Manchester tart Recipe
- butter, for greasing
- 500g/1lb 2oz ready-made shortcrust pastry
- plain flour, for dusting
- 200g/7oz raspberry jam
- 3 tbsp desiccated coconut, plus 3 tbsp desiccated coconut, toasted in a dry frying pan until golden-brown, to serve
- 300g/11oz fresh raspberries
- 500ml/17fl oz full-fat milk
- 1 vanilla pod, split, seeds scraped out with a knife
- 5 free-range egg yolks
- 125g/4½oz caster sugar
- 4 heaped tsp cornflour
- 2 tbsp icing sugar, for dusting
- 400ml/14floz double cream, whipped until soft peaks form when the whisk is removed
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6. Grease a 24cm/10in tart tin with butter.
- Roll out the shortcrust pastry onto a lightly floured work surface to a 0.5cm/Âźin thickness. Line the prepared tart tin with the pastry. Prick the pastry several times with a fork, then chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- When the pastry case has rested, place a sheet of baking parchment into it and half-fill with baking beans. Transfer the pastry case to the oven and bake for 15 minutes, or until pale golden-brown.
- Remove the baking parchment and baking beans and return the pastry case to the oven for a further 4-5 minutes, or until pale golden-brown.
- Spread the raspberry jam onto the pastry base in an even layer. Sprinkle over the three tablespoons of non-toasted desiccated coconut and half of the fresh raspberries. Set the pastry base aside.
- Bring the milk, vanilla pod and vanilla seeds to the boil in a pan, then reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer for 1-2 minutes. Remove the vanilla pod (it can be cleaned thoroughly and reused in another recipe).
- In a bowl, beat together the egg yolks and sugar until well combined.
- Pour the hot milk and vanilla mixture over the egg and sugar mixture, whisking continuously, until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Return the mixture to the pan over a medium heat. Whisk in the cornflour, a tablespoon at a time, until well combined, then heat, stirring continuously until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon.
- Transfer the custard mixture to a clean bowl and dust with the icing sugar (this prevents a skin from forming on the surface of the custard). Set aside to cool, then chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Whisk the whipped double cream into the chilled custard mixture until well combined.
- Spoon the custard and cream mixture into the pastry case in an even layer. Sprinkle over the remaining fresh raspberries.
- To serve, sprinkle over the three tablespoons of toasted desiccated coconut. Serve immediately.