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Strawberry Cannoli Tart

A make-ahead dessert with all the flavour of cannoli in tart form. The base is a pistachio shortcrust, blind-baked in a fluted tart tin until golden and left to cool completely. The filling folds whipped cream through ricotta and mascarpone with vanilla, a pinch of cinnamon and mini choc chips, giving a texture that stays light rather than overly rich or sweet. Halved strawberries finish the top. It chills while you get on with the rest of the meal, easily feeds eight, and makes an impressive dessert for guests with very little last-minute work.

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 c plain four
  • 125 g unsalted butter chilled, chopped
  • 3/4 c caster sugar
  • 1/4 c pistachio kernels
  • 1 free range egg
  • 1 c thickened cream
  • 150 g ricotta you don't want very smooth ricotta
  • 250 g mascarpone
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp mini choc chips
  • 250 g strawberries hulled, halved

Method
 

  1. Grease a 25cm (3.5cm deep) round loose-based fluted tart pan.
  2. Place flour, butter, ¼ cup sugar and pistachio in a food processor and process until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Whisk egg and 1 tbsp cold water in a small bowl. While motor is running, slowly add egg mixture to flour mixture. Process until mixture starts to come together. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and gently knead until smooth. Shape dough into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes to rest.
  3. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, whisk cream until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate until needed. Using an electric mixer, whisk ricotta, mascarpone, remaining sugar, vanilla and cinnamon until combined. Using a spatula, gently fold the cream mixture and choc chips into ricotta mixture. Refrigerate until needed.
  4. Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan forced. Meanwhile, roll pastry out between 2 sheets of baking paper to a 30cm circle. Line pan with pastry, trimming any excess. Prick base several times with a fork, then refrigerate for 15 mins to rest. Remove pan from fridge and line with baking paper, fill with pastry weights or uncooked rice then bake for 10 minutes. Remove weights or rice and baking paper, then bake for a further 12 minutes or until base is golden. Allow to cool completely in pan.
  5. Spoon ricotta mixture into tart case and spread out evenly with back of a spoon. Refrigerate for 30 mins. Arrange strawberries on tart. Serve

Notes

Source: Woolworths Fresh Magazine - September 2020