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Torta della nonna
Lemon custard pine nut tart
Torta della nonna: Tuscany's "grandmother's tart" of lemon custard and pine nuts
Torta della nonna, "grandmother's tart", is on the dessert menu of almost every trattoria in Florence and across Tuscany: a shortcrust case filled with thick lemon-scented custard, covered with a second layer of pastry and scattered with pine nuts and icing sugar. Despite the name it was probably invented by a Florentine restaurant cook in the 1900s, but it tastes of family Sunday lunches. Contains pine nuts. Chef's tip: let the custard cool completely before filling the tart; warm custard melts the butter in the pastry and makes the base soggy.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 10
Ingredients
For the pastry
- 12 ½ oz plain flour
- 4 oz caster sugar
- 6 ½ oz cold butterdiced
- 1 egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 lemonzest only, divided
- 1 pinch salt
For the custard
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 oz caster sugar
- 1 ⅝ oz cornflour
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
To finish
- 1 ⅜ oz pine nuts
- 2 tbsp icing sugar
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Rub 6 ½ oz cold butter into 12 ½ oz plain flour, 4 oz caster sugar and 1 pinch salt. Add 1 egg, 1 egg yolk and half the zest of 1 lemon and bring together. Wrap and chill for 1 hour.
Step 2: Heat 2 cups whole milk with 1 tsp vanilla extract and the rest of the zest. Whisk 4 egg yolks, 4 oz caster sugar and 1 ⅝ oz cornflour, pour in the milk, return to the pan and cook for 4–5 minutes, stirring, until very thick. Cover and cool completely.
5 minStep 3: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan). Roll out two-thirds of the pastry and line a 24 cm tart tin. Fill with the cold custard. Common mistake: using warm custard; the pastry goes soggy.
Step 4: Roll out the rest of the pastry, lay it on top and seal the edges. Prick the top, brush with a little water and scatter with 1 ⅜ oz pine nuts.
Step 5: Bake for 40–45 minutes, until deep golden. Cool completely, then chill for 1 hour. Dust with 2 tbsp icing sugar before serving.
45 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 420 kcal
- Protein
- 9 g
- Carbs
- 50 g
- Fat
- 21 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does torta della nonna take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 45 minutes to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 10 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of plain flour?
- Self-raising flour, same amount (then leave out the baking powder).
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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