People love baking for all sorts of reasons. There’s a scientific exactness to it, which rewards the more precise and obsessive of us with fantastic results that simply can’t be achieved if corners are cut. There’s a never-ending list of recipes, techniques, methods and schools of baking from cultures all around the world to discover. There’s the satisfaction when you finally master something that looks pretty enough to adorn a Parisian patisserie window. But what many of us secretly like more than anything is when you bring something beautiful, completely homemade and delicious to the table, basking in the oohs and aahs as everyone bows down to your culinary prowess.
A well-made tart is about as impressive as you can get when baking – get the pastry case perfect, fill it with something deliciously indulgent and decorate it however you like, and you’ve got something that is bound to generate plenty of cooing from your lucky guests. Whether you’re expressing your love for someone on Valentine’s Day, want to celebrate a birthday but don’t fancy cake or simply have some friends coming round for dinner that you want to impress, preparing a tart might take a long time but it’s certainly worth the effort. But of course, following a good recipe is key. That’s why we asked Lani Greenhalgh – a chef at The Laughing Heart in east London who is particularly skilled in the arts of tart-making – to share three incredible recipes from her repertoire. See which one takes your fancy below, dust some flour over your work surface and get ready to create something truly swoon-worthy.
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Tarts from the Heart: 3 showstopping tart recipes