Tartlets with Chocolate and a Heart of Mou

17/11/2023

Tartlets with chocolate and a heart of mou are a delight for sweet lovers! Here’s how to make them with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

250 g of shortcrust pastry (you can prepare it or buy it ready-made)
150 g of good quality dark chocolate
100 g of sugar
100 ml of fresh cream
50 g of butter
a pinch of salt

For the heart of mou (soft caramel):

100 g of sugar
80 ml of fresh cream
30 g of butter
a pinch of salt

Preparation

Start with the preparation of the mou. Dissolve the sugar in a thick-bottomed pot over medium heat until you get a golden caramel. Add the butter and mix well. Then, carefully, pour in the fresh cream (it may splatter due to the heat) and continue stirring until you get a smooth cream. Add a pinch of salt and let it cool.
Roll out the shortcrust pastry and line some previously buttered and floured tartlet molds. Prick the bottom with a fork to prevent it from puffing up during baking.
Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C.
Pour a teaspoon of mou into each mold, over the shortcrust pastry.
Melt the dark chocolate with the butter and the fresh cream in a double boiler. Once the mixture is smooth, remove from the heat and let it cool.
Pour the melted chocolate over the heart of mou in each tartlet, covering the caramel.
Bake in the oven for about 15-20 minutes or until the shortcrust pastry appears golden.
Let the tartlets cool before unmolding.

They can be decorated with a bit of coarse salt on the surface for a surprising contrast to the palate. Accompany these tartlets with a good Italian sweet wine, like a Passito di Pantelleria, which with its aromatic notes will beautifully complement the intense taste of the chocolate and mou.

Curiosity

The word “mou” in French means soft, and in the culinary field, it refers to soft candies or caramel sauces that have a tender and sticky consistency. The combination with chocolate is not only a classic in Italian pastry, but it is a fusion of flavors highly appreciated all around the world.