Egg-free Tart

Here is a simple recipe for an egg-free tart that you can prepare at home.

Ingredients

• 300 g of flour (00 type for desserts is better)
• 150 g of sugar
• 150 g of cold butter, cut into cubes, or vegetable margarine
• 1 pinch of salt
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• 2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 5 - 6 tablespoons of cold water
• Jam of your choice for the filling

Preparation

1. In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, grated lemon zest, and pinch of salt.
2. Add the cold butter in cubes (or margarine) and start to work the ingredients with your fingertips until you get a sandy mixture.
3. Gradually add the cold water, continuing to work the dough until it compacts into a ball.
4. Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
5. In the meantime, preheat the oven to 180 °C.
6. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface until it is about 5 mm thick and use it to line a previously buttered and floured tart pan.
7. Prick the base of the tart with a fork, then spread a uniform layer of jam of your choice.
8. With the leftover dough, you can create strips or decorative shapes to place over the jam.
9. Bake the tart for about 30-35 minutes or until it is golden brown.
10. Let it cool completely before serving.

Curiosity

The tart is a classic of Italian pastry and is very versatile. Traditionally it contains eggs, but this egg-free version is ideal for those with allergies or following special diets. You can vary it by using different types of jam or even chocolate cream for the filling. Moreover, you can flavor the shortcrust pastry with vanilla, cinnamon, or other aromas to taste. A touch of Italian creativity might be a pinch of anise or wild fennel to flavor the pastry, giving the tart a very particular fragrance and taste.