Bittersweet Chocolate & Pomegranate Tarts

Ingredients

Base:

70g dark chocolate
1 1/2 cups pecans
4 Medjool dates

Cream:

450g creme fraiche or sour cream
45g brown sugar

Topping options:

1 pomegranate, jewels removed
1 punnet of fresh strawberries, top off and quartered
Spiced cherries*
1 blood or navel orange, peeled, de-pithed and sliced between segments
Cardamom spiced oranges*

Method

To make base:

Blitz the chocolate and 1/2 cup of the pecans in a food processor until you have small chunks. Set aside.

Take the pits out of the dates and throw into the food processor along with 1 cup of pecans. Process until you have fine crumbs and the mixture presses together easily.

Mix the chocolate and pecan pieces with the crumbs.

To make tartlet shells, scoop about 2 tablespoons of the crust into about 8cm x 8cm bottomless tart tins.

Use your fingertips to firmly press the crust into the tin, leaving a cavity in the centre to hold the cream.

Place in the freezer for about 4–8 hours to set.

Cream:

Mix the crème fraîche, or sour cream and brown sugar together in a bowl.

Take the tart cases out of the freezer and scoop 1 tablespoon of the cream into each tartlet shell and place in the fridge for a few hours to set.

Serve tarts on plates and top with a garnish of your choice. You can cover these with cling film and put into the fridge for later if you have the discipline.

Credits: 'Wild Sugar Desserts' by Skye Craig & Lyndel Miller