A delicious traditional Scottish bake that is popular in wee Scottish tearooms and coffee shops.Enjoy a slice of this fruity, sweet, nutty, and crisp tart with a nice cup of tea.Especially good as part of a Scottish Hogmanay buffet, Robert Burns day dinner or as a festive mince pie alternative.
1tablespoonflax mealOtherwise known as ground or milled flax seeds.
3tablespoonwater
Iced topping:
100gramsicing sugarconfectioners/powdered sugar.
1-2tablespoonwater
Garnish for topping:
1rindlemongrated/zested.
2tablespoonflaked almondsoptional. For scattering over finished tart. Check the recipe notes for tips on toasting the almonds.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 170 Fan/180 Celsius/ 375 Fahrenheit/Gas 5. Grease the flan dish with a small amount of vegan margarine.
Prepare the flax egg by mixing 1 tablespoon of flax meal with 3 tablespoons of cold water.Set aside until required or for at least 10 minutes.
Prepare the pasty
Place the flour and salt into a mixing bowl. Add the sugar and mix.
Rub in the margarine until the mix resembles breadcrumbs.
Add between 2-3 tablespoons of water a little at a time. Just enough water to bring the mix into a pastry dough that is not sticky. Just sprinkle more flour and knead gently if its too sticky. Knead the pastry into a ball.
Rest the pastry in the fridge for at least 10 minutes.You don't need to cover the pastry unless you are preparing the pastry a few hours in advance. If so wrap the pastry with some greaseproof paper or a clean tea towel.
Prepare the tart filling:
While the pastry is in the fridge whip the sugar and margarine together in a mixing bowl until creamy.
Add the flax egg to the creamed mix.Whisk with a fork till until well combined. Add the plant milk and mix.Don't worry if the mix looks split or curdled. It will be fine once baked.
Add the mixed dried fruit, glace cherries, almonds and walnuts. Stir until all is combined.
Build and assemble the tart:
Remove the pastry from the fridge. Flour your work surface and rolling pin. Roll out the pastry to about ½ cm thick.
To easily pick up your pastry, wrap the pastry around the rolling pin and lift up the pasty and gently drop into your flan tin.
Press down the pastry into the sides of your tart dish.
Trim the edges with a small knife.
Add the filling and spread out the top to a neat layer.
Place in the middle shelf of the oven or the shelf below the middle one. If the tart is too close to the top of the oven the dried fruit may become too dark.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the pastry is golden. The exact time will depend on your oven. Check after 20 minutes. If the filling is browning too quick just turn your oven down to the next setting.
Leave in the tin until cool and set before turning out onto a cutting board to decorate.
Toast the almond flakes (garnish) (optional can just use ready-toasted or plain)
Toast the almonds by dry-frying in a small non-stick pan over a medium heat until almonds are beginning to turn golden. Shake and stir the almonds often to prevent burning. Once the almonds begin to colour remove from the heat and shake/stir the almonds as they will continue to brown in the residual heat.
Tip the toasted almonds out of the pan onto a small plate and leave until required for the topping.
Prepare the icing:
Place the icing sugar in a mixing bowl.Add 1-2 tablespoons of water to the icing sugar to create a drizzling consistency.Don't add too much water at once as it will become too runny. If this happens just add more sieved icing sugar and mix until the correct thickness.
Using a spoon drizzle the icing sugar over the tart. Sprinkle the lemon zest over.And toss the toasted almond flakes over.
Leave the icing to set before slicing into 8 slices. Place in the refrigerator if you need it to set quicker.
Notes
Nutritional data is for guidance only and is not an exact calculation as ingredients vary.
Border tart will keep fresh, in a covered container and in a cool, dry place, for up to 4-5 days.
Border tart can also be kept in the refrigerator.
Border tart can be frozen, wrapped well in food-grade wrap for up to 3-4 months. If freezing in slices place a piece of parchment between each so that a portion can be removed easily.
This tart is ideal during the festive season, New Years Eve buffets, and parties as a mince pie alternative.
Or simply enjoy with a nice cup of tea or coffee for morning or afternoon break.