Tarte Tatin

Welsh folk proverb (1866)" “Eat an apple on going to bed and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” Is this true? No, but this fruit certainly tries to live up to its reputation, particularly if kept in a cool cellar and eaten with the peel intact. Apple skins pretty, waxy shine holds high concentrations of Ursolic acid which keeps cholesterol and blood sugar under control and stops the muscles from wasting. Apart from Vitamin C, which aids the immune system, apples contain boron which strengthens bones and phlorizin-a crystalline glycoside also found in pears and cherries-helps those with diabetes mellitus and obesity. Juice from the fruit of Eden protects brain cells from damage that may lead to Alzheimer’s disease. Apple juice given to asthmatic children on a daily basis helps curb their condition, while children born to mothers who eat apples during pregnancy often suffered less or no asthma. Other studies have shown that two apples per day may lower cholesterol, while frequent apple eaters showed a lower risk of developing lung cancer.

Upside-down Apple Tart Vegan

Ingredients:

  • 5 large apples use a mix of different varieties

  • 4 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 1 dessert spoon honey

  • 1 cup castor sugar

  • 4 tablespoons water

  • 1 cup apple juice or 3/4 cup apple juice + 1/4 cup brandy

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 1 sheet pre-prepared, vegan puff pastry

Method:

Pre-heat moderate oven. Peel and core apples, cut into quarters. Place in a bowl, add lemon juice, cinnamon and honey, toss well to ensure apples are coated, cover and put aside. Simmer sugar and water in an oven-proof, iron pan, constantly stirring to dissolve the sugar. Continue cooking over low heat till the sugar caramelises to a golden brown, remove from the heat, add the apple, juice & brandy. Lid and simmer 5-6 minutes to partially cook the apple. Remove from the heat and set aside for five minutes. Cover with the pastry, tuck pastry under and bake until pastry is puffed and golden. To serve, turn upside down, eat while hot. Some like to eat ice cream or custard with Upside-Down Apple Tart.

Tarte Tatin Banana Variation;

Follow the method for Apple Tarte Tatin but replace brandy or rum with whiskey and apples with the following;

  • 4 large bananas

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoon castor sugar

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves

  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh orange rind

Method:

  1. Peel and halve bananas lengthwise, put in a bowl, cover with sugar and the lemon juice, making sure the bananas are well covered with lemon juice. Add orange rind, and spices, then cover.

Make Syrup

Simmer 4 tablespoons water with 1 cup of castor sugar in an oven-proof, iron pan, constantly stirring to dissolve the sugar. Continue cooking over low heat till the sugar caramelises to a golden brown, remove from the heat. Lay bananas and juices on top, cover with pastry, tuck the pastry under at the sides. Bake in a moderate oven until pastry is puffed and golden. To serve, turn upside down, eat while hot. Some like to eat ice cream.

Tarte Tatin Pear and Berry Variation

Follow the method for Apple Tarte Tatin but replace apples with cooking pears. Berries must not be added until the last minute, just before topping with pastry.

Link to Vegan Custard

“I made the choice to be vegan because I will not eat (or wear, or use) anything that could have an emotional response to its death or captivity. I can well imagine what that must feel like for our non-human friends - the fear, the terror, the pain - and I will not cause such suffering to a fellow living being.” ― Rai Aren