This beauty of a tart unites two of the season’s best fruits: ripe strawberries and plump, fresh figs. I like to roast the cut fruit for a few minutes in the oven to bring out more of their natural sweetness before placing them artistically on top of a buttery shortbread crust covered in a simple ricotta cream.
To make the ricotta cream you simply puree ricotta cheese in a small food processor and add in whatever sweetener and flavorings you are craving; I used agave nectar to sweeten up my ricotta cream, with a touch of pure vanilla extract and hazelnut extract for a rich, nutty sweetness. A lovely dessert to enjoy after a light summer dinner, or even served in the afternoon with a cup of tea or hot coffee.
(To view this recipe, click on the blue title of the blog post above*)
Fig & Strawberry Tart with Hazelnut Ricotta Cream & Buttery Shortbread Crust
Ingredients:
- 10 round store-bought shortbread cookies
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 ½ cups ricotta cheese
- 1 Tablespoons agave nectar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon hazelnut extract
- 1 cup of strawberries, hulled
- 6-8 fresh figs, quartered
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a tart pan with cooking spray.
- To make the crust, pulse the cookies in a food processor until finely crumbled. Pour in the melted butter and pulse until the butter is evenly distributed. Press into your tart pan.
- Place on a baking sheet and bake your crust for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. In the meantime, Spray another baking sheet with cooking spray. Arrange the cut fruit, cut side down, on the sheet; roast in the same oven for 10 minutes or until their juice begin to exude and the fruit is tender.
- Allow the fruit and the cooked crust to cool.
- To make the cream, puree the ricotta, agave and extracts in a small food processor until very smooth and creamy. Spread on the cooled crust; top with the roasted fruit.
- Refrigerate the tart for at least 1 hour before serving.
Tagged: agave nectar, brown turkey figs, dessert, dessert tart, figs, fresh figs, fruit tart, hazelnut extract, hazelnut ricotta cream, ricotta cheese, ricotta cream, shortbread cookies, shortbread crust, strawberries, summer fruit tart, tart, tart pan
Yum, looks delicious!
Thanks Leanne.
Such a wonderful summertime fruit dessert! I definitely got the fruit-and-cream-dessert gene…