Strawberry Mascarpone Tart with Port Glaze
Recipe Source: Andrea Albin
Strawberry Mascarpone Tart with Port Glaze is an elegant dessert that beautifully combines the sweetness of fresh strawberries with the creamy richness of mascarpone cheese. The buttery, flaky tart crust provides a perfect base, while the mascarpone filling offers a smooth and indulgent contrast. Topped with ripe, juicy strawberries, the tart is finished with a luscious port wine glaze that adds a deep, slightly fruity sweetness, enhancing the flavors of the fruit and cream. This sophisticated tart is perfect for special occasions or a refined treat, offering a balance of textures and flavors that will leave a lasting impression on your taste buds.
Difficulty: MEDIUM
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Total Time: 3 hours
Serving Size: 8 servings
For Tart Shell
Ingredients:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Rounded 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 3 tablespoons cold water
Directions:
- Blend together flour, sugar, salt, and butter in a bowl with your fingertips or a pastry blender (or pulse in a food processor) just until mixture resembles coarse meal with some roughly pea-size butter lumps. Beat together yolk, vanilla, lemon juice, and water with a fork, then drizzle over flour mixture and stir with fork (or pulse) until mixture comes together.
- Gently knead with floured hands on a lightly floured surface until a dough forms, then gently knead 4 or 5 times. Press into a 5-inch disk. Place in center of tart pan and cover with plastic wrap. Using your fingers and bottom of a flat-bottomed measuring cup, spread and push dough to evenly cover bottom and side of pan. Prick bottom of tart shell all over with a fork and freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
- Line tart shell with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake until side is set and edge is pale golden, about 20 minutes. Carefully remove foil and weights and continue to bake until shell is deep golden all over, about 20 minutes more. Cool in pan, about 45 minutes.
- While tart is cooling make the filling.
For Filling
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 pounds strawberries (about 1 1/2 quarts), trimmed and halved lengthwise
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup ruby Port
- 1 pound mascarpone (about 2 cups)
- 1/4 cup confectioners sugar
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Directions:
- Stir together strawberries and granulated sugar in a bowl and let stand, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes. Strain in a sieve set over a small saucepan, reserving berries. Add Port to liquid in saucepan and boil until reduced to about 1/4 cup, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl to cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, whisk together mascarpone, confectioners sugar, lemon juice, zest, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until stiff.
- Assemble tart:
- Spread mascarpone mixture evenly in cooled tart shell, then top with strawberries. Drizzle Port glaze all over tart.