Mini Strawberry Cheese Tart

Strawberries dont come cheap in Malaysia. About 250gms of it costs roughly about RM10 or even more depending on which countries it comes from .Locally it is cultivated at Cameron Highlands,Pahang in Malaysia's premier hill resort . Low temperatures all year round allow terraced flower gardens, strawberry farms, tea plantations, orchards and vegetable gardens there.At present Terengganu has taken another bold step forward when it introduces strawberry farming through fertigation in the state.Yet , it is mostly exported and don’t cover enough for locals.

Anyways strawberries are easily available in most of the supermarkets and actually is best eaten fresh coated in icing sugar or dipped in chocolate !!




(makes about 30 mini tarts)

For Pastry
150gm plain flour
½ tbsp milk powder
90gms icing sugar
90gms butter (cut into cubes)
1 egg (beaten, use half only)

For cheese filling:
5ogms cream cheese
1-2 tbsp icing sugar
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp beaten egg

For strawberry filling:
150gm fresh strawberries
1 tbsp icing sugar( or more ,depend on the sweetness in the berries)
1 tsp jelly powder (strawberry or unflavored )

For decoration:
Whipped cream
Cut strawberries

Method:
For Pastry
In a bowl, combine flour, milk powder and sugar.Add in butter into it and make into crumbs.
Add in half a beaten egg to the flour.Combine the ingredients together.If sticky can add another tablespoon of flour. If not leave for about 5mins and the dough will set slightly. Wrap in a plastic and transfer to the fridge. Cool the dough for 20mins .
Using a generous amount of flour on the rolling surface ,flatten the dough abt ½ cm in thickness, cut using a round or designed round cutter.Flatten the round dough in a mini tart moulds.Plain bake for 13 mins on preheated oven 180C. The time differs according to the size of the tarts.If the tarts are bigger then bake it more. Remove from tart moulds after baking and leave to cool.
This tarts are rather crisp .



Cream Cheese Filling:
Beat cream cheese, icing sugar, and butter until creamy.Add in beaten egg and beat further.You can add 1 tbsp of whipped cream if desired.Keep aside.

Strawberry Filling:
Wash and clean the strawberries. Discard the leaves.Blender the strawberries into puree. In a heat proof bowl, cook the pureed strawberries and icing sugar in low heat. Dissolve the jelly in 2 tbsp of hot water. Mix it into the strawberry mixture.Stir until well combine.Cook for another 1 min and close fire. Leave to cool slightly.

To serve:
Add in a tsp of cream cheese filling in a tart. Cover it with strawberry filling. Decorate with whipped cream and for the center piece ,place a cut strawberry .

Really yummy with a cup of coffee !!!

Above recipe is my contribution for Strawberry Feast hosted by My Kitchen Treasures.