banner
alive logo
FoodFamilyLifestyleBeautySustainabilityHealthImmunity

Mixed Melon Tart

    Share

    This tart is a light and refreshing way to crown a meal. You can prepare all the parts ahead of time so that all you do is assemble before serving. Goats’ milk yogurt adds an extra depth of flavour to the tart, but it can easily be replaced with plain yogurt.

    Advertisement

    2 cups (500 mL) low-fat goats’ milk yogurt
    3 sheets phyllo dough, thawed
    2 Tbsp (30 mL) coconut oil, melted, plus extra
    1/4 cup (60 mL) finely chopped almonds or hazelnuts
    2 Tbsp (30 mL) honey, divided
    1/2 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped out
    1 tsp (5 mL) lime zest
    1 Tbsp (15 mL) lime juice, divided
    1/8 tsp (0.5 mL) ground cardamom
    3 cups (750 mL) mixed melon balls or cubes (such as watermelon, honeydew, or Sharlyn)

    Line sieve or colander with wet cheesecloth and place over bowl. Place yogurt into cheesecloth, wrap cheesecloth overtop yogurt to cover and place plate on top of yogurt. Allow yogurt to drain in refrigerator overnight.

    Preheat oven to 375 F (190 C).

    Unroll phyllo on clean work surface. To prevent phyllo from drying out, cover with barely damp towel. Working with 1 sheet of phyllo at a time, lightly brush dough with coconut oil and sprinkle with ground almonds. Lay another sheet of phyllo overtop and brush with more oil and sprinkle with almonds. Repeat with last layer of phyllo.

    Take one of the long edges and fold it over to meet the other edge. Brush phyllo again lightly with oil and use it to line a 13 1/2 x 4 1/2 in (34 x 11.5 cm) pan with removable bottom that has been lightly greased with coconut oil. Trim overhanging pastry with scissors to be flush with edge of pan, and prick bottom of phyllo with fork.

    Press a piece of parchment paper into bottom and up sides of phyllo crust, and scatter a handful of dried beans or pie weights over parchment to weigh it down. Bake until edges are golden brown and bottom is dry and crisp, about 10 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack.

    Place drained yogurt in large bowl and discard drained liquid. Stir together yogurt, 1 Tbsp (15 mL) honey, vanilla seeds, lime zest, and 1 tsp (5 mL) lime juice. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

    In large bowl, whisk together remaining honey, remaining lime juice, and cardamom. Add melon and stir to coat in dressing. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes or refrigerate until ready to use.

    When ready to serve, spread yogurt filling into phyllo crust and top with melons. Slice and divide among serving plates. Drizzle with any remaining dressing left in bowl from melons. Assemble tart no more than 20 minutes before serving (or pastry will get soggy).

    Serves 6.

    Each serving contains: 221 calories; 7 g protein; 10 g total fat (7 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 24 g total carbohydrates (15 g sugars, 1 g fibre); 130 mg sodium

    source: "Melon Madness", alive #370, August 2013

    Advertisement

    Mixed Melon Tart

    Advertisement
    Advertisement
    Advertisement

    READ THIS NEXT

    SEE MORE »
    Leek, Charred Spring Onion, and Garlic Scape Soup
    Food

    Leek, Charred Spring Onion, and Garlic Scape Soup

    Leek and potato soup is a spring classic and really shines with new-season leeks. This soup takes the classic recipe a step further in a celebration of spring alliums by adding charred spring onions and garlic scapes, the immature flowering part of the garlic plant. Unlike the garlic bulb, scapes impart a gentler, fresher garlic flavour. Garlic—two for one Hardneck varieties of garlic, such as Russian Red, develop a flowering stock called a scape, which extends from the plant in a green coil. Growing your own garlic will give you two crops—a crop of bulbs in late July and, prior to that, in late May or early June, tender garlic scapes. Harvesting garlic scapes, before they flower, not only provides a delicious crop you can use in myriad ways but also essentially helps the plant divert its energy to producing the garlic bulbs—the part we use most often. Scapes are ready to harvest when they curl downward and begin to coil.

    Roasted Artichokes with Serrano Ham and Marcona Almonds

    Roasted Artichokes with Serrano Ham and Marcona Almonds

    Artichokes can be somewhat intimidating. But once you’ve made your way past its spiky exterior and removed the thistlelike choke, there lies a tender heart with a sweet flavour. The meaty bases of artichoke leaves are also edible and make perfect dipping vehicles to scoop up sauce or, in this case, a stuffing with just a touch of Spanish serrano ham and Marcona almonds. Artichokes take a bit of care to prepare—and to eat—but they present a wonderful opportunity to slow down and savour flavourful ingredients. Don’t be afraid to use your hands! How to clean an artichoke Fill a bowl large enough to accommodate artichokes with water. Cut a lemon in half, squeeze the juice into water, and drop lemon halves into water. Cut a second lemon in half and set it aside. You’ll use this to brush the artichoke as you trim it to prevent the blackening that occurs as the artichoke is exposed to oxygen. You can also rub your hands with lemon, which will stop your hands from blackening. Wash and dry your artichoke. Remove tough leaves around the base of the stem by pulling them away from the body of the artichoke, rubbing artichoke with lemon as you do so. With serrated knife, cut through artichoke crosswise, about 1 in (2.5 cm) from the top. Rub exposed part with lemon. With kitchen shears, remove spiky tips of remaining outer leaves. Use peeler to remove small leaves near the stem and the tough outer layer of the stem. Rub peeled stem with lemon. Using serrated knife once more, cut through artichoke lengthwise, severing the bulb and stem. Again, rub all exposed parts with lemon. Use small paring knife to cut around the spiky, hairlike choke and then use spoon to scoop it out. Rinse artichoke quickly under water and then place in bowl of lemon water while you prepare the remaining artichoke.