{"id":"melktert_a665b2c691","slug":"melktert-south-african-milk-tart","title":"Melktert (South African Milk Tart)","description":"A classic South African dessert consisting of a sweet shortcrust pastry filled with a creamy, silky custard infused with vanilla and finished with a dusting of cinnamon.","serves":8,"time":{"prepMinutes":20,"cookMinutes":40,"totalMinutes":60,"activeMinutes":30},"ingredients":[{"id":"ingredient-1","original":"125g butter, softened","name":"Butter","quantity":125,"unit":"g","usQuantity":4.4,"usUnit":"oz","form":"softened","notes":"unsalted","group":"Crust","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-2","original":"50g granulated sugar","name":"Granulated Sugar","quantity":50,"unit":"g","usQuantity":"1/4","usUnit":"cup","form":"granulated","notes":"","group":"Crust","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-3","original":"1 large egg","name":"Egg","quantity":1,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"piece","form":"large","notes":"room temperature","group":"Crust","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-4","original":"250g all-purpose flour","name":"All-purpose flour","quantity":250,"unit":"g","usQuantity":2,"usUnit":"cup","form":"all-purpose","notes":"","group":"Crust","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-5","original":"1 tsp baking powder","name":"Baking Powder","quantity":5,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"tsp","form":"","notes":"","group":"Crust","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-6","original":"1 pinch salt","name":"Salt","quantity":1,"unit":"pinch","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"pinch","form":"","notes":"fine","group":"Crust","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-7","original":"1 litre milk","name":"Milk","quantity":1,"unit":"l","usQuantity":1.06,"usUnit":"quart","form":"whole","notes":"full-cream","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-8","original":"100g granulated sugar","name":"Granulated Sugar","quantity":100,"unit":"g","usQuantity":"1/2","usUnit":"cup","form":"granulated","notes":"","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-9","original":"3 large eggs","name":"Egg","quantity":3,"unit":"piece","usQuantity":3,"usUnit":"piece","form":"large","notes":"","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-10","original":"30g cornstarch","name":"Cornstarch","quantity":30,"unit":"g","usQuantity":"1/4","usUnit":"cup","form":"powder","notes":"maizena","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-11","original":"30g all-purpose flour","name":"All-purpose flour","quantity":30,"unit":"g","usQuantity":"1/4","usUnit":"cup","form":"all-purpose","notes":"","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-12","original":"50g butter","name":"Butter","quantity":50,"unit":"g","usQuantity":1.8,"usUnit":"oz","form":"","notes":"unsalted","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-13","original":"1 tsp vanilla essence","name":"Vanilla essence","quantity":5,"unit":"ml","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"tsp","form":"liquid","notes":"","group":"Filling","optional":false},{"id":"ingredient-14","original":"Ground cinnamon, for dusting","name":"Cinnamon","quantity":1,"unit":"tsp","usQuantity":1,"usUnit":"tsp","form":"ground","notes":"for dusting","group":"Topping","optional":false}],"instructions":[{"id":"instruction-1","text":"In a large bowl, cream 125g (4.4 oz) softened butter and 50g (1/4 cup) sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg.","group":"Pastry","title":"In a large bowl, cream 125g softened butter and 50g sugar","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Pastry"},{"id":"instruction-2","text":"Sift 250g (2 cups) flour, 5g (1 tsp) baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Add to the butter mixture and mix until a dough forms. Press the dough into a 9-inch pie dish, covering the bottom and sides.","group":"Pastry","title":"Sift 250g flour, 5g baking powder, and a pinch of salt","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Pastry"},{"id":"instruction-3","text":"Bake the crust in a preheated oven at 180°C (356°F) for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.","group":"Pastry","title":"Bake the crust in a preheated oven","timerMinutes":20,"sourceTitle":"Pastry"},{"id":"instruction-4","text":"Bring the 1 liter (1.06 qt) of milk to a boil in a medium saucepan, then remove from heat.","group":"Custard Filling","title":"Bring the 1 liter of milk","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Custard Filling"},{"id":"instruction-5","text":"In a separate bowl, whisk 3 eggs and 100g (1/2 cup) sugar until thick. Whisk in 30g (1/4 cup) cornstarch and 30g (1/4 cup) flour until smooth.","group":"Custard Filling","title":"Whisk 3 eggs and 100g sugar","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Custard Filling"},{"id":"instruction-6","text":"Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture while whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan.","group":"Custard Filling","title":"Slowly pour the hot milk","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Custard Filling"},{"id":"instruction-7","text":"Cook over medium-low heat, whisking continuously until the custard thickens (about 5-10 minutes). Remove from heat and stir in 50g (1.8 oz) butter and 5ml (1 tsp) vanilla essence.","group":"Custard Filling","title":"Cook over medium-low heat, whisking continuously","timerMinutes":10,"sourceTitle":"Custard Filling"},{"id":"instruction-8","text":"Pour the custard into the baked pastry shell. Sprinkle generously with ground cinnamon.","group":"Assembly","title":"Pour the custard","timerMinutes":null,"sourceTitle":"Assembly"},{"id":"instruction-9","text":"Allow the tart to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours before serving.","group":"Assembly","title":"Allow the tart to cool","timerMinutes":240,"sourceTitle":"Assembly"}],"notes":"Chilling the tart thoroughly before serving is essential for a clean slice. For a shortcut, you can use store-bought puff pastry for the crust.","cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["South African"]},"course":["dessert"],"cookingMethod":["bake","boil"],"equipment":["9-inch pie dish","saucepan","whisk","mixing bowl","sifter"],"diet":["vegetarian"],"allergens":["milk","eggs","wheat","gluten"],"difficulty":"medium","yield":{"amount":1,"unit":"tart","note":"approx. 9-inch diameter"},"makeAhead":{"instructions":"The tart must be made ahead as it needs several hours to set in the fridge."},"storage":{"food":{"instructions":"Keep refrigerated in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap.","reheatingNotes":"Serve cold. Do not reheat as the custard will lose its structure."}},"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Fmelktert_a665b2c691%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=4f57750b-8305-43bc-a64d-2da558b53d46","imageAlt":"Melktert (South African Milk Tart) — recipe cover","aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","sourceUrl":"","tags":["custard","tart","south african","cinnamon","traditional"],"schemaVersion":1,"sourceTitle":"Melktert (South African Milk Tart)","sourcePublishedAt":"2026-02-04T22:44:14.223Z","sourceUpdatedAt":"2026-02-04T22:44:14.223Z","related":[{"id":"recipe_ff7317ca1a","slug":"basbousa-egyptian-b8fb751d","title":"Basbousa with Lemon Syrup","description":"A traditional Middle Eastern and North African semolina cake, soaked in a fragrant simple syrup and topped with almonds. It is moist, dense, and perfectly sweet.","serves":12,"time":{"prepMinutes":15,"cookMinutes":40,"totalMinutes":55,"activeMinutes":20},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Egyptian","North African"]},"course":["dessert"],"difficulty":"medium","diet":["vegetarian"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Frecipe_ff7317ca1a%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=f949f5dc-d4a5-4104-96cc-149b15f42f44","imageAlt":"Basbousa with Lemon Syrup — recipe cover","tags":["semolina","sweet","cake","traditional","middle eastern","dessert"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":10,"stepCount":6},{"id":"bofrot_60aa63f14d","slug":"bofrot","title":"Bofrot","description":"A classic West African deep-fried dough snack, particularly popular in Ghana, known for its golden-brown exterior and soft, spongy interior.","serves":6,"time":{"prepMinutes":15,"cookMinutes":15,"totalMinutes":90,"activeMinutes":30},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Ghanaian"]},"course":["dessert"],"difficulty":"medium","diet":["vegetarian","dairy_free","nut_free","egg_free"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Fbofrot_60aa63f14d%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=dc35737d-86e3-4bfe-8e36-ea51c85bda98","imageAlt":"Bofrot — recipe cover","tags":["west african","street food","fried dough","spongy","sweet snack"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":7,"stepCount":7},{"id":"bouye_f6c3b55cf7","slug":"bouye-baobab-fruit-drink","title":"Bouye (Baobab Fruit Drink)","description":"A thick, creamy, and tangy traditional West African drink made from the nutrient-dense fruit of the baobab tree.","serves":4,"time":{"prepMinutes":15,"cookMinutes":0,"totalMinutes":45,"activeMinutes":15},"cuisine":{"group":"African","specific":["Senegalese"]},"course":["dessert"],"difficulty":"easy","diet":["vegetarian","gluten_free"],"image":"https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/ezdish-prod.firebasestorage.app/o/public_recipes%2Fbouye_f6c3b55cf7%2Fcover.jpg?alt=media&token=e6898e06-d939-4b3d-8e31-692c9553c209","imageAlt":"Bouye (Baobab Fruit Drink) — recipe cover","tags":["baobab","african drink","senegalese","creamy","vitamin c","exotic juice"],"aiGenerated":true,"publishedAt":"2026-10-10","updatedAt":"2026-10-11","ingredientCount":5,"stepCount":4}]}