Brown butter and cardamom pear tart.jpg

Brown butter and cardamom pear tart

Comfort-food at its best; this pear tart is both warming and delicious.

How long will it take?

1 hour

What’s the serving size?

Serves 8


What do I need?

For shortcrust pastry

  • 110g cold butter
  • 200g flour
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 3-5 tbsp ice-cold water

For poached pears

  • 6 pears, peeled, halved and cored
  • 225g sugar
  • 600ml water
  • 1/2 vanilla bean
  • A few strips of lemon peel
  • Juice of 1/2 a lemon

For brown butter and cardamom filling

  • 150g sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 45g flour
  • 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
  • pinch of salt
  • 170g butter

How do I make it?

  1. Cut the butter into cubes and rub into the flour with your fingertips. Keep everything as cold as possible. Stop when the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and enough water to just bring the dough together so it holds. A slightly drier pastry will yield a crisper, more crumbly crust, although it will be a bit more difficult to roll out. 
  2. Collect the pastry into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and chill in the fridge for at least one hour.
  3. On a floured surface roll the dough out slightly larger than your tart tin. Trim the pastry slightly above the edge of the tin to allow for shrinkage during cooking. Freeze the case or chill well until you are ready to bake.
  4. Use baking paper and pie weights or dried pasta to weigh down the tart case as it bakes. Bake at 180C for 10-15 minutes then remove the weights and bake for a further 5-10 minutes until the shell is golden. Cool and set aside.

Poach the pears

  1. In a non-reactive saucepan bring the sugar and water to the boil with the vanilla bean (split lengthwise and seeds scraped into water) and lemon rind.
  2. Put the pear halves into the syrup, add the lemon juice, cover with a square of greaseproof paper to keep the pears submerged, and put the lid on the saucepan.
  3. Simmer until the pears are just soft, about 15 minutes, then remove from the syrup and chill. The pears, returned to the cold syrup, can be kept in the fridge for a few days.

Assemble the tart

  1. Slice each poached pear half into three pieces and arrange in the prepared pastry case.
  2. To make the filling, whisk together the sugar and eggs until lightened in colour, then whisk in the flour, cardamom and a pinch of salt.
  3. Brown the butter in a small saucepan over a low heat until dark brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly but whisk into the egg mixture while still very warm. Pour this filling over the tart as soon as possible and bake at 175C for about 45 minutes. The filling should be close to fully set before being removed from the oven.
  4. Serve warm or cool with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

 

Recipe from Danielle Alvarez

Share this recipe


More recipes like this

Website Tile - Anzac Biscuits.jpg
Traditional Anzac Biscuits
anzac-square.jpg
Oat Biscuit & Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Sandwiches
Apricot Muesli Slice.jpg
Apricot Muesli Slice
Butternut pumpkin cupcakes.jpg
Butternut pumpkin cupcakes
lamington macarons.jpg
Lamington Macarons
silky chocolate and raspberry tart.jpg
Silky Chocolate and Raspberry Tart
strawberry mascarpone cake.jpg
Strawberry and Mascarpone Cream Layer Cake
spinach blue cheese and walnut puffs.jpg
Spinach, Blue Cheese and Walnut Puffs
brie stuffed pretzels.jpg
Brie Stuffed Pretzels with Rosemary and Sea Salt
baked blueberry doughnuts.jpg
Baked Blueberry Doughnuts
mini cheese and veggie muffins.jpg
Mini cheese and veggie muffins
pineapple and coconut cake.jpg
Pineapple and coconut cake
asparagus spinach and feta muffins.jpg
Feta, spinach and asparagus muffins
banana and choc-chip muffins.jpg
Banana and choc chip muffins
Christmas Tree Brownies.jpg
Christmas Tree Brownies
Kourabiedes (Greek shortbread).jpg
Kourabiedes (Greek shortbread)
blueberry avocado muffins.jpg
Avocado Blueberry Muffins
Chocolate black bean muffins.jpg
Chocolate black bean muffins
mini blueberry pancakes.jpg
Mini blueberry pancakes
Dark chocolate brownies.jpg
Dark chocolate cherry brownies
Raspberry and rosewater sponge cake.jpg
Raspberry and rosewater sponge cake
plum cake.jpg
Plum cake
turkish delight.jpg
Turkish Delight
blue cheese biscuits.jpg
Blue Cheese Biscuits
Raspberry mascarpone tarts.jpg
Raspberry mascarpone tarts
Meru Miso potato bake.jpg
Miso potato bake tart
Layered Almond and Honey Cake with Caramel Pears.jpg
Layered Almond and Honey Cake with Caramel Pears
easter bunny biscuits.jpg
Easter Bunny Biscuits
lemony Easter cupcakes.jpg
Lemony Easter cupcakes
tsoureki.jpg
Tsoureki (Greek Easter bread)
vegan carrot cake.jpg
Vegan Carrot Cake
hot cross buns.jpg
Fruity Hot Cross Buns
Creamy chicken and vegetable pot pies.jpg
Creamy chicken and vegetable pot pies
Anzac Biscuits with Caramel Jam.jpg
Oat Biscuits with Caramel Jam
banana bread.jpg
Banana Bread
eclairs.jpg
Eclairs with crème patisserie
scones.jpg
Light and Fluffy Scones
Sweet apple roses.jpg
Sweet apple roses
Pumpkin oatmeal cookies.jpg
Pumpkin oatmeal cookies
Warm ginger cake with caramel sauce.jpg
Warm ginger cake with caramel sauce
victoria sandwich.jpg
Victoria Sandwich
Brown butter and cardamom pear tart.jpg
Brown butter and cardamom pear tart
Easy apple strudel.jpg
Easy apple strudel
Pommes Anna (Sweet potato gratin).jpg
Pommes Anna
Chicken, bacon, leek and Grana Padano pie.jpg
Chicken, bacon, leek and Grana Padano pie
Pear, prosciutto and brie tart.jpg
Pear, prosciutto & brie tart
Carrot cracker batons and cream cheese dip.jpg
Carrot Cracker Batons with Cream Cheese Dip
Strawberry and Custard Pie.jpg
Strawberry and Custard Pie
Barbecue pulled pork pie.jpg
Barbecue pulled pork pie
_MG_1580.jpg
Heirloom Tomato Tart with Basil Oil
Website Tile.jpg
Picnic Pie
Baked Brie with Beetroot Chutney.jpg
Baked Brie with Beetroot Chutney
Website Tile - Cheesy Cauliflower Slice.jpg
Cheesy Cauliflower Slice
Pie wrappers.jpg
Pie Wrappers
Website Tile - Strawberry Pistachio and White Chocolate Biscuits.jpg
Strawberry, Pistachio and White Chocolate Biscuits
Website Tile - Nutella Duffins.jpg
Nutella Duffins
Website Tile - Lamington Bliss Balls.jpeg
Lamington Bliss Balls
Website Tile - Blueberry Pie.jpg
Blueberry Pie
Blueberry and Lemon Polenta Cake.jpg
Blueberry and Lemon Polenta Cake
Christmas Cookies.jpg
Christmas Cookies
Gluten Free Christmas Fruit Mince Pies.jpg
Gluten Free Christmas Fruit Mince Pies
Gluten Free Christmas Shortbread Biscuits.jpg
Gluten Free Christmas Shortbread Biscuits
candy-bar-decorated-by-delicious-sweet-buffet-with-cupcakes-and-other-picture-id903310232.jpg
International Women’s Day Cupcakes
Website Tile - Easter Egg Millionaire’s Shortbread.jpg
Easter Egg Millionaire’s Shortbread
Website Tile - Citrus Curd Layer Cake.jpg
Citrus Curd Layer Cake
apple-maffins-picture-id1370361820.jpg
Apple, Carrot and Walnut Muffins
Cloud-bread-or-Oopsie-bread,-Carnivore-and-Ketogenic-diet-flat-bread-with-liver-pate-1329346158_2124x1416 square.jpg
Cloud Bread
broccoli-cooked-in-steamer-picture-id610569148.jpg
Ham and Cheddar Cheese Scones
Lemon-and-Coconut-Cake-504708067_6400x4271 square Large.jpeg
Lemon Slice
Pumpkin-cookies-with-chocolate-chips-made-from-cake-mix-on-a-wooden-tray.-1161533566_6240x4160 square.jpg
Choc Chip Pumpkin Cookies
Minced-puff-pastry-rolls-and-rocket-salad---delicious-snacks,-tapas,-breakfast-on-light-background,-top-view.-Sausage-rolls-1130307407_3802x5342 square.jpg
Mediterranean Rolls
Scones-with-Strawberry-Jam-and-Clotted-Cream-959875000_5449x3633 square.jpg
Raisin Scones
Website Tile - Honey Happiness Cake.jpg
Honey Happiness Cake
Website Tile - Neapolitan Cookies.jpg
Neapolitan Cookies
Fruit-cake-with-icing-sugar-on-top,-served-1025271750_5184x3456 - Copy.jpeg
Rustic Pear and Lemon Cake
onion-pie-is-on-wooden-board-with-knife-onion-bread.jpg_s=1024x1024&w=is&k=20&c=WGmWobAT2supn5h31f3pXgDe-BhT6-nLA-FY8Zz9Tu4=.jpg
Leek and Goat Cheese Loaf
Website Tile - Rose Eclairs.jpg
Rose Eclairs
Vegan-tangerine-sponge-cake-with-a-giant-frosting-and-mandarin-orange-wedges-on-a-wooden-board.-1358280590_2125x1416 square.jpg
Fluffy Mandarin Cake
tasty-breakfast-of-scones-with-clotted-cream-and-strawberry-jam-on-pink-background-top-view.jpg_s=1024x1024&w=is&k=20&c=QRoZYruGyePqZScwy3TRjZZJa2bYuA6LP2vVqG2vbdQ=.jpg
Air fryer scones
Website Tile - Fruity Oat Muffins.jpeg
Fruity Oat Muffins
Website Tile - Vegan Chocolate Cake.jpeg
Vegan Chocolate Cake
Pumpkin-oatmeal-gluten-free-muffins-on-rustic-chopping-board-on-light-background.Flat-lay-1020682864_3705x3705.jpeg
Fruity Oat Muffins
Website Tile - Cheesy Beef Pide.jpg
Cheesy Beef Pide
Orange-Upside-Down-Cake-1180827360_3866x2580 square.jpeg
Orange Polenta Upside Down Cake
Crumble-cheesecake-bars-with-blueberry-filling-and-fresh-blueberries,-concrete-background.-Bar-slices-with-cheesecake,-blueberry-and-streusel.-1336151149_2125x1416 square.jpeg
Blueberry Crumble Cheesecake Bars
Website Tile - Four-ingredient Pineapple Puffs.jpeg
Four-ingredient Pineapple Puffs
Sweet-cottage-cheese-muffins-1400082605_3867x2579 square.jpg
Orange and Cottage Cheese Muffins
Whole-wheat-turmeric-tartlets-filled-with-apricot-jam,-decorated-with-dried-oranges,-topped-with-powdered-sugar-1194762437_6000x4000 aquare.jpeg
Orange Tartlets
envy™ White Chocolate Brownies (Website Tile).jpg
envy™ White Chocolate Brownies
Spiced Rockmelon Loaf.jpeg
Spiced Rockmelon Loaf
Homemade Wholemeal Cob Loaf - Web Tile.jpg
Homemade Wholemeal Cob Loaf
Lemon & Poppy Seed Biscuits - Web Tile.jpeg
Lemon & Poppy Seed Biscuits
One-Bowl Blueberry Muffins - Web Tile.jpeg
One-bowl Blueberry Muffins
Web Tile - Spinach, Feta, and Pumpkin Muffins.jpg
Spinach, Feta, and Pumpkin Muffins
Web Tile - Valentine's Marbled Cookies.jpg
Valentine’s Marbled Cookies
Plum Butter Cake.jpg
Plum Butter Cake
Tuesday - 30.01.2024_04.jpg
Spinach, Feta, and Pumpkin Muffins
Thursday - 22.02.2024_02.jpg
Lime and Coconut Cake
Website Tile - Apple Crumble Muffins.jpg
Apple Crumble Muffins
Nanaimo Bars - Tile.jpeg
Nanaimo Bars
Homemade New York-Style Bagels - Web Tile.jpg
Homemade New York-Style Bagels
ZucchiniAndFetaMuffins.jpg
Zucchini and Feta Muffins
Thursday - 16.05.20242.jpg
Orange Scrolls
Feijoa Sponge Pudding.jpg
Feijoa Sponge Pudding
Thumbprint Cookies - Web Tile.jpg
Thumbprint Cookies