Strawberry cream cheese tart with an easy pistachio crust

K.C. Cornwell
California Pomegranate Co.

“This tart recipe makes the best of California-grown goodness, is impressive for guests and really simple to pull together. I often add a bit of orange zest when serving for an easy added flourish, and it seems fabulous, too,” digital marketer and recipe developer K.C. Cornwell says. She warns that once you try this “ridiculously easy” pistachio crust, it will be difficult to go back to regular pastry.

Ingredients

Crust
12 oz. pistachios
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 tsp. sea salt
1 egg
2 tbsp. melted butter

Filling
1/2 cup strawberry jam (seedless is best)
2 tsp. orange zest
2 tbsp. fresh orange juice
1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
Pinch of sea salt

Top and glaze
1 lb. fresh strawberries, hulls removed
3 tbsp. strawberry jam (seedless is best, or apricot jam)
1 tbsp. water

Instructions

Bake the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray an 8-inch fluted tart pan with pan spray and line with a parchment paper circle. Set aside. Place pistachios in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until nuts are a fine meal. Add sugar and salt; pulse to combine. Add egg and butter and pulse until dough begins to form a ball. Press dough into prepared tart pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool while you prepare filling.

Make the filling: Place all filling ingredients in a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer. Using a hand mixer or the stand mixer on medium speed with the whisk attachment, blend until fully combined (it will take a few minutes) and then taste. If you’d like more sweetness, add 2 to 3 tbsp. additional jam and blend again.

Assembly: Spread filling evenly over cooled crust. Add berries, cut side/top down, over the filling. In a small microwave-safe container, heat jam with water for 30 seconds, just to warm the jam, and stir together until smooth. Using a pastry brush, glaze each strawberry on the tart with the jam. This will protect the berries and will also add shine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Serves 8