Here’s a recipe for Pineapple Tarts, a delightful treat for Chinese New Year:
Ingredients:
Filling:
350g pineapple, finely chopped
30g white sugar
30g palm sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 cloves
1 star anise
Crust:
120g butter
20g icing sugar
200g plain flour
12g custard powder
1g salt
1 egg
Instructions:
Prepare the Pineapple Filling:
In a saucepan, combine finely chopped pineapple, white sugar, palm sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.
Cook the mixture over low to medium heat, stirring frequently until the pineapple is caramelized and the mixture thickens. This may take about 30-40 minutes. Remove the whole spices.
Allow the pineapple filling to cool completely.
Prepare the Tart Crust:
In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and icing sugar until light and fluffy.
Add the egg and mix until well combined.
Combine Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, sift together plain flour, custard powder, and salt.
Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients:
Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a soft dough forms.
Chill the Dough:
Shape the dough into a ball, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Preheat the Oven:
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Form Tart Shapes:
Take small portions of the chilled dough and shape them into small rounds. You can use your hands or a tart mold for uniform shapes.
Make an Indentation:
Using your thumb or a tool, make an indentation in the center of each tart round to hold the pineapple filling.
Fill with Pineapple Filling:
Spoon a small amount of the cooled pineapple filling into the indentation of each tart.
Bake:
Place the filled tarts on the prepared baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for about 15-20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Cool:
Allow the pineapple tarts to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Store:
Once completely cooled, store the pineapple tarts in an airtight container. They can be kept at room temperature.
Serve and Enjoy:
These Pineapple Tarts are ready to be enjoyed during Chinese New Year celebrations! They have a delicious combination of buttery crust and sweet pineapple filling.
