Basil, pea & pancetta tart

Tart recipe for 8 people, takes only 20 mins; recipe has double cream, basil, shortcrust pastry, plain flour, frozen broad bean, petits pois, pancetta, egg and parmesan.

Basil, pea & pancetta tart

Basil, pea & pancetta tart

Recipe by Chef Soomro Course: Tart
Servings

8

servings
Prep time

30 mins

Ingredients

  • Parmesan: 50g parmesan, finely grated, plus shavings to serve
  • Egg: 3 eggs, plus 1 yolk
  • Basil: large bunch basil
  • Pancetta: 105g thinly sliced pancetta (or use streaky bacon)
  • Plain Flour: plain flour, for rolling out
  • Double Cream: 284ml pot double cream
  • Petits Pois: 100g frozen petits pois, defrosted
  • Shortcrust Pastry: 500g pack shortcrust pastry (or make your own)
  • Frozen Broad Bean: 175g frozen broad bean, defrosted and podded

Directions

  1. Bring the cream to the boil in a small saucepan, then take off the heat and drop in half the bunch of basil, making sure all the leaves and stems are fully immersed. Leave to infuse for at least an hour. Transfer to a lidded container and chill once cool, if preparing the day before. Meanwhile, roll the pastry out on a floured surface to about the thickness of 2 x PS1 coins and use to line a 23cm loose-bottom tart tin. Chill on a baking sheet until ready to use.
  2. Blanch the broad beans in a pan of boiling water for 1 min. Add the peas, bring back to the boil for another min, then drain and cool quickly under the cold tap. Drain, then dry on kitchen paper. Set aside. Heat grill to medim and cook the pancetta until it is crisp and golden, setting aside on kitchen paper to absorb any fat. Can be prepared up to this stage a day ahead.
  3. Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and put a second baking sheet in the oven. Line the pastry case with parchment and fill with baking beans. Slide the tin onto the hot baking sheet and bake blind for 15 mins, then lift out the paper and beans and cook for 5 mins more, until the pastry feels sandy. Meanwhile, strain the cream through a sieve, pressing the basil against the mesh with a non-metallic spoon or spatula to extract as much of the flavour as possible.
  4. Turn oven down to 150C/fan 130C/gas 2. Beat the eggs into the cream, stir in the parmesan and season to taste. Tear the pancetta and sprinkle into the case, along with the peas and beans. Pour in the egg and cream mix. (You may have a little left, depending on the depth of your tin.) Bake for about 50 mins-1 hr or until the custard is just set in the middle. Serve warm or cold, topped with shavings of parmesan and the remaining basil leaves.