How to make gooseberry and elderflower tart, a perfect seasonal summer dessert

This recipe — the brainchild of the Miele Der Kern test kitchen — mixes gooseberry with the delicate taste of elderflower. Why not make some of our elderflower cordial too, the ideal accompaniment for it.

Ingredients

Serves 12

For the pastry

• 200g plain flour
• 50g caster sugar
• 100g butter
• 1 egg plus 1 yolk

For the filling

• 450g gooseberries, topped and tailed
• 5 tbsp elderflower cordial
• 2 whole eggs plus 2 egg yolks
• 150ml milk
• 450ml double cream
• 150g caster sugar
• Grating of nutmeg

For the sauce

• 3 tbsp elderflower cordial
• 25g caster sugar

Method

To make the pastry, place the flour and caster sugar in a large bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture looks like breadcrumbs. Add the eggs and stir in, then use your hands to bring the pastry together into a ball. Wrap in cling film and set aside in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.

For the filling, place the gooseberries and elderflower cordial in a solid steam container and cook for 2 minutes at 100°C until the gooseberries are just tender and still holding shape. Pour the gooseberries into a sieve with a bowl underneath to catch the juice. Reserve the juice and allow the gooseberries to cool. If a Miele Steam Oven is not available, place the gooseberries and cordial in a saucepan and cook on a low heat for 3 – 4 minutes.

On a floured surface, roll out the pastry and use it to line a 25cm diameter, loose-bottomed, deep flan tin. Spread the cooled gooseberries across the pastry base. Whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, milk, double cream and sugar and add in a generous grating of nutmeg. Carefully pour this custard over the gooseberries into the flan case.

Transfer the tart to an oven, on the highest shelf at 160°C for 30 – 35 minutes until the pastry is cooked and the custard is just set. If using a Miele oven, bake using the Intensive Bake function. It should still have a slight wobble in the centre. Allow to cool and then chill overnight in the fridge.

Pour the reserved juice into a small saucepan and add the elderflower cordial and caster sugar. Bring up to the boil and simmer gently to create a slightly thickened syrup. Taste to check whether a little more sugar is required. Set aside and allow to cool. Serve the tart with the sauce on the side.

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