Dessert for breakfast—who’s in? This tart is not just a showstopping centerpiece, but a delicious and nutritious way to start your day. It’s the perfect thing to serve for a weekend brunch—it will impress all your friends even though it’s a cinch to make, especially if you bake the crust a day ahead. Fresh figs are a sensuous treat, but because they are in season for only the blink of an eye, experiment with using any fruit you like in this tart. Strawberries in early summer would be dynamite, as would persimmons in the winter. You could even top the yogurt with stewed rhubarb in the spring. Yum!
TIME
1 hour + cooling time
SUITABLE FOR
Ages 14+
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Crust: 1⁄2 cup / 70g sunflower seeds | 1 1⁄4 cups / 150g buckwheat flour | 1⁄4 tsp fine sea salt | 1⁄4 cup / 60ml coconut oil, chilled until very cold | 2 tbsp pure maple syrup | 2 tbsp iced water
Filling: 1 1⁄2 cups / 350g thick, plain yogurt (such as Greek-style yogurt) | 1 vanilla bean | 1 tbsp pure maple syrup, plus extra for drizzling if desired | 5 fresh figs, washed and sliced into quarters
WHAT TO DO
- Preheat the oven to 375°F / 190°C / gas mark 5.
- Make the crust: In a dry frying pan over medium heat, toast the sunflower seeds until golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the sunflower seeds into a food processor. Let cool for a few minutes, and then blend on high until the seeds resemble sand (do not over process, or you’ll end up with sunflower butter!). Add the flour, salt, coconut oil, maple syrup, and iced water, and pulse until everything is well incorporated and the dough holds together.
- Press the dough down very firmly onto the bottom and up the sides of a 7-inch / 18cm tart tin. Prick the crust all over with a fork, and bake for 15 to 25 minutes, until golden and crisp. Let cool completely.
- Make the filling: Put the yogurt in a medium bowl. Slice the vanilla bean in half lengthwise, and scrape the seeds onto the yogurt. Add the maple syrup and fold to combine. Sweeten to taste with more maple syrup if desired.
AND THEN
Pour the yogurt mixture into the cooled tart shell. Arrange the quartered figs on top, drizzle with extra maple syrup if desired, and serve immediately.
Recipes and images from My New Roots by Sarah Britton, Macmillan, RRP $42.99.
Fig + Buckwheat Breakfast Tart
