serves
6-8
prep
15 minutes
cook
55 minutes
difficulty
Mid
serves
6-8
people
preparation
15
minutes
cooking
55
minutes
difficulty
Mid
level
Ingredients
Sweet shortcrust pastry
- 200 g plain flour
- 1½ tbsp icing sugar
- 100 g cold unsalted butter, cut into roughly 1cm dice
- 1 medium egg, lightly beaten
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 30 ml (1½ tbsp) cold water
Filling
- 350 g cooked peeled beetroot (vacuum-packed is fine, but not beetroot in vinegar)
- 125 ml thick (double) cream
- 2 large eggs
- 175 g dark muscovado sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
- crème fraîche, to serve
Pastry resting time: 15 minutes
Instructions
1. Heat your oven to 200°C / gas 6 and have ready a 23cm loose-based tart tin, 3cm deep.
2. For the pastry, mix the flour and icing sugar together in a bowl. Add the diced butter and rub it in lightly with your fingertips until the mixture looks like fine breadcrumbs. Alternatively, do this in a food processor or a mixer and then transfer to a bowl.
3. Mix the egg with the lemon juice and water. Make a well in the centre of the flour mixture and pour in the egg mix. Using a table knife, work the liquid into the flour to bring the pastry together. If it seems too dry, add a splash more water. When the dough begins to stick together, use your hands to gently knead it into a ball. Wrap in cling film and rest in the fridge for at least 15 minutes.
4. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to about a 3mm thickness and use it to line the tart tin, leaving excess pastry hanging over the edge. Keep a little uncooked pastry back in case you need to patch any cracks later.
5. Line the pastry case with baking parchment or foil, then fill with baking beans, or uncooked rice or lentils. Bake blind for 15 minutes, then remove the parchment and baking beans and return the tin to the oven for about 8 minutes or until the pastry looks dry and faintly coloured. Using a small, sharp knife, trim away the excess pastry from the edge. Use a tiny bit of the reserved raw pastry to patch any cracks or holes if necessary.
6. Turn the oven down to 180°C / gas 4.
7. Meanwhile, for the filling, if you’re using pre-packed beetroot, drain away any excess liquid. Roughly chop the beetroot and put into a food processor with the cream. Blend to a thick purée. Whisk the eggs and sugar together thoroughly. Add the beetroot purée, spices and lemon zest and mix well.
8. Pour the mixture into the pastry case and bake for 30–40 minutes until the filling is set with a slight wobble in the middle. Leave to cool completely. Serve with crème fraîche.
Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
