Invented in Italy in the 18th century, the 'Mont Blanc' patisserie is now famous worldwide. The main ingredient, chestnut puree, is piped on top of the eponymous dessert so that it resembles the Alps' highest mountain. My version, the Môn Blanc, contains Halen Môn (Anglesey sea salt) and a hazelnut liquid centre! This is how I make it.
Chocolate Tart:
● 150g butter
● 120g icing sugar
● 2 eggs
● 300g flour
● 90g cocoa powder
Chestnut cream:
● 4 leaves gelatine
● 200g sugar
● 200g cream (boiled)
● 300g mascarpone
● 100g chestnut puree
● 200g milk chocolate
● 900g whipping cream
Cremeux:
● 350g Cream
● 6 Yolks
● 60g caster sugar
● 115g Irish cream liqueur
● 2 leaves gelatine
Lemon jelly:
● 100ml lemon juice
● 1 leaf gelatine
Feuilletine:
● 50g hazelnut paste
● 80g milk chocolate
● 50g feuilletine or bran flakes
1. Sift all dry ingredients – always sift dry ingredients! If dry ingredients are not sifted, the pastry will have lumps/pockets of flour throughout. Place in a mixing bowl of a Kitchen Aid.
2. Add a pinch of Halen Mon (crucial for the chocolatey flavour)
3. Add small cubes of cold butter to the bowl and mix on a low speed until the mixture resembles a breadcrumb texture. If the butter is too warm, the mixture will become a paste very quickly.
4. Add the eggs one by one. Allow each egg to fully incorporate into the mix before adding another, otherwise the mixture could split.
5. Allow the ingredients to form a dough. Use your hands to work the dough slightly, just enough to firm up the pastry. If over-worked, the gluten will develop too much and the pastry will be too hard once baked.
6. Allow the pastry to cool in the fridge for at least 20 minutes.
7. Roll the pastry out to 0.3mm and line a small pastry case.
8. Allow to cool again for 10 minutes in the fridge.
9. Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper or ovenproof clingfilm and fill with rice.
10. Blind bake.
11. Remove the rice and return the case to the oven until done. It is a lot more difficult to tell when a chocolate pastry case is done because you cannot detect any colour changes. You must rely on your nose to smell when the pastry is fully cooked.
1. Whisk egg yolks and sugar together.
2. Boil whipping cream gently.
3. Pour over the yolks and sugar whilst continuously whisking to avoid cooking.
4. Place mixture in a thermomix and cook to 85 degrees Celsius.
5. Once the custard is thick, add the chocolate and blend thoroughly.
6. Finally, add the Irish Cream and chill.
And there you have it, my Môn Blanc!