MILK TART – or melktert – is a world famous South African treat.
Its origins can be traced back to the Dutch settlers in the Cape in the last half of the 17th century.
With 27 February being National Milk Tart Day, it’s time to bake a Mzansi favourite to celebrate!
Ingredients for pastry
, Two cups flour
, One egg
, ½ cup sugar
, Two teaspoons baking powder
, 125g butter
, pinch of salt
Ingredients for filling:
Four and ½ cups milk
Two and ½ teaspoons cornflour
One cup sugar
Three eggs
Pinch of salt
Two and ½ tablespoon flour
One teaspoon vanilla essence
Big spoon of butter
Pastry preparation
- Cream sugar with butter
- Add an egg before beating well.
- Add all other ingredients and make a stiff dough.
- Press into round pie or cake dish or tin.
- Bake for 15 minutes at 180°C. Use wax paper to cover the pastry. Weigh the paper down with dry beans or rice.
- Remove the paper and weight, and bake for five more minutes until light brown.
Filling preparation
- Bring milk to a gentle boil.
- Beat two eggs, add sugar, flour, cornflour, salt and mix well.
- Pour boiling milk into mixture. Stir well.
- Return to the stove and stir for 10 to 12 minutes on medium heat until the mixture thickens.
- Add butter and vanilla essence.
- Mix thoroughly.
- Pour into cooked pastry shell.
- Allow to cool in the fridge – no need to cook the tart any more.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon or chocolate shavings.
