Maids of Honour tarts
These traditional English tarts are made from puff pastry filled with almond-flavoured curd cheese, and are said to date from the time of King Henry VIII. They are quick as anything to prepare.
Equipment: You will need a 12-hole non-stick patty tin and a 9cm/3½in biscuit cutter.
Ingredients
- 375g/13oz puff pastry
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú butter, softened
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú caster sugar
- 1 free-range egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp plain flour
- 50²µ/1¾´Ç³ú ground almonds
- ½ tsp grated nutmeg or ground mace
- 2 lemons, zest only
- 100²µ/3½´Ç³ú curd cheese
Method
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4.
Roll the pastry out slightly thinner than a one pound coin, then stamp out twelve 9cm/3½in rounds and use to line a 12-hole non-stick patty tin. Place the tray of pastry discs in the fridge while you make the filling.
Cream together the butter and sugar in a bowl until pale and fluffy. Beat in the egg, flour, ground almonds, nutmeg (or ground mace) and lemon zest. Stir in the curd cheese, being careful not to overwork the mixture as it can split.
Spoon the mixture into the tart cases and bake for 25 minutes, or until risen and lightly browned on top. Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool completely before serving.
