Ok I admit it... ever since I used my kitchen blow torch for the first time on the Golden Layered Simnel Cake I made recently, I've been dying to use it again! There's something about a powerful tool in your hands, it's exciting! Rhubarb is in season right now and it's also really good for you as it's full of vitamins and minerals. It's most commonly associated with crumbles and warm dishes, but this is a cold dessert so it's great for a sweet refresher after a meal.
I started by making the pastry. I rubbed 85g butter into 175g plain flour until it resembled bread crumbs. I then added one egg and mixed until a dough formed. I wrapped the pastry in cling film and chilled it for 30 minutes.
To make the filling I stewed 500g fresh rhubarb, 125g soft brown sugar, 3 tbsp cornflour, the zest and juice of 1 orange, a 1cm piece of grated fresh ginger and 1/2 tsp ground ginger.
I cut out the pastry and placed it in a old yorkshire pudding tin, you can use mini tartlets tins if you have them.
I lined the pastry with baking paper and poured in baking beans. I baked on 180C/350F/Gas Mark 4 for 10 minutes
I took the baking beans and paper out and put the pastry back in the oven until baked through, this took 10-15 minutes.
I filled the pastry cases with filling and glazed the edges with some beaten egg yolk. I put back in the oven for 15 minutes.
To make the meringue I whisked up 2 egg whites, 1/4 tsp cream tartar and 1/4 tsp vanilla extract in my food mixer until stiff peaks formed. Then I slowly poured in 55g caster sugar until the meringue was thick and glossy. I put it into a piping bag.
I piped the meringue onto the fully cooled tartlets, then used my kitchen blow torch to brown the meringue all over. The tartlets were best eaten straight away, the next day they got a bit soggy, but were definitely still edible!
I served these after a roast lamb dinner and they were beautifully tangy and sweet. I loved the fresh ginger in the filling. It's a perfect contrast to the light and fluffy meringue. A great spring and summertime dessert!
I'm entering these into myself and Cakeyboi's blogging baking challenge Treat Petite, where this month's theme is 'Hello Spring!'
Recipe inspired by Completely Delicious.
