod to open out like a book at one end, then run the knife down its length to scrape out seeds. (See step 1)

  • STEP 2

    Put the seeds and empty pod in a medium-sized pan with the milk and bring slowly to a gentle boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for a couple of mins. (Step 2)

  • STEP 3

    Put egg yolks, sugar and flour into a bowl. Whisk with a hand electric mixer until the mixture becomes pale and fluffy – it should leave a trail that stays on the surface momentarily when the whisk blades are lifted. This whisking will take about 2 mins. (Step 3)

  • STEP 4

    Pour about a third of the hot milk into the bowl, whisking on a slow speed all the time until it has all been mixed in. Now whisk in the remaining milk, removing pod. (Step 4)

  • STEP 5

    Return the mixture to the pan, scraping it out of the bowl using a rubber spatula. Bring slowly to the boil, stirring all the time, until the custard is thickened, smooth and glossy. At first, it will look a bit lumpy, but persevere – keep stirring and it will become smooth. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 mins, stirring. (Step 5)

  • STEP 6

    Remove the crème pâtissière from the heat. Beat in the butter until it has melted, then scrape into a bowl. Cover the surface of the crème pâtissière directly with cling film (this will stop a skin forming). Leave to cool, then chill in the fridge until needed. (Step 6)

  • STEP 7

    Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Divide the pastry into 8 equal pieces. Roll out each one to line a 7-8cm deep fluted tartlet tin, trim leaving a little pastry sticking up above the tin. Line each one with a paper cake case and add a layer of baking beans. Put on a baking tray and bake for 10 mins, then remove the paper and beans and bake for a further 5 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden.

  • STEP 8

    Trim any pastry edges that need it with a small sharp knife. Remove from the tins and leave to cool on a wire rack.

  • STEP 9

    Halve or quarter any large strawberries and remove the stalks from any redcurrants, then mix the fruits together. Fill the pastry cases with crème pâtissière and pile a generous layer of fruits on top. Dust thickly with icing sugar and scatter over some chopped pistachios, if you like.

RECIPE TIPS
TIP

Measure your flour carefully. It should just be gently rounded on the tablespoon, not heaped. Too much flour will make the sauce too thick and give it a floury taste.Take care to keep the milk at simmering point to avoid it boiling away, thus reducing the quantity.Rinse the vanilla pod after use and dry it on kitchen paper. It can then be tucked into a jar of caster sugar to make vanilla sugar.The crème pâtissière will keep for up to three days in the fridge.

TIP

For a lighter finish for filling cakes, tip the crème into a bowl and whisk lightly, then fold in 150ml whipped double cream.Adding a little butter to the finished crème gives it a glossy finish.

Goes well with

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