Few weeks back I posted a photo of these apple tarts on my Instagram. It made everyone hungry…(So I assume :)) Since then, few people messaged me for the recipe and I thought I should share it with the world. So here it is!
I bake this tart often because in the Lubases house we love the combination of buttery pastry and melting in the mouth apple filling spiced with our favourite vanilla. It’s our comfort food whenever we want to spoil ourselves a little.
The recipe came to life after one of our visits to the Cotswolds, one of my favourite places on the planet. Its local food always inspire me to prepare something….homely…cosy…and comforting. This time it also had to be sweet 🙂
RECIPE:
Pastry:
- 300 g plain flour
- 210 g butter, cold
- 2 tablespoons icing sugar
- 4-6 tablespoons of cold water
Sift the flour into a medium bowl, add the rest of ingredients, rub them together with your fingers and then knead to create a smooth pastry. Add some cold water and if the mixture feels too crumbly add a little bit more. Divide the pastry into two parts, one slightly bigger than the other (or 4 parts if you make two smaller tarts, again 2 parts slightly bigger),flatten the pastry into discs(it will roll better),wrap with cling film and put in the fridge for 30min -1 hour.
Apple filling:
- 1.2 kg of apples, firm and hard
- juice of 1/2 lemon
- sugar to taste – around 6 tablespoons
- 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or seeds of 1 vanilla pod (you can add more)
Squeeze the lemon juice and pour it into a larger container. Peel the apples,remove seeds, chop and mix with lemon juice. Add sugar and vanilla seeds and cook for around 15 minutes until soft. Let it cool down.
Also:
- 1 egg beaten for brushing
Method
Take the pastry out the fridge. Roll out the bigger part first(it’s the bottom of your pie) and line one 25cm tin or two smaller tins. Prick the pastry with a fork and fill it with apple pieces.
Now roll out a smaller part, cut into stripes(thick or thin) and arrange them on the top.
Coat with beaten egg. You can also sprinkle it with coarse brown sugar.
Bake at 190 degrees C for about 45 – 50 minutes. Remove, let it cool.
I think I must’ve said it million times before…the world takes my breath away. I watch it every day and I cannot feel any different but be grateful to be alive. I haven’t been everywhere (it’s on my list though!) but there are places out there that I LOVE to go back to. Places I want to discover deeper. Places that make my heart beat faster. The Cotswolds is undoubtedly one of them.
It hasn’t been called chocolate box region of England without a reason. Every village is filled with its own unique flavour, it surprises, inspires and leaves you craving for more.
It has everything I love. Calmness, serenity, warmth, relaxed atmosphere and the views so picturesque that you want to scream.
It’s so friendly and welcoming that it instantly makes you feel at home.
Not to mention how incredibly tasty it is! With all the amazing local products even the simplest dish seems to be an unforgettable experience.
I fall in love more and more with this place every time I visit it…..
A SHORT LIST OF my FAVOURITE PLACES in the COTSWOLDS:
BROADWAY
BOURTON ON THE WATER
CASTLE COMBE
KINGHAM
CIRENCESTER
DAYLESFORD FARM
To eat:
THE WILD RABBIT
THE POTTING SHED
THE PORCH HOUSE
MY suggestion:
Get up early and see the true beauty of those places before it gets too busy 😉
