Langka (Jackfruit) Meringue Tarts

Summer vacation has started so it's that time of the year again when I am so busy keeping my two girls occupied. Whenever we're at home, I keep them busy with art projects, reading, math reviews...and of course, BAKING! As I've mentioned before, baking is one thing my daughters and I enjoy doing together. This Langka Meringue Tarts that I am sharing with you today were the first sweet treats we made this summer vacation...

It's another recipe from Goldilocks Bakebook, the ingredient measurements of which I tweaked to suit our taste buds. These tarts were made using canned langka (jackfruit), a large fruit native to Asian countries like the Philippines. Ripe jackfruit is sweet and has a distinct flavor and aroma which works well in desserts. Back home, jackfruit is commonly used as an added ingredient in turon (banana roll), halo-halo, saba con yelo and ginataang halo-halo. As a main ingredient, It is used in a Filipino ice cream called langkasuy, which is a combination of langka and kasuy (cashew)...and in langka tarts  which were made famous by Goldilocks Bakeshop.

I've long been wanting to try making langka tarts and finally I got the chance to do so with my daughters! Though we didn't follow the exact instructions in the bakebook, our langka tarts turned out wonderful. We enjoyed making them and we also had an awesome time eating them! They're so good, I tell yah! 

Ingredients:

Yield 30 pcs. tarts

For the tart shells:

• 2 cups bread flour
• ½ cup all purpose flour
• ¼ cup sugar
• ½ cup shortening, softened
• ½ cup salted butter, softened
• 4 Tbsp. water

For the filling:

• 3 egg yolks from medium sized eggs
• 1 14oz. condensed milk
• 3 Tbsp cornstarch
• 4 Tbsp langka syrup
• ½ cup sweetened langka, drained from syrup and chopped
• 2 Tbsp salted butter

For the meringue topping:

• 3 egg whites
• ½ cup sugar
• ¼ tsp cream of tartar

Instructions:

For the tart shells:

1. In a bowl, combine bread flour, all purpose flour and sugar. Add shortening and butter. Using a pastry mixer or a stand-alone mixer with flat beater, mix the ingredients until mixture turn into fine crumbs. Add water and continue mixing until it forms into dough. Form into a ball. Wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 mins.

2. Divide dough into 30 balls, approximately 1 inch in diameter. Lightly brush a mini muffin pan with butter and lightly dust with flour. Put a piece of dough into each cup. Shape into tarts with your fingers or using a tart tamper. Using a fork, design the edges of the tart shells then prick the bases. Preheat the oven to 350F. Put the muffin pan in the refrigerator while preheating the oven. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool completely in pan.

For the filling:

1. Combine egg yolks, condensed milk, cornstarch and langka syrup in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat with constant stirring for 10 minutes or until it starts to thicken. Reduce heat to low. Add langka and butter and continue cooking for 3 more minutes.

2. Transfer to a bowl and allow to completely cool down.

For the meringue:

Using an electric mixer, beat the egg white and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Add the sugar one teaspoon at a time until it is fully incorporated and the meringue is thick and glossy.

To assemble:

Preheat a baking sheet in the oven. Once the tart shells and filling have cooled, fill them with the langka mixture just a little below the top of the shells. Then pipe the meringue on top creating a little peak on each as you pipe. Place the muffin pan on the preheated baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the meringue starts to brown. Allow to cool and lift the pies out of the pan using a blunt knife. 

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