Another Good Food Diet gluten-free treat

This gluten-free custard tart has a rich-tasting filling and light crust which is quick and easy to make (no rolling!). The most unusual ingredient in this recipe is rice flour which you will find in the health food section of your supermarket, deli or pharmacy. You probably have the rest of the ingredients in your kitchen already. It is perfect as a dessert or coffee-time delight. This custard tart is a treat even for those who are not gluten-intolerant.

Gluten-free kitchen confidence
Have you been diagnosed with gluten intolerance or coeliac disease? Have you run out of great ideas for gluten-free bakes for a family member? Or do you get that sinking feeling when you look at gluten-free recipes with lots of "weird" ingredients?

Don't despair. Help's right here! You don't have to sacrifice delicious food or use special flour blends and weird concoctions to simulate gluten. Use the Good Food Diet's gluten-free wellness recipes to make fabulous gluten-free food for family and friends. Or attend a Good Food Diet gluten-free cooking class (more after the recipe).

This gluten-free baked custard tart is:

• Vegetarian-friendly
• Wheat-free
• Gluten-free

HOW TO MAKE GLUTEN-FREE BAKED CUSTARD TART

SHORT CRUST:

• 60 ml (¼ cup) cornflour (Maizena)
  
• 60 ml (¼ cup) icing sugar
  
• 125 ml (½ cup) rice flour (use white rice flour, not brown rice flour)
  
• 90 g butter (use butter, definitely not margarine)

Method

Step 1: Preheat oven to 180ºC. Spray a 25 cm - 26 cm diameter round ovenproof pie dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Step 2: Sift cornflour, icing sugar and rice flour together. Using fingertips, rub butter into dry ingredients until it sticks together and forms a ball. Press the pastry roughly into the base (not the sides) of dish.

Step 3: Bake at 180ºC for 20 minutes. Remove from oven. Allow crust to cool for at least 5 minutes (it will become slightly firmer during this time). Then spoon prepared filling on top and bake further as set out below.

FILLING:

• 1 x 385 g tin full-cream condensed milk
  
• 675 ml (2½ cups) fresh milk (low-fat, 2% milk or full-cream milk, not fat-free milk)
  
• 100 ml (¼ cup + 2 tbsp + 2 tsp) custard powder
  
• 2 extra-large eggs, separated
  
• 15 ml (1 tablespoon) butter
  
• 10 ml (2 teaspoons) vanilla
  
• ground cinnamon for sprinkling

Method

Step 1: Add condensed milk and fresh milk to a large pot. Use a balloon wire whisk to whisk in the custard powder until smooth. Whisk the egg yolks and then whisk them into the mixture. Add the butter.

Step 2: Heat over medium heat (take care - the mixture burns quickly!) while whisking continuously until mixture has thickened (this happens suddenly, just as the mixture reaches boiling point). Remove from heat. Stir in the vanilla. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Beat until smooth.

Step 3: Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold into the custard mixture using a metal spoon. (The mixture is quite thick, so it will be slightly lumpy - this is fine. The filling will become smooth during baking.)

Step 4: Spoon filling onto prebaked crust. Bake at 180ºC for 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Allow tart to cool until lukewarm before serving - it needs the cooling to firm up sufficiently. Alternatively, cool completely and then refrigerate. Serve at room temperature (not directly out of the fridge) or heat slightly, depending on your preference.

Makes 1 large custard tart.

GOOD FOOD DIET WELLNESS AND GLUTEN-FREE COOKING CLASSES AND CONSULTATIONS!

Dalene Crafford is a professional food stylist, recipe developer, cookery team-build presenter and developer of the Good Food Diet.

With Dalene's Good Food Diet recipes you can enjoy a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing the pleasures of delicious food. Perfect for those who want to control their health or dietary conditions such as blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes, overweight, food allergies and intolerances (e.g. gluten or lactose).

Good Food Diet recipes are wellness recipes, developed for busy people on the go. They are quick, easy, foolproof and scrumptious! Use them for your family's daily meals and for entertaining.

• Want to attend a Good Food Diet gluten-free cooking class in Cape Town on how to cook great-tasting gluten-free food? No sense of deprivation - your family and friends will love these dishes too.
• Dalene also offers one-on-one consultations with lots of practical advice to help you to follow an exciting and enjoyable gluten-free lifestyle.

• Want to attend a Good Food Diet wellness cooking class in Cape Town on how to eat healthily while enjoying delicious, robust food? You'll find some of Dalene's recipes at www.conca.co.za.

Contact Dalene at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 021 913 4457 or 082 562 9787.