Soaked dried fruits and Nuts tart
This tart is a perfect hybrid between East and West. The crust is a classic shortbread dough perfumed with rose water. It cuddles a rich ashta filling (middle Eastern clotted cream), topped with an exquisite layer of soaked dried fruits and nuts (n’ou3 or khshef) beautifully aromatized with uplifting Levantine scents. The mix is irresistible and will tickle your senses to the extreme!
Soaked dried fruits and Nuts tart
Yield: 8
Ingredients
For the crust
- 21/2 cups flour
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup cold butter diced
- 1/2 tsp rose water
- 1/2 cup apricot jam
For the filling (ashta):
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups milk
- 4 tbsp corn starch
- 1 tsp rose water
For the topping (n’ou3):
- 1/2 cup pine nuts soaked for at least 2 hours
- 1/2 cup raw pistachios soaked and skin removed
- 1/2 cup golden raisins soaked
- 1/2 cup dried apricots soaked
- 1/2 tsp rose water
- 1/2 tsp orange blossom water
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 C).
- Grease a 13-inch round tart shell.
- Prepare the dough: Place the flour in a mixing bowl. Add the remaining ingredients and with your wet hands, work the mixture until it comes together. Shape into a ball.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface and place it on the prepared pan pressing down the bottom and around the edges.
- Prick the dough all over with a fork then place it in the heated oven and bake for around 20 minutes until golden.
- Remove from the oven and prepare the filling: Mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and stir constantly on medium low speed until the mixture thickens. Set aside to cool.
- Mix all the drained nuts in a bowl and add the rose and orange blossom water.
- Assemble the tart: Spread the apricot jam evenly over the bottom of the crust. Layer with the cream filling making sure it is evenly spread.Top with the mixed nuts.
- If desired drizzle with some raw honey and place in the fridge till you want to serve.
- Slice and enjoy!
