Rhubarb Raspberry Tart

OK, so it's official. Spring arrived at midnight last night. Isn't that wonderful? To this born and bred Northerner, in my other life the "real" spring occurred the second rhubarb showed some life under the snow. At that point it seemed that "spring" finally became a tangible thing instead of a mere dream. To this day (centuries later) spring still means rhubarb to me. I absolutely CRAVE the stuff - oh yes I do - even now when I live in a place where winter seems like spring and summer's like hell. Unfortunately rhubarb doesn't grow that well down here.

Being ornery because ya' always want what ya' can't have, it's likely one of the many reasons I still love the stuff, particularly in a rhubarb raspberry pie. Since I found a very small package of rhubarb left in the freezer along with an even smaller package of raspberries, a nice big juicy double crust pie was out of the question.

Instead, I whipped up a shortbread crust that baked in a moderate oven while the filling came together. Knowing the sweetness of the raspberries nicely counters the tart rhubarb, I mixed a fairly small amount of sugar with some eggs, vanilla, a pinch of salt and a touch of flour to make up for the fact that the rhubarb and raspberries were still frozen.  After the crust had cooked and cooled a minute, it was topped with the fruit and crowned with the custard. Baked in a 350 oven for half an hour, the tart came out looking like just what the Spring doctor ordered. Download Rhubarb Raspberry Custard Tart

Served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar, it was everything I'd hoped it would be - not overly sweet, with a rich and creamy custardy texture and full of spring flavors. Now, any idea where I can get more rhubarb so I can make this cake too?

Comments

[Nanan]

That looks lovely! Can you believe that I have never tasted rhubarb? Just never had the opportunity. I am not much on dessert and can't get much southern since I am south of the intra-coastal canal... I think I will try... I should be able to find frozen... At least at Whole Foods in New Orleans... maybe even fresh there...

[June]

Lea - I'm not surprised that you haven't tasted rhubarb because as far as I know it doesn't grow locally in the South because rhubarb needs a cooler climate. I buy it frozen whenever I can find it -usually Bashaws or Fry's (Kroeger) although it is VERY hard to find. It's really early to find it fresh, but you might get lucky in another month or so.