Follow this topicLemon tart with fresh vanilla mascarpone
Looking for a lighter Xmas dessert? Check out this recipe for lemon tart with fresh vanilla mascarpone, for just £1.36 per person!
I’ll be honest. I detest Christmas pudding. It’s stodgy and the last thing you need after a heavy meal and lots of wine! Does anybody really enjoy it?
My alternative is a lighter affair. The citrus really cuts through the richness of the previous two courses and the mascarpone gives a decadent feel to the dish.
And this can be made up to 2 days before Christmas day as well - it will keep fine in the fridge.
If you like this recipe, don't forget to check out my other frugal Xmas recipes for a very frugal starter and dessert, plus what to do with those Boxing Day leftovers.
Ingredients – The dessert
- 4 lemons (£1.08)
- 250ml of long life double cream (90p)
- 250g of Italian mascarpone (£1)
- 6 Hoads farm medium free range eggs (£1.49) – we’re using 5 eggs
- 1 fresh vanilla pod (£1.44)
- 1 pack (500g) of caster sugar (72p) – we’re using 200 grams
- 1 block (500g) of sweet shortcrust pastry (£1.50p) – we’re using 250 grams
- The cupboard staples:Icing sugar and a dash of milk.
Total cost
If you already have the cupboard staples, then according to mysupermarket.co.uk, this trolley was cheapest at Tesco, where it came to £8.13 - that's £1.36 per head!
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C. The filling for the tart is really easy. In a large bowl crack the eggs and whisk, then add the sugar (mixing in well) followed by the cream and the juice of 4 lemons. Sieve to make sure no pips in the mixture and then add the zest of 4 lemons.
- Now for the pastry. Roll out on a floured surface to the thickness of a £1 coin. Now roll the pasty over a tart case, making sure you get some overhang on the edges – line with baking paper and bake blind (you can use dried beans or rice if you don’t have the posh ceramic baking beans!). Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes (until the pastry has browned a little).
- Remove the pastry case (and beans\baking paper) from the oven and turn down to 160C – pour the lemon mixture into the tart and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, the filling will feel just set and very slightly wobbly in the centre. The pastry should be browned lightly on the edges as well.
- Leave to cool on a rack for at least 2 hours before serving (or placing in the fridge to keep). Dust with icing sugar before serving.
- The vanilla mascarpone cream is very easy. Take the vanilla pod split and scrape out the seeds and add to the mascarpone. Add two tablespoons of caster sugar and a little milk to loosen the mascarpone. You can keep the vanilla pod and blitz with some sugar to make a vanilla sugar as well!
- Happy eating!
Take a look at my other Christmas recipes
You can find the rest of the Christmas recipes here on my blog. There's a smoked mackerel starter, a recipe for roasted pheasant with potatoes and stuffing, a recipe for portobello mushroom, stilton and port wellington (a Vegetarian dinner Xmas alternative) and of course a fantastically frugal recipe on what to do with all your leftovers. Mmmm delicious!
A bit about our Chef, Paul Warburton
Paul Warburton, a lovemoney.com staff member, had a hectic career in the world of hot kitchens and screaming chefs before joining the lovemoney.com products development team.
During these years, under the tutorage of some great chefs, he honed his skills in cooking for numbers within a tight cost and portion-controlled environment.
Now he's planning to regularly offer his help to all budding chefs in the lovemoney.com community, so you can enjoy his original, low-cost recipes with your family and friends every Friday for free!
What lovemoney.com readers have said about Paul's other recipes
"We enjoyed this recipe very much: easy to make and even easier to eat!" varneyrob
"I made this recipe and it was absolutely delicious! Seriously good! Five of us feasted on it, and feasted well..." Ibeshy
"I made this recipe on Saturday night, and my 13 year-old son promptly requested it again for the following night!" Malcolm Wheatley
"This is a cracking risotto recipe. Just had it for lunch & it's a winner. More recipes please. Thanks." SavvyLass
"Another delicious offering from Paul. Thank you - keep 'em coming!" Palefire
Please add your own comments using the comments box below!
If you like these recipes, why not also try Paul's other Frugal Recipes:
Turkey with bacon, cream, parsley and peas | Beef koftas, roast pepper couscous and a red cabbage and carrot salad | Sticky toffee pudding with toffee sauce | Roast pumpkin, sausages, potatoes and sage with kale | Tandoori grilled pork chops, pilaf rice and coriander yoghurt |Whole baked mackerel with tarragon, tomatoes and potatoes | Hungarian pork goulash |Butternut squash stuffed with mushrooms, stilton and thyme | Fusilli with a rich beef ragu sauce |Toad in the hole with mustard crème fraiche sauce & pickled red cabbage | Pot roasted chicken with paprika, shallots and potatoes | Smoked haddock and leek risotto | Prawn and chilli linguine| Homemade Cornish pasties | Teriyaki chicken legs with coriander and lime noodles | Turkey, mozzarella and sage meatballs with fettuccine and tomato sauce | Lemon and garlic roasted lamb breast, boulangere potatoes and minted peas | Posh macaroni cheese with crispy bacon and oven dried tomatoes | Falafel, roast pepper and feta salad with chilli tomato salsa | Chicken ‘oven baked’ with cream, mushrooms and thyme | Slow roasted pork shoulder ‘Chinese style’ with pak choi | Chilli steak burgers, paprika wedges and homemade coleslaw |Broad bean, halloumi and mint farfalle | My chicken curry, basmati rice and coriander yoghurt | Barbecued whole mackerel and a spicy lime salsa | Moussaka | Pan fried trout fillets with a dill potato salad |Chicken braised with cider and red cabbage (and proper baked potatoes) | Lincolnshire sausages with red onion gravy and thyme and Gouda polenta | Beef enchiladas with a lime sour cream | Slow roasted duck legs and charlotte potatoes with a carrot and cumin salad | Paella |Asparagus and gruyere tart with new potatoes | Haddock fishcakes with radish and watercress salad and lemon crème fraiche dressing | Prawn and pea risotto | Honey roasted gammon and apples with champ | Hot chocolate fondants with crème Chantilly | Shin of beef, kidney and ale pie Tandoori chicken with coconut rice & mint raita | Homemade gnocchi with a tomato & thyme sauce, spinach and ricotta | Frugal Pancakes | Griddled black pudding, chimichurri mash and caramelised apples | Mixed bean and coriander green curry with fragrant rice | Lamb koftas with a feta, mint and chickpea salad & chilli grilled pittas | Pork, rosemary and white bean ravioli with a chilli tomato sauce | Sausage & leek casserole with parsley dumpings | Pork, chorizo & cannellini bean stew | Rabbit, bacon & thyme pie | Potato rosti with creamed spinach and poached egg | Pumpkin and sage risotto | Slow braised oxtail with autumn mash | Spiced whole mackerel with chickpea salad | Twice cooked belly pork (with gravy) parsnips and sweet apple red cabbage | Roasted pheasant | Portobello mushroom, port and stilton wellington | Lemon tart with fresh vanilla mascarpone | Massaman curry | Smoked mackerel pate on crostini and red onion confit |Rolled breast of lamb with garlic mash and Savoy cabbage | Lemon & rosemary chicken thighs | Thai Pollock curry with egg noodles | Chunky pea and ham soup| Spaghetti alla carbonara | Pork stroganoff | Green chilli meat balls, sunflower seed couscous salad and mint yoghurt | Tagliatelle with air dried cured ham and minted peas | Beef, thyme and mushroom loaf with potato dauphinoise | Mixed bean and coriander green curry with fragrant rice | Egg Florentine with smoked cheddar and rocket salad | Beef, mushroom and thyme pie | Spicy tuna, bean and coriander lasagne | Beef koftas with a feta, spinach and fresh mint salad | Chorizo and pea risotto | Sausage and rosemary hotpot | Beef & thyme (Lancashire) hotpot
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