[Thailand Recipes] Mini Kaffir Lime Tarts

I wasn’t actually looking for it — it just happened to be at my local nursery at the same time I was. Funny how that works — with kaffir lime trees and relationships too — they have a way of finding you when you’re least expecting them :) Needless to say, when I spotted this kaffir lime tree, I was overcome with happiness, thinking about all of the many ways I could use its leaves! 

Back then, I never once thought that my kaffir lime tree might actually produce limes. I was more than happy just using it for its leaves! But this year, I was surprised once again when buds slowly emerged, flowers grew into little baby limes, and before I knew it, I had gorgeous kaffir limes hanging heavily from the delicate branches of my dwarf tree!

I have all kinds of plans of how to use these kaffir limes, but first on my list were these Thai-inspired mini kaffir lime tarts.

Why kaffir lime tarts? Well, because who doesn’t love lime tarts? And, honestly, because they seemed a little more approachable to me than making my own curry paste (which is definitely still on the list, just saved for a day with a little more time…)

One touch of the kaffir lime and you’ll realize how incredibly potent it is. The zest, especially, emanates with its wonderfully strong limey fragrance. I decided to use the zest of one of these small limes in making my mini tarts and it was just the right amount to get the true flavor and scent of the kaffir lime.

I was really happy with how these little mini tarts turned out… Giddy, really, if you consider that I wasn’t even looking for a kaffir lime tree when I found it a few years ago, much less have it produce limes for me! So if you happen to run into a kaffir lime tree, I’d recommend taking it home with you. You might just find it to be full of wonderful surprises, season after season!

Thai-Inspired Mini Kaffir Lime Tarts

Makes 18 Mini Tarts

INGREDIENTS

Kaffir Lime Curd Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup butter
4 eggs
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup lime juice
Zest of 1 kaffir lime
Pastry Crust Ingredients:
1 and 1/2 cups flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
Make Hawaiian Sweet & Sour Sausage in 15 Min.

INSTRUCTIONS

To Make Kaffir Lime Curd:

Combine sugar and kaffir lime zest in a food processor. Pulse until the zest is finely minced and completely incorporated into the sugar.
Cream the butter and sugar + zest mixture.
Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing until incorporated.
Add the lime juice and water.
Pour the whole mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it has thickened (approximately 10 minutes).
Save in the refrigerator until ready to use.

To Make Mini Pastry Crusts:

Cream the butter and sugar together until they are light and fluffy.
Add the beaten egg and mix until just incorporated.
Add the flour and salt and mix until a soft dough is formed.
Form the dough into a ball and place in saran wrap in the freezer for 10-15 minutes.
Once chilled, press the dough into your mini tart pans.
Use a fork to prick the bottom of each crust and place into a 400 degree oven for 20 minutes. Remove and let the mini tarts cool completely.

To Assemble Mini Tarts:

Fill the mini tart pastry shells with the cooled kaffir lime curd.
Sprinkle with additional kaffir lime zest, as desired. Enjoy!

This recipe and image sources are referred in website: Rachelcooksthai.com. Thanks so much!