This decadent tart with it’s almond crust, strawberries and ricotta filling makes the perfect dessert for summer.
Home Cooking Adventure
Ingredients:
Almond Sweet Pastry
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup ground almonds
1 stick (110 g) cold unsalted butter, cut into small (1/2-inch) cubes
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1-2 tbsp ice water
Ricotta Filling
1 pound (500 g) ricotta cheese
1 tbsp minced fresh mint
juice of 1 lemon
zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup powdered sugar
Almond extract
Strawberry Glaze
3 tbsp strawberry jam
1 tbsp water
Topping
1 1/2 pound fresh strawberries
1 tbsp chopped almonds
Directions
1. Prepare the sweet pastry. In a large bowl mix flour with sugar and salt. Incorporate butter to the flour, using a pastry blender, a fork or a pastry processor, until crumbs are formed. Add egg and vanilla extract and mix them in. Add water and incorporate into the dough. Wrap it with plastic, press slowly to form a disk and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
2. On o floured surface or over the plastic wrap roll the dough to a circle with about 1 1/2 inches larger than your tart pan. Lift up the rolled dough and place it on a greased 11 inch tart pan lined with parchment paper. Remove the edges and refrigerate for 30 minutes before baking.
3. Preheat the oven to 350 F (180C).
4. Prick the dough with a fork and line a parchment paper over the dough. Fill with dry beans, rice or pie weights.
5. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the weights and the parchment paper. Return to oven for another 10 to 15 minutes.
6. Brush the shell with beaten egg and return to oven for 2 minutes more, to seal the shell.
7. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before removing the shell out of the tart pan.
8. Prepare the ricotta filling. In a large bowl place the ricotta cheese with sugar, lemon zest, lemon juice, almond extract and minced mint. Mix it well and refrigerate until ready to fill the tart.
9. Prepare the strawberry glaze. Heat the strawberry jam and water and strain it through a sieve. Set aside to cool.
10. Assemble the tart. After removing the tart shell from the pan (if desired) start filling it with ricotta mixture. Add halved strawberries on top and brush with strawberry glaze. Sprinkle chopped almonds on top and refrigerate to cool.
