Ingredients

For the cacao butter and coconut cream

50 g cacao butter (I used raw cacao butter)
200 ml coconut milk
6 tablespoons agave syrup
1 teaspoon lemon juice
the zest of half a lemon
2 tablespoons almond butter

For the crust

50 g almond flour
100 g whole rice flakes’ flour
100 g semi-whole wheat flour
a pinch of whole sea salt
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
a sprinkle of cinnamon
70 ml extra virgin olive oil
50 ml natural mineral or filtered water, at room temperature
50 g agave syrup

For the raspberry sauce

a handful of fresh raspberries
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon agave syrup

To complete

Fresh raspberries, 2-3 handfuls

Makes a 20-22 cm tart.

First, make the cacao and coconut cream. Melt the cacao butter (it melts at approximately 35° C), pour it into the bowl of a mixer, add the coconut milk, the agave, the lemon juice and lemon zest, and the almond butter. Process until perfectly smooth, transfer into a bowl and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours.

When ready to make the crust, preheat the oven to 180° C. Stir the flours, salt, cream of tartar and cinnamon together in a large bowl, then add the olive oil to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork. Add the water little by little, to make a good grainy texture. You might not need all the water indicated in the recipe, and that’s ok, as long as the dough holds together. Add the agave and work the dough with your hands. Knead until you have a smooth dough. Transfer the ball of dough in a flour-dusted bowl and cover the bowl with a damp cloth. Set aside for about 30 minutes.

When the dough is ready to be rolled, take it and place it on a lightly floured surface, dust your rolling-pin with flour and roll the dough out to the desired thickness (3-4 mm). Oil your cake pan and sprinkle with a light coating of flour. Arrange the dough in the pan, poke a few holes in the dough with a fork to let the steam escape, and transfer the pan into the oven. Bake for 15-20 minutes until nicely golden (cooking time varies according to the thickness).

To make the raspberry sauce, place all ingredients in the bowl of a mixer, and process until combined. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl, discard the seeds and skins and refrigerate until ready to use.

Once the tart has cooled completely and the cream is cold and set, you can fill the tart and top with the raspberries and the sauce. Serve immediately.

Ingredients

For the ‘jelly puddings’

500 ml mixed berry juice (the one I used was a blend of blackcurrant, cranberry, strawberry and raspberry juices)

3 teaspoons agar powder

For the white chocolate sauce

100 g white chocolate (I used vegan white chocolate chips)

half a teaspoon ground cinnamon

200 ml soy milk

1 teaspoon cornstarch

Makes 4 servings.

Directions

Pour the mixed berry juice into a heavy saucepan and bring to a simmer. Add the agar and stir until dissolved. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring continually to prevent the juice from sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. Remove the saucepan from the heat and pour the hot juice and agar mixture into small pudding molds. Set aside and allow to cool for at least 2 to 3 hours. You can unmold the jellies when they are cold and completely firm.

To make the chocolate sauce, pour the soy milk into a pan and bring to a simmer. Add the white chocolate and slowly let it melt while stirring. Once the chocolate has melted, add the ground cinnamon and stir. You don’t want the sauce to overboil. If the mixture is still to liquid, you can add 2 tablespoons water mixed with 1 teaspoon cornstarch. Cook for a couple of minutes and when the sauce thickens, it means it’s ready and can be left to cool. If you like the sauce to be runny, you don’t need to add any cornstarch. (You can use this sauce for almost any other kind of dessert, as white chocolate pairs well with so many things… Here, I think the sweetness of the chocolate balances the tangyness of the berries…)

To assemble

Spoon some white chocolate sauce over individual dessert plates. Arrange the jellies on the white chocolate sauce, sprinkle with cinnamon and serve.

Thoughts, tips, ideas

Agar agar, also known as kanten, is an excellent vegetarian substitute for gelatine. This natural gelling agent is obtained from algae or seaweeds and can be used instead of ordinary gelatine of animal origin. I use a lot of agar: to thicken soups and sauces, and to make puddings, jellies, and other desserts like pannacotta. When I don’t feel like having elaborate desserts, agar is the perfect solution for a light but satisfying treat.