Pies And Tarts Recipes - Chocolate Pear Tart

Ingredients

• 115g/4oz plain chocolate, grated

• 3 large firm, ripe pears

• 1 egg

• 1 egg yolk

• 120ml/1/2 cup single cream

• 2.5ml/1/2 tsp vanilla essence

• 45ml/3 tbsp caster sugar

FOR THE PASTRY

• 150g/1 1/4 cup plain flour

• 1.5ml/1/4 tsp salt

• 30ml/2 tbsp sugar

• 115g/1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cu into pieces

• 1 egg yolk

• 15ml/1 tbsp lemon juice

---

Method:

1. For the pastry, sift the flour and salt into a bowl. Add the sugar and butter. Rub in until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Stir in the egg yolk and lemon juice. Form a ball, wrap, and chill for 20 minutes.

2. Preheat the oven to 200'C/ 400'F /Gas 6. Roll out the pastry and use to line a 25cm/10in tart dish.

3. Sprinkle the pastry case with the grated chocolate.

4. Peel, halve and core the pears. Cut in thin slices crossways, then fan out slightly. Transfer the pears to the tart using a palette knife and arrange like wheel spokes.

5. Whisk together the egg and egg yolk, cream and vanilla. Ladle over the pears and sprinkle with sugar.

6. Bake on a baking sheet for 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to 180'C/350'F/Gas 4 and cook until the custard is set and the pears begin to caramelize, about 20 minutes more. Serve while still warm.