White Chocolate & Almond Tarte with Sherry Soaked Currants
Preparation 30 Minutes
Cook 18-20 MINS Minutes
Serves 12
Method
-
Pre-heat oven to 180ºC (160°C fan-forced). Lightly grease a 34 x 12cm rectangular flan tin and place onto a flat baking tray.
-
Combine currants, sherry and orange rind. Set aside.
-
For the crust, combine almond meal, sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Add melted butter and mix until well combined. Press firmly into prepared tin and bake for 18-20 minutes until just golden. Set aside to cool.
-
For the white chocolate cream, combine chocolate and ¼ cup of the cream in a heat-proof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Mixing until chocolate is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
- Beat cream cheese, remaining cream and sugar until smooth. Add the cooled chocolate mixture, mixing until smooth.
- Remove crust from tin and place onto a serving platter. Sprinkle currants over the almond crust and spread with the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle with almonds, pomegranate and mint. Serve immediately or chill for later use.
Ingredients
Currants
¼ cup SUNBEAM Currants
1 tbsp sweet sherry
½ tsp finely grated orange rind
Almond Crust:
2 cups SUNBEAM Almond Meal
2 tbsp caster sugar
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
100g butter, melted
White Chocolate Cream:
100g white chocolate buttons
½ cup thickened cream
250g cream cheese, diced and softened
¼ cup caster sugar
Toasted almonds, pomegranate seeds and mint leaves, for decoration
Recipe Collection
Classic Christmas Pudding
- Combine fruit, brandy, rinds and apple. Cover and set aside overnight or for at least 2 hours.
- Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, beat in golden syrup. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition.
- Combine breadcrumbs, flour, spices and almonds. Add creamed butter mixture and soaked fruit, mixing well to combine.
- Grease a 2 litre capacity pudding basin, line the base with a double layer of baking paper.
- Spoon mixture into the basin and smooth top. Double line the top with baking paper rounds.
- Take a 60cm long piece of baking paper and 60cm piece of foil, layer and fold in half, make a 3cm pleat in the middle (this allows for any expansionof the pudding). Place sheets over pudding and secure tightly with string. Place a wire rack onto the base of a large saucepan, fill one third with water and bring to boil. Carefully place pudding onto wire rack making sure the water level comes about halfway up pudding basin. Cover and simmer for 6 hours, replenish water when needed.
- Remove from water, stand for 10 minutes before turning out. Serve cut into slices with cream and maple syrup.
Rainbow Couscous & Sultana Salad
In a small saucepan, bring water and salt just to the boil. Add couscous and stir once. Cover pan, remove from heat and set aside 10 mins, until water is absorbed.
Combine all dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well.
Fluff couscous with a fork and transfer to a large bowl. Add sultanas, chickpeas, veggies, herbs, and onions, and tosswell.
Drizzle salad with half of the dressing and toss again. Season to taste with salt and pepper if desired. Sprinkle salad withwalnuts and feta. Serve with remaining dressing.
Tips
- Store salad in a covered container in the fridge, for up to three days.
- Couscous can be substituted with cooked and cooled quinoa, if preferred
Chocolate Raisin Pudding
Pre-heat oven to 190°C (170°C fan-forced).
- Roughly chop raisins and place in a small saucepan with port. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- Place chocolate and butter in a bowl over simmering water, stirring often until melted and smooth. Cool slightly.
- Beat together the eggs, yolks and sugar until pale and increased in volume. Add chocolate mixture, mixing until well combined. Fold in flour with the raisins and mix well.
- Spoon mixture between 6 x 250 ml capacity oven proof serving dishes. Place onto an oven tray and bake for 10-12 minutes until just cooked. Allow to sit for 3-4 minutes before serving with cream or ice-cream.
Chocolate, Christmas, Gifting, Recipes, Sweet Treats
In slow 160 degree oven roast almonds on small tray for approx 10 min. Leave to cool then dice.
Roughly chop dates & apricots fairly fine. Place in small saucepan add water and heat on a low temperature till starting to soften.
Take off heat and stir in bi-carb till it starts to foam. Then set aside to cool.
Place biscuits in food processor and blitz to form fine bread crumbs. Add all the ingredients (except chocolate) and mix together, saving 10g of diced almonds to garnish.
Place in refrigerator for 1/2hr to cool and firm.
Melt Chocolate in a narrow deep jug for 1 minute in microwave, then 10-20sec intervals until fully melted.
Roll small balls of mixture and dip into melted chocolate. Use a fork to remove out of chocolate and tap excess off.
Place on tray covered in baking paper, garnish with almonds and refrigerate until set.
Orange & Olive Oil Almond Cakes (Gluten Free)
- Pre-heat oven to 180°C (160°C fan-forced). Line 12 x ⅓ cup capacity muffin moulds with paper cases.
- Combine flour, almond meal, sugar and baking powder in a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the oil, milk, eggs and orange rind until well combined. Add to flour mixture and mix until smooth. Pour between paper cases and sprinkle with flaked almonds. Bake for 20 minutes.Tip:
For those avoiding dairy, simply substitute the cows milk with your milk of choice.
Mini Fruit Tarts
Preheat oven to 200°C.
Add fruit mince in an even layer into tart case.
Cut out star shapes from shortcrust sheet.
Brush each pastry shape with beaten egg and place pastry egg-side down on fruit mince.
Bake tart about 20 minutes or until browned lightly. Dust with a little sifted icing sugar before serving.
