Muscovado tart with mascarpone

Method

1. For the pastry, sift the flour and cocoa powder into a bowl. In another mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream the butter, icing sugar and vanilla seeds together until pale. On a slow speed, add the 3 egg yolks, followed by the flour mix and ground almonds until it comes together. Tip out the pastry onto a lightly floured surface and form into a disc. Wrap in cling film and chill for 1 hour.
2. For the filling, heat the muscovado sugar in a medium frying pan over a medium heat. Shake the pan to move the sugar around and, when it just starts to smoke, take it off the heat and whisk in the madeira a little at a time (this stops the sugar burning). Whisk in the cream and salt, then return to the heat. Bring to the boil, then turn down to a simmer and cook for 30 minutes, whisking occasionally. After 30 minutes, strain to remove any uncooked sugar, take the pan off the heat, then whisk in the egg yolks. Leave to cool, then chill with cling film covering the surface.
3. Roll out the pastry on a floured work surface and line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin, leaving a little pastry overhanging the edge. Chill for at least 40 minutes.
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4. Heat the oven to 180°C/160°C fan/gas 4 and line the pastry with baking paper and baking beans or uncooked rice. Cook for 20-25 minutes, then remove the paper and beans/rice and cook for 5 minutes more. When all the pastry is dry and golden, remove the case from the oven and turn it to 140°C/120°C fan/gas 1. Trim the excess pastry from the edge and brush out any crumbs with a pastry brush.
5. Pour the filling into the case, then cook for 30-35 minutes. The filling should be set but still with a slight wobble. Cool to room temperature – it will firm up as it cools. Slice using a knife dipped in hot water.

Recipe by Sam Willis at Café Murano in Covent Garden