Ingredients
Method
Make the Shortcrust Pastry
- Rub the cold butter into the flour, 25 g caster sugar and salt with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs.
- Mix in the egg yolk and 2 tbsp cold water, bringing the dough together with your hands. Add the extra tablespoon of water only if it feels dry. Wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface to about 3 mm thick and line a 23 cm / 9-inch tart tin. Trim the edges, prick the base with a fork, and chill for 15 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 190 C / 375 F. Line the pastry with parchment and baking beans, and blind bake for 15 minutes. Remove the beans and paper, then bake for another 8 to 10 minutes until the base looks dry and pale gold, not shiny. Cool completely on a wire rack.
Filling and Assembly
- Toast the desiccated coconut in a dry 20 cm / 8-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring often, for 2 to 3 minutes until light golden. Tip onto a plate to cool.
- Spread the raspberry jam evenly over the cooled pastry base. Arrange the sliced bananas in a single layer over the jam.
- In a 2-quart / 1.9 L saucepan, whisk the custard powder and 40 g sugar with a splash of the cold milk to a smooth paste. Add the rest of the milk and the vanilla, then heat over medium, whisking constantly, until the custard thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Pour the warm custard over the bananas and smooth the top with a spatula.
- Sprinkle the toasted coconut evenly over the warm custard so it sticks.
- Chill the tart uncovered for 30 minutes, then cover loosely and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or overnight, until the custard is set firm but still creamy.
- Slice with a knife dipped in hot water and serve chilled.
Notes
- Blind bake pastry until sandy and dry, not just golden at edges
- Cook custard until thick enough to coat a spoon before pouring
- Chill tart at least 3 hours, overnight is even better
- Toast coconut separately, don't skip it, it makes the topping
- Use ripe but firm bananas so they don't turn to mush
