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Another Foodie Thursday with Nigel Barden

Resident Chef Nigel Barden dished up a delicious fig and Serrano ham tart! Plus, Matt updated us with all the sports news and Rebecca analysed the top business stories.

Resident Chef Nigel Barden dished up a delicious Fig and Serrano Ham Tart! Laura Weir, fashion journalist with the Sunday Times, transported us back to the sixties talking about flares and Afghan coats whilst today's Confession involved a Bad Dad's Bilious Blooper. Rebecca spoke to Christian Schulz, European Economist at the Germany Bank Berenberg about the ECB decision to lower interest rates into negative territory and the RAC's Simon Williams about reducing diesel prices. Matt's big sporting guest was TT motorcycling legend Philip McAllen and Sally Traffic kept us updated with all the latest Travel News.

1 hour, 55 minutes

Last on

Thu 5 Jun 2014 17:05

Music Played

  • ‐h

    Take On Me

    • Fantastic 80's Disc 1 (Various Artis.
    • Columbia.
    • 1.
  • Arctic Monkeys

    Snap Out Of It

    • (CD Single).
    • Domino.
    • 001.
  • Bellowhead

    Gosport Nancy

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.
    • 002.
  • David Bowie

    The Jean Genie

    • David Bowie - Best Of Bowie.
    • EMI.
  • Kate Bush

    Wow

    • Lionheart.
    • EMI.
    • 9.
  • Carpenters

    Please Mr Postman

    • The Carpenters - Yesterday Once More.
    • A&M.
  • Harry Chapin

    Cat's In The Cradle

    • Behind The Music The Harry Chapin Collection.
    • Elektra/Rhino.
  • The Divine Comedy

    The Frog Princess

  • Dolly Parton

    91ȱ

    • Blue Smoke - The Best Of.
    • Sony Music.
  • The Pierces

    Kings

    • (CD Single).
    • Polydor.
    • 001.
  • Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours

    Mirror Mirror

    • And The Beat Goes On: 50's & 60's Vo.
    • Debutante.
  • Roxy Music

    Angel Eyes

    • Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music - Street Life.
    • Eg.

Fig and Serrano Ham Tart

Fig & Serrano Ham Tart

By Lindsey Bareham from The Trifle Bowl (Bantam Press)

It’s hard to beat the time-honoured match of perfectly ripe figs with Parma or Serrano ham. This sublime combination of honeyed, juicy fruit with sheets of even pinker soft, salty ham was the inspiration for this tart. The creamy filling is flavoured with Parmesan & the surface is dredged with more cheese that cooks to a thin golden crust. Perfect for any occasion.

Serves 4-6

Prep: 30 min

Cook: 35 min

Ingredients

For the pastry:

200g plain flour plus a little extra

50g lard

75g butter plus a little extra

3-6 tbsp ice-cold water

For the filling

3 large eggs

250ml soured cream

75g grated Parmesan

280g ripe figs

7 slices of Serrano ham

Method

1.Heat the oven to a 200C/gas mark 6. Sift the flour into a mixing bowl.

2.Cut the fat in chunks directly into the flour. Rub the fat into the flour with your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs.

3.Add 3 tbsps of cold water & quickly work into the flour, adding more water if necessary, so you can form a soft ball. Cover & chill for 30 mins.

4.Rub the extra knob of butter over a 23cm flan tin with removable base.

5.Dust with flour, rolling the tin round in your hands to completely cover. Tip out any excess flour. This, incidentally, makes it non-stick.

6.Roll out the pastry to fit, pressing it down gently into the base edges.

7.Leave a decent overhang in case of shrinkage. Place on a baking sheet & loosely cover with foil.

8.Cover the base with baking beans, or rice (to stop the pastry rising) & bake for 10 mins.

9.Remove the foil & cook for a further 10 mins, until light golden.

10.Whisk the eggs in a mixing bowl, then stir in the cream & 50g of grated Parmesan.

11.Quarter the figs lengthways. Arrange the figs in the pastry case.

12.Tear the ham into 5 or 6 pieces a sheet & drape between the figs.

13.Season lightly with salt & pepper & pour over the egg custard. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top.

14.Bake for 25-35 mins, until the custard is almost set & the Parmesan is crusty & golden.

15.Use a knife to cut away excess pastry, then stand on a tin to remove the collar.

16.Slip onto a plate & serve hot, warm or cold.

Nigel’s Top Tip

  • You can buy a ready-made, butter rich short-crust pastry.

Broadcast

  • Thu 5 Jun 2014 17:05