Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Rhubarb tarts with orange-honey fromage blanc



It's been insanely busy here in the studio working non-stop on a big upcoming project that I promise I'll divulge more about soooooooon, so personal desserts that I've been whipping up just for me have taken a turn for the ultra-simple and fast. But of course that doesn't mean they aren't still finger-lickingly good!


I've been waiting so, so patiently for rhubarb to finally hit the markets in my area, so when I at long last saw them at the grocer a few days ago, I pounced. (My apologies to the poor innocent bystanders that I must have trampled in my race to the rhubarb!) Given the mad success of rhubarb in pie form last season, I really wanted to make a rhubarb tart of some sort this year and settled on something super simple and yet surprisingly good: rhubarb puff pastry tarts with orange honey fromage blanc. I love how in the oven, the rhubarb stalks create this bubbling tart filling all on their own, melting into the puff pastry below. There isn't anything else in the tart itself except a dash of vanilla bean and some turbinado and brown sugars to add a bit of rustic sweetness. I served these with dollops of orange and honey-scented fromage blanc on top and a few more drizzles of honey--the tart sourness in the fromage blanc is a really fun alternative to plain old whipped cream, and the orange and honey softens the kick from the cheese. I love simple desserts like this that demonstrate how mixing just a few really good ingredients can make something absolutely divine.


Speaking of news, in all of the Italy excitement, I forgot to say that I'll be at BlogHer Food again this year (in Seattle! Yay!) talking (again) about food photography with Anita Chu of Dessert First. I hope I'll be seeing at least some of you there!


Read on for recipe....

Rhubarb tarts with orange honey fromage blanc
makes six individually-sized tarts

2 Tbspn flour
1 Tbspn brown sugar
1 vanilla bean
1 sheet of puff pastry
3 rhubarb stalks
1 Tbspn turbinado sugar
½ cup fromage blanc
2½ tspn honey,
and more for drizzling
zest of 1 small orange
1 tspn fresh orange juice

1. Preheat oven to 425° F. Prepare a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silpat.
2. Combine the flour and brown sugar in a bowl. Split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape the seeds into the flour mixture. Mix.
3. Roll out the puff pastry to about ⅛-inch thickness. Cut into 6 squares. Divide and sprinkle the prepared flour mixture onto the centers of each puff pastry square. Split each rhubarb stalk in half lengthwise and chop down to size, about an inch shorter than each puff pastry square. Place the rhubarb on the flour, leaving an edge of pastry exposed. Roll the edges of the puff pastry up to form a crust around the rhubarb.Sprinkle with turbinado sugar.
4. Transfer the pastries to the prepared baking sheet. Bake at 425° F for 10 minutes; then, reduce the heat to 350° F and continue to bake for 10 – 12 minutes more, until the edges are golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool.
5. Meanwhile, combine the fromage blanc, honey, orange zest, and orange juice in a bowl and mix well. Drizzle extra honey on the rhubarb tarts and top with small dollops of fromage blanc mixture before serving.

Note: these tarts are best enjoyed the day they're made, as they will get a bit soggy if left overnight.


Enjoy!

25 comments:

  1. Beautiful photos! These tarts look amazing, I love rhubarb! 

    ReplyDelete
  2. you are amazing! how do you do the styling? it's fantastic work.
    humbled...
    scarlett from http://beautifulinsidemyhead.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my! What a fabulous, seasonal, dessert! Lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love your site, you're as addicted to sweets as I am, we should chat!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Beautiful beautiful tarts! I especially love the shot with the honey drizzler...gorgeous.

    ReplyDelete
  6. yum, I love rhubarb, the tart look awesome 

    ReplyDelete
  7. Please invite me to have a bite. I'm craving here! Beautiful and inspiring photos as usual! <3

    ReplyDelete
  8. omg! this tarts are killing me. I can
    not wait to
    grow rhubarb in my garden. soon I will make them by myselfe .
    they look divine. Thanks for the recipe and beautiful photos.

    Wellcome on my food & photography blog.

    Greetings from Slovenia

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hello Steph
    First time here and I am loving your recipes. Those tarts looks so simple to fix. That's the kind of food I am looking to fix on a weekday. I have terrible sweet tooth and I am on the look out for low calorie and healthy sugar desserts. I need to lose lot of weight and hence this sudden change in lifestyle. See you around!

    ReplyDelete
  10. whatttttt... wanttt.... ship me some! Sooo my boyfriend is the biggest rhubarb addict ever, you know the English like their rhubarb. We usually make a big ole' trays of crumble but I think we should take a more elegant approach and try this!! Looks fab

    ReplyDelete
  11. Steph, these look gorgeous and soo delicious. Mm fromage blanc! 

    ReplyDelete
  12. Can't wait to see the big reveal!  Been looking forward to it since last year!  ;)

    Also, is it terrible that I've never had rhubarb? (Kinda, huh?)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Wow, these look fantastic, like pieces of modern art! I'm sure they're delectable too! 

    ReplyDelete
  14. I have never seen rhubarb tarts like these before - simply inspired and love the concept. I am featuring this post in today's Friday Food Fetish roundup (with a link-back and attribution), but please let me know if you have any objections. It's a pleasure to be following your creations…

    ReplyDelete
  15. yum, i love rhubarb & my mouth is watering with the thought of that tart & the honey fromage....gorgeous x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Wow - the crust on those tarts looks incredible!
    ♡ Lexi
    FASHION:  Glitter & Pearls
    WEDDINGS:  Glitter Weddings 

    ReplyDelete
  17. This is a new look of tarts. I know that sweet lovers will like it.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Absolutely delightful! Such a beautiful balance of tart and sweet...delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Mmmm.. those are almost too pretty to eat!!
    xo,
    http://adventuresofdutchandme.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  20. I need to start cooking with rhubarb, thank you for the inspiration! I like your blog, visiting often-))

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congrats on speaking at BHF again! I loved your session in Atlanta and am sorry to be missing the next one.

    Stunning tart! Rhubarb has a special place in my heart.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Love rhubarb. In any form, but especially with baking. And these tarts look so delicious. Wish we had rhubarb here now so I could try and replicate them. Try, that is. 

    ReplyDelete
  23. Rocky Mountain WomanApril 18, 2012 at 1:37 PM

    No rhubarb here yet...heavy sigh...

    When it does arrive, this will be my first recipe!  

    ReplyDelete
  24. Looks simple and simply delicious. I love the orange honey framage blanc

    ReplyDelete

I love hearing from you and reading your comments! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog. Happy feasting!