Fresh Orange Tart

This recipe was found in the 2009 cookbook, 100 Great Recipes -- Vegetarian. Preparation time does not include the time needed for the dough to chill for 20 minutes & it also includes neither the time needed for the pastry to cool nor for the finished custard to cool completely.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 2  small oranges, thin-skinned, washed
• 1 1⁄4 cups water
• 1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
• 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄3 cup unsalted butter, diced, chilled
• 1⁄2 cup  superfine sugar, divided
• 1  egg
• 2  egg yolks
• 2  cups  whole milk
• 4  tablespoons cornstarch
• 1  teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

1. Slice the oranges thinly.
2. In a saucepan combine the water & granulated sugar & heat, stirring until the sugar has dissolved, then add the orange slices. Reduce the heat & simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Remove the orange slices to a sheet of parchment paper.
4. Put the flour in a mixing bowl, then add the butter & rub with your fingertips until it resemples coarse breadcrumbs.
5. Stir in ONLY 1/4 cup of superfine sugar, combining well.
6. In another container, whisk the whole egg, then add it to the flour mixture, stirring until the mixture starts to form a dough. Then, with lightly floured hands, bring the mixture together & knead it briefly.
7. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface & use the dough to line a 14" by 4 1/2" oblong, loose-bottomed tart pan. Chill this pastry for 20 minutes.
8. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F & place a heavy baking pan in the oven to heat.
9. Line the pastry with parchment paper & fill it with pastry weights (or dry beans), then place it on the preheated baking pan & bake for 20 minutes.
10. Remove the paper & the weights, then return it to the oven for another 5 minutes, or until the base is baked & crisp. Leave it in the pan & put it on a wire rack to cool.
11. In a saucepan, heat the milk until ALMOST boiling.
12. In a mixing bowl beat the 2 egg yolks, the remaining 1/4 cup of superfine sugar, cornstarch & vanilla extract, along with 2 or 3 tablespoons of the hot milk, until smooth.
13. In a steady stream, pour in the rest of the milk, stirring all the time.
14. Return the mixture to saucepan & cook, stirring, until thickened, then remove from the heat & cool thoroughly, stirring occasionally to stop a skin from forming over the top.
15. When the mixture is cold, spoon the custard into the pastry shell & make sure the surface is level before arranging the orange slices on the top.