Easy puff pastry tart with mascarpone cream and strawberries
Simple and light dessert for all occasions
Published originally on my blog on 30 April 2016
Greek Orthodox Easter (Πάσχα / Pascha) is this Sunday and as it’s accustomed, lamb and goat will be consumed along with various other meat-centered dishes, while tsoureki (the traditional Greek Easter sweet bread) and paschalina koulourakia (Greek Easter cookies) will accompany the much needed post-feast coffee.
Proper dessert, however, doesn’t hold a great place in the celebratory Greek Easter feast. We all certainly need it after all that meat-binging but who has enough space in their tummies to eat it? Well, I do, but I prefer something light, like a tart, an airy mousse or ice cream.
So what could be better than this puff pastry tart with vanilla bean flavored mascarpone and the season’s first strawberries that requires minimal effort to make; I'm sure all those in charge of cooking for the Easter feast will appreciate this dessert.
The buttery puff pastry is flaky and crispy and it is covered with a creamy, vanilla-speckled mascarpone, while the vibrant and juicy fresh strawberries decorate the top and transform this simple and light dessert into a thing of beauty.
Καλή Ανάσταστη και Καλό Πάσχα (Happy Easter) to all my fellow Greeks!! Hope you have the best time with your loved ones.
Easy puff pastry tart with mascarpone cream and strawberries
This time, I used ready-made puff pastry, but this tart will be elevated to higher levels of scrumptiousness if you decide to make your own homemade puff pastry (like I did with this tart). Compare the pictures of the two puffs and you will be convinced in an instant.
A final dusting of icing sugar completes the picture, but if you’re feeling more decadent, replace the icing sugar with a generous drizzling of melted dark chocolate (55% cocoa solids), like I did with this tart. Also, you could add chopped pistachios or almonds over the top.
As with all fruit-based desserts, the quality and flavor of the fruit plays a major role in the outcome. Use fresh, juicy, tasty and sweet strawberries.
