Pansy Tartlets Recipes

PANSY TARTLETS

Steps:

• Place apricot jam and 1 1/2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan; set over medium heat. Bring to a simmer while stirring. Remove from heat; pour hot liquid through a fine strainer set over a heat-proof bowl. Discard solids. Return liquid to saucepan; set aside.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of Pate Brisee into a 10 1/2-by-14-inch rectangle. Cut into twelve 3 1/2-inch squares. Press one square of dough into one of twelve 2 1/4- or 2 3/4-inch tartlet pans. Trim edges with a knife. Repeat with remaining dough. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Prick shells all over with a fork. Place a 3-inch square of aluminum foil into each shell. Fill shells with dried beans, rice, or pie weights; place on a baking sheet. Transfer to oven. Bake 13 minutes. Remove foil and weights. Bake until golden, about 5 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• Combine eggs yolks, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a heavy saucepan. Combine with a whisk. Set over medium heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon and scraping bottom and sides of saucepan. Cook until mixture is thick enough to coat back of the wooden spoon, about 20 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat. Add butter, one piece at a time, stirring with wooden spoon until smooth. Pour lemon curd into the shells until three-quarters full. Transfer tartlets to refrigerator for 30 minutes.
• Using your fingers, rub the pansy petals with water. Place a moistened pansy in the center of each tartlet. Reheat the reserved jam until melted; generously and gently brush the tops with jam. Refrigerate in an airtight container until serving.

PATE BRISEE FOR PANSY TARTLETS

Steps:

• Combine flour, salt, and butter in a food processor. Process until mixture resembles coarse meal, about 8 seconds. Add 1/4 cup ice water in a slow stream through feed tube. Pulse until mixture holds together. Add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed, until dough holds together when squeezed.
• Divide dough into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a desk, cover with plastic wrap, and chill at least 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 5 (4 1/2-inch) tartlet pans with nonstick spray.
• Divide the cookie dough into 5 equal-sized balls. Press each dough ball into the tartlet pans; making sure it covers the sides and bottoms. Put the pans on a cookie sheet and bake until golden, about 15 to 18 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and let cool completely. Turn the oven down to 325 degrees F.
• Put the chopped chocolate into a bowl. Add the heavy cream to a small saucepan over low heat. Bring the cream up to a low simmer. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Stir or whisk the chocolate and cream until smooth and melted. Stir in the corn syrup, sugar, and salt. Whisk in the beaten egg. Ladle the filling into the cooled tart shells and bake until the filling is set and the surface is glossy, about 15 to18 minutes. Remove the tartlets from the oven and let cool. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate shavings and serve.

FRESH FRUIT TARTLETS

Steps:

• Line tartlet tins with the pastry (use boat-shaped tins if you have them). Bake blind in a preheated oven at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. When cold, brush the inside of the tartlet cases with the melted chocolate and leave to harden.
• Mix together the cream cheese and double cream until very smooth, then add the sugar and vanilla essence. Fill the tartlet cases with the cream mixture and arrange the fruit on top. Brush with the apricot or red currant glaze, depending on the fruit used, and leave to set.
• Sift the flour and salt together and rub in the butter and lard until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Add the cheese, if using, and bind with a little cold water. Chill for 30 minutes and then roll out and use as above.

FIG TARTLETS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment. Divide the pastry into 6 pieces. Roll out each piece to the thickness of a £1 coin and cut into a 11-12cm round, using a cutter or saucer as a guide. Place on the baking sheet and mark 1cm in from the edge, taking care not to cut right through the pastry. Fork over the pastry inside the marked line.
• Slice each fig and arrange, overlapping, inside the marked line of the tartlets. Brush with the butter and sprinkle with icing sugar. Can now be chilled for up to 5 hrs. Bake for 18-20 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden on the edges.
• Warm the jelly in a small pan, brush over the tartlets, then dust with more icing sugar. Serve warm from the oven or at room temperature, with Pistachio ice cream (see 'Goes well with...') or crème fraîche.

EASY LEMON BERRY TARTLETS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine the thawed raspberries and confectioners' sugar; mash with a fork. Spoon into tart shells., In another small bowl, combine cream cheese and lemon curd. Pipe or spoon over filling. Top with fresh raspberries if desired.