EASTER TARTS RECIPES RECIPES

To make the pastry, whiz the flour, butter, icing sugar and orange rind in a processor until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the egg yolk, vanilla extract and a few drops of cold water and pulse until the mixture forms a dough. Wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30min.

Roll out two-thirds of the pastry on a floured worksurface and use to line a 23cm (9in) loose-bottomed, fluted tart tin. Prick the pastry base and cover with greaseproof paper and baking beans. Bake blind for 15min at 200°C (400°F) mark 6. Remove the paper and beans and bake for a further 5-10min or until the base is cooked through.

Meanwhile, make the filling. Put the rice in a saucepan with 600ml (1 pint) milk, butter, brandy, orange flower water, orange rind and juice, raisins, cinnamon and vanilla pod. Bring slowly to the boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20min or until the rice is cooked and creamy. Remove from the heat, stir in the remaining milk and remove the vanilla pod.

Place the ricotta cheese, caster sugar and egg yolks in a bowl, beat until light and fluffy, then fold into the rice. Whisk the egg whites to stiff peaks and gently fold into the rice and ricotta mixture. Spoon the filling into the pastry case and level the surface.

Roll out the remaining pastry, cut into 5mm (1⁄4in) strips and use to form a lattice top for the tart. Cook at 180°C (350°F) mark 4 for 20min, then increase the temperature to 190°C (375°F) mark 5 and cook for 15min. The pastry should be golden and the filling just set. Cool for 10-15min, then remove from the tart case. Dust with icing sugar, if you like, and serve warm with cream or crème fraîche.

1. To make the pastry, dice the butter and place in a food processor with the flour, sugar and a grating of lemon zest. Pulse till you have fine crumbs.
2. Add the eggs and pulse till a dough is formed (you can also rub the flour, butter, sugar and a grating of zest together until they resemble fine breadcrumbs, then add the eggs and bring together to form a dough).
3. Wrap in clingfilm and refrigerate for 1 hour.
4. Use butter to grease a 25cm loose-bottom tart tin. Roll out the pastry to ½cm thick and use it to line the tin.
5. Trim and reserve the remaining pastry, then chill the lined tin in the freezer for 30 minutes.
6. Preheat your oven to 170ºC/325ºF/gas 3. Line the chilled tart tin with greaseproof paper, fill with baking beans and bake blind for 20 minutes, or until lightly golden.
7. Combine the cooked wheat, milk, vanilla and half the lemon zest in a saucepan and bring to the boil.
8. Reduce the heat and simmer until the wheat has absorbed all of the liquid. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
9. In a bowl, mash the ricotta with a fork, stir in the egg yolks, then beat until light and fluffy.
10. Sift in the icing sugar, then finely chop and add the candied peel, along with the orange-blossom water, orange zest and remaining lemon zest.
11. Beat until combined, then stir in the wheat mixture.
12. In another bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff, then carefully fold them into the wheat and ricotta mixture.
13. Pour the filling into the tart case. Roll out the remaining pastry and cut into 2cm strips and use to create a rough criss-cross over the tart.
14. Bake the tart for 50 minutes, or until golden.
15. Allow it to cool, then dust with icing sugar. Serve slices with dollops of cream, scattered with orange zest and drizzled with honey, if you like.