Mirabelle Plum Tart from Lorraine
This Mirabelle Plum Tart from the Lorraine Region is a typical late-summer treat from the area. If you can’t get your hands on mirabelles, try it with ripe golden plums. With 10,000 hectares of orchards, the Lorraine region fruitages nearly 40 thousand tons of Mirabelle plums each year – representing 70% of the worldwide production. No surprise then that this sweet delicious fruit is the official symbol of the region. Two main varieties exist: the mirabelle from Metz (smaller, golden with red spots) and the mirabelle from Nancy (plumper with…
- Prep time
- 1 hr
- Cook time
- 35 min
- Yield
- 8 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 700g unstoned mirabelles (or golden plums)
- 250g plain flour
- 125g butter
- 1 egg yolk
- 65g sugar
- 30 ml water
- 1 pinch of saltA few plain biscuits
- Optional: 1/2 Cup sugar (if using golden plums)
Instructions
- 1
For the sweet shortcrust pastry:
- 2
Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Rub in the butter until you obtain fine crumbs. Stir in the sugar. Make a well and add the egg yolk. Mix and add enough water to bind, until you obtain a smooth ball. Leave in the fridge for one hour.
- 3
For the Garnish:
- 4
Butter and lightly flour a 9' tart dish.
- 5
Line the dish with the rolled out pastry. Crumble the biscuits and sprinkle them over the base (this absorbs the plum juice).
- 6
Option 1 (for mirabelles): Halve the mirabelles and remove the stone.
- 7
Option 2 (for golden plums): Halve the plums and remove the stone. Place the plums in a large bowl, and sprinkle ½ cup of sugar on top. Toss them gently and let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour.
- 8
Pre-heat your oven at 375F.
- 9
Arrange the mirabelles - or golden plums- over the tart base as you like. To reproduce the photo image, arrange the plum segments in concentric circles, overlapping the slices as you go. Start at the edge then work towards the centre.
- 10
Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the tart from the mold immediately.
- 11
Optional: Sprinkle with caster sugar or icing sugar.
- 12