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Cocoa Tart with Pears and Lemon Cream

17/11/2023

The cocoa tart with pears and lemon cream is a dessert that combines the sweetness of chocolate with the freshness of lemon and the delicateness of pears. Here is the recipe to prepare this delicious sweet:

Ingredients

For the cocoa shortcrust pastry:

  • 300 g of 00 flour
  • 100 g of bitter cocoa powder
  • 150 g of icing sugar
  • 200 g of cold butter, diced
  • 1 whole egg and 1 yolk
  • A pinch of salt

For the lemon cream:

  • 4 egg yolks
  • 100 g of sugar
  • 40 g of 00 flour
  • 300 ml of whole milk
  • Grated zest of 2 lemons (yellow part only)
  • Juice of 1 lemon

For the pears:

  • 2 ripe but firm pears
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon
  • 1 tablespoon of sugar

Preparation

Cocoa shortcrust pastry:

  1. In a bowl, sift together the flour and cocoa. Add the icing sugar and a pinch of salt.
  2. Incorporate the cold butter, working it with the fingertips until you get a sandy mixture.
  3. Add the whole egg and yolk and quickly knead until a homogeneous dough is formed.
  4. Wrap the shortcrust pastry in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Lemon cream:

  1. In a saucepan, whisk the yolks with the sugar until fluffy.
  2. Add the sifted flour, grated lemon zest and lemon juice, and mix well.
  3. Gradually add the milk, stirring continuously to avoid lumps.
  4. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until the cream thickens. Remove from the heat and let cool.

Pears:

  1. Peel the pears, cut them in half and remove the core. Slice the pears and place them in a bowl with lemon juice and sugar.
  2. In a pan over medium heat, cook the pears for a few minutes until they are slightly softened. Let cool.

Assembly:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (356 °F).
  2. Roll out the shortcrust pastry on a floured work surface and line a previously buttered and floured tart tin with it.
  3. Prick the bottom with a fork, cover with parchment paper and pour in some dry beans to bake blind.
  4. Bake for about 15 minutes, then remove beans and paper and let brown for another 5 minutes.
  5. Once the base has cooled, fill it with lemon cream and arrange the pear slices in a circular pattern on top.
  6. Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Curiosity

The tart is a very popular rustic dessert in Italy, and its versatility allows for the combination of different ingredients. The mix of cocoa, pear, and lemon is quite modern, playing on the contrast between sweet and sour, combining intense and fragrant flavors.

Cocoa Tart with Pears and Lemon Cream