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Tarte au fromage blanc

17/11/2023

The Tarte au fromage blanc is a classic French dessert, fresh and creamy. However, I cannot refrain from suggesting to you a small Italian variation that could add a special touch: a sprinkling of grated organic lemon zest for a Mediterranean fragrance that pairs well with the delicate flavors of this cake. Here is the traditional recipe with my personal touch.

Ingredients

  • 1 roll of puff pastry or brisée
  • 500 g of fromage blanc (or you can use well-drained ricotta as an alternative)
  • 100 g of granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 sachet of vanilla sugar (or 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract)
  • 25 g of soft wheat flour
  • Zest of one organic lemon (optional, for the Italian variant)

Preparation

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C (350 °F).
  2. Roll out the puff pastry or brisée in a previously buttered and floured cake tin, creating high edges.
  3. In a bowl, mix the fromage blanc with the granulated sugar and vanilla sugar.
  4. Separate the yolks from the egg whites. Add the yolks to the cheese and sugar mixture and mix well.
  5. Add the sifted flour, stirring until a smooth and homogeneous cream is obtained.
  6. Whisk the egg whites until stiff and gently fold them into the cheese mixture.
  7. If you choose to use lemon zest, grate it finely and add it to the mixture.
  8. Pour the fromage blanc filling into the prepared tin with the dough and level the surface with a spatula.
  9. Bake the tarte au fromage blanc for about 30-40 minutes or until the surface is golden and the cake is well cooked.
  10. Allow to cool completely before serving.

You could accompany this sweet cake with a final touch of berry jam or a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

Fun Facts

Fromage blanc is a very smooth French fresh cheese similar in consistency to yogurt. It is less calorific than most cheeses and very versatile, perfect for both sweet and savory preparations. If we add lemon zest, we get a flavor closer to that of Italian lemon cakes, which often combine citrus and fresh cheeses.

I hope you enjoy this delicious Franco-Italian fusion! If you have any questions about variations or other details, I’m here to help.

Tarte au fromage blanc