It’s no surprise that after months of self-isolation the nation is suffering from ‘Lockdown Lethargy’. To bring a smile, fun and maybe even the opportunity of finding a new talent, Montezuma’s, the extraordinary British Chocolate has launched Montezuma’s Moments.
The series of easy to watch videos will run throughout the Summer hosted by a selection of creative experts who will share secrets, tips and a little insight into their skills for you to follow at home.
Cook and Food Writer, Rosie Birkett kick starts the Montezuma’s Moments online teach-ins with some delicious Montezuma’s recipes and tips. Perfect for the 47% of Brits stating that they have spent much of the lockdown cooking.
Chocolate, Cardamom and Hazelnut Tart
Serves 8-10
This tart is a wonderful example of how great quality chocolate can be elevated into a really special dessert. I love to serve it with fresh raspberries, which cut through its richness. This works beautifully for a celebratory meal or virtual dinner party.
For the hazelnut pastry
50g blanched hazelnuts
200g spelt flour (I used 100g wholegrain and 100g white)
20g icing sugar
Pinch of salt
90g chilled butter, cubed
1 egg yolk
1-2 tbsp iced water
For the filling
100ml milk
10 cardamom pods, bashed
130g dark chocolate
50g milk chocolate
240g crème fraiche
2 eggs
1 tsp ground cardamom
1. Prepare a 20cm, loose-bottomed tart tin. To make the pastry, blitz the hazelnuts in a food processor, until coarsely chopped. Add in the flours, sugar and salt and pulse again to mix.
2. Slide in the butter and blitz to a breadcrumb consistency. Add in the egg yolk and one tablespoon of the iced water and pulse to bind, adding the rest of the water if you need to, to bring the dough together.
3. Once it’s sticking together, but not feeling sticky, tip it out onto a work surface and bring it together into a smooth ball. Press down to a disc and then, between sheets of baking paper, because it will be very short and crumbly, roll it out to a circle that’s bigger than your tart tin and about the thickness of a pound coin.
4. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to one hour.
5. Heat the oven to 170 fan. Put the bashed cardamom pods into the milk and bring to just below the boil on a medium heat, then remove from the heat and allow to cool and infuse.
6. Take the pastry out of the fridge and run your hands over the baking paper to warm it up a little bit, as the butter will have stiffened in the fridge - you want it pliable. Use a rolling pin to transfer the pastry to the tart tin, then line it, patching up any tears, and prick the base with a fork.
7. Line with one of the pieces of baking paper you used to roll it out, fill it with baking beans and blind bake for 15 minutes. Then remove the paper and beans and bake for another ten minutes. Remove from the oven and turn the heat down to 150c.
8. To make the filling, set up a bain-marie with a couple of inches of water in a pan over medium heat. Break your chocolate into a metal or glass bowl and place it over the pan, so that the bottom isn’t touching the water. Melt the chocolate together, stirring. Take it off the heat when it’s 2/3rds melted and stir to finish the melting. Allow to cool for a few minutes.
9. Strain the milk into the crème fraiche and whisk to combine, then stir this through the melted chocolate. Crack in the eggs, pour in the remaining cardamom and whisk together to form a smooth custard. Pour this into the tart case and bake for 22-25 minutes, until set but still with a very slight wobble.
10. Allow to cool, then chill in the fridge for a couple of hours. Slice and serve with raspberries.
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