Food | The exotic choice: Persimmon tart

I recently got asked to join The Orchard - an online Tesco community that provides you with the opportunity to try new products and ranges. As part of this, I got invited to take part in trying their new Exotic Fruits. This summer I have been totally addicted to the figs that Tesco have had in store: 4 fresh juicy figs for the outrageously amazing price of just 69p. This week I was pretty excited when I discovered Tesco's new exotic fruit on their 69p offer was Spanish Persimmons. These gorgeous apricot-style fruits are roughly the size of an orange and make for the most amazing toppings to tart. Plus at 69p for 3, you really can't go wrong! 

I'm so thrilled that Tesco have broadened their offering of fruit and are helping consumers discover new flavours. While all other supermarkets are forcing local producers to slash prices and offering bags of veg for crazy prices, Tesco are offering good value and diverse exotic fruits. 

But of course, with all crazy new foods that might pass your way, the first question is usually, 'What do I do with it?!'

Well, here is my super simple recipe for a delicious Persimmon tart, perfect as the nights draw in.

Persimmon Tart

Ingredients 

100g unsalted butter

100g soft brown sugar

1 egg

100g ground almonds

1 pack puff pastry

2 Persimmons

Zest of 1 clementine

Creme fraiche to serve

How to make it

1. Preheat the oven to 220 degrees or 200 degrees if you have a fan oven.

2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Gradually add the egg and then the ground almonds and you will have made a thick paste.

3. Unroll the puff pastry sheet. Top tip: leave out of the refrigerator for an hour before you need it and this will be easy. Prick all over the pastry with a fork.

4. Spread a generous layer of almond paste over the pastry, leaving a 1cm border around the outside.

5. Slice the persimmons into thin wedges. Arrange over the paste. Grate the zest of one clementine over the tart.

6. Bake in the oven on the baking paper the tart came with for 20 minutes. The paste will swell up. Once it's baked, leave to cool on a cake rack so that the pastry can crisp up.

7. Serve with creme fraiche.

Highly recommend you get down to Tesco and try them out for yourself. Let me know how you get on!