Oh Sweet! It’s time to celebrate Heritage Day again, and this year feels even more festive. Rich, creamy or light – nothing hits the spot of every South African like Milk Tart does. While fusion foods are making gastronomical waves, fusion desserts make a sweet ending to any day. The traditional milk tart has adapted itself to many cuisines of the world, making it as diverse as its origin!
Try these awesome ideas with milk tart filling – and have it your way!
Basic South African Milk Tart Recipe
To begin with, make a basic recipe of milk tart or just the filling, and then use it in a variety of recipes.
For the Base
- 60g butter
- 60 ml castor sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tbsp coconut
- 180 ml flour
Beat together the butter and sugar. Add the egg and beat a little more. Add dry ingredients, using just enough flour to make a dough. Spread the dough over a well greased baking tray and bake at 180 for a few minutes.
Topping or Filling
Boil:
- 1 tin condensed milk
- 3 tins water
- 1 cinnamon stick (remove stick once boiled)
Blend:
- 4 eggs
- 125ml cornflour (maizena)
- 1 tsp caramel essence
Add this to hot condensed milk mixture and mix quick to prevent lumps. Pour this over the base and set.
If using only the topping, let it set aside in a glass dish, or firm up and lets get creative:
SOUTH AFRICAN INSPIRED MILK TART GOES GLOBAL
The American version: Milk Tart Milkshake!
Using your basic milk tart, add some vanilla ice cream, milk and give it a whizz in your blender. To create a Freak Shake:
- Drizzle some white chocolate ganache down your sundae glass.
- Sprinkle cinnamon.
- Pour milkshake in.
- Top with whipped cream, mini milk tarts, and for a sweeter twist add a mini koeksister.
- Use cinnamon sticks as straws
The French version: Milk Tart Eclairs!
Fill them chouxs (pronounced shoes). Choux pastry or eclairs are so easy to make and easy on the pocket too. Using a basic recipe, you can make your pastry a day ahead, and then fill the centre with delicious milk tart filling.
The Greek version: Milk Tart Phyllo rolls!
Use 3 sheets of phyllo pastry bound together with melted butter. Cut into 3 strips, fill the centre of each strip with milk tart filling, fold in sides and roll up like you would for spring roll. Gently fry in oil, or bake – they’re delicious served warm.
The European version: Milk Tart Cakes!
Use your favourite butter cake recipe for cakes or cupcakes, then pipe the milk tart filling over the top to create dreamy cakes.
The German version: Milk Tart Donuts!
Try making berliner donuts filled with delicious milk tart filling. It’s gorgeous. For a quick, delicious treat – head on over to Krispy Kreme SA, and indulge in milk tart donuts. Yum!
The Dutch version: Milk Tart Pancakes!
You got to love this one. Roll milk tart filling into a pancake, or crepe. To make a statement, spread the filling on a few crepes, and stack them up to make a milk tart crepe cake.
The Indian version: Milk Tart Samoosas!
Three cornered magic. Add some coconut to your milk tart filling. Using store bought pur or spring roll pastry, spoon some filling in the centre of the strip and fold over to create a triangle. Fry till golden brown. Oozing delight.
The British version: Chocolate Milk Tart!
Crushed Romany Creams, bound with melted butter, makes a delicious rust for this. Then substitute the maizena in the filling recipe with 1/4 cup cocoa instead, and there you have it! A rich chocolate dream!
The Italian version: Milk Tart Gelato!
Screaming with goodness. Flavour your basic gelato mixture with added cinnamon and condensed milk, and put it to the test. OR, mix in these flavours with store bought ice cream. Serve topped with Lotus or Nuttikrust biscuit crumble, a delicate drizzle of condensed milk and a sprinkling of cinnamon.
The Mexican version: Milk Tart Popcorn!
Let’s get popping! Mushroom kernels are big and beeg on flavour. Once popped, gently coat in melted milky bar chocolate and then sprinkle with cinnamon. Now cut some basic milk tart into bits, and toss them into the corn. Send to the neighbours too! For a feast, try the Maverick & Jane Milk Tart edition.
So, what’s your way? Have you tried:
- The Arabian Version: Milk Tart Stuffed Dates
- The Middle Eastern version: Milk Tart Kunafeh
- The South African sweet meets savoury version: Milk Tart toped with biltong
- The Belgian version: Milk Tart waffles
Share your version with us and let’s make milk tart even better!
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