Chocolate and Mint Tart

The chocolate and mint tart is a delicious variation on the classic tart that combines the freshness of mint with the sweetness of chocolate. Here is the recipe you can follow.

Ingredients

For the shortcrust pastry:

• 300 g of type 00 flour
• 150 g of cold butter, cubed
• 120 g of icing sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 egg yolk
• A pinch of salt
• Grated zest of 1 lemon (optional for a citrus touch)

For the filling:

• 200 g of dark chocolate
• 200 ml of fresh cream
• 50 g of fresh mint leaves (plus some for garnishing)
• 30 g of caster sugar (if you wish to add sweetness)
• 2 teaspoons of mint extract or mint liqueur (optional to enhance the flavor)

Preparation

1. Start by preparing the shortcrust pastry. In a large bowl, mix the flour with the icing sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the cubed cold butter and work the mixture with your fingertips until you get a sandy texture.
2. Add the egg and egg yolk (and lemon zest if you wish) and quickly knead until it forms a smooth ball. Wrap the shortcrust pastry in cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
3. While the pastry is resting, prepare the chocolate cream. Heat the cream in a small saucepan until it begins to simmer, then take the cream off the heat and add the mint leaves. Allow to infuse for about 15 minutes.
4. Remove the mint leaves from the cream and reheat the cream (add the caster sugar if you are using it). Break up the dark chocolate and place it in a bowl. Pour over the hot cream and let it sit for a minute, then mix until you get a smooth and even cream. Add the mint extract or mint liqueur if you want to enhance the flavor.
5. Take the shortcrust pastry out of the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured surface. Line a previously greased and floured tart pan with the pastry, prick the bottom with a fork, and bake ‘blind’ in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 15-20 minutes, until the pastry is slightly golden. Let it cool.
6. Once the base is cool, pour the chocolate and mint cream onto the tart base and allow to set in the refrigerator.
7. Before serving, decorate with fresh mint leaves for an elegant and refreshing touch.

Curiosity

The combination of mint and chocolate is very popular for the contrast between the pungent freshness of the mint and the rich, deep flavor of the chocolate. If you want to add an additional touch of freshness, you can decorate the tart with thin slices of lime or lemon. It is also possible to use milk or white chocolate for sweeter variations.