PEACH TART WITH COCONUT CREAM AND SLIGHTLY SALTED CARAMEL

Steps:

• For the peach tart: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Toss the peaches with the brown sugar and lemon juice and set aside.
• Place the flour and confectioners' sugar into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Turn to low speed and add the butter a few pats at a time. Once all the butter has been added, beat until the flour, sugar and butter begin to form a dough and it holds its shape when pressed together with your fingers. Turn out the dough onto a floured work surface and gently knead and bring together to form a ball. Pat the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic wrap. Place into the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
• Spray eight 4-inch tart pans with nonstick cooking spray. Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a ball and flatten into a disc. Press the dough into each tart shell, using your fingers to press the dough up the sides of the tart shell. Trim any excess dough that overhangs from the top. Dock the dough with a fork. Place the tart shells into the fridge to chill for 5 minutes.
• Line the inside of the tart shells with parchment paper and fill with baking beans. Transfer the shells into the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the parchment paper and baking beans, then put back into the oven for another 5 minutes. Allow to cool before filling.
• For the pastry cream: Add the egg yolks, granulated sugar and cornstarch to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high until the yolks are pale yellow and peaks begin to form, a few minutes. Scrape down the edges of the bowl with a spatula and beat again to ensure the ingredients are fully incorporated.
• Set up an ice bath in a large bowl and set aside. Add the coconut milk, kosher salt and vanilla beans with the pods to a small saucepan. Turn the heat to medium-high and bring to a gentle boil. Remove from the heat and gradually, very little at a time, add the heated coconut milk into the whipped egg yolk mixture with the stand mixer turned down to low speed. It's important to add it very gradually to temper the eggs so they will not scramble. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan that the coconut milk was heated in and turn the heat to medium-low. Whisking constantly, cook until the pastry cream has thickened and reaches the consistency of pudding, about 5 minutes. Transfer the thickened pastry cream back into the stand mixer bowl and whisk on medium speed. Add the butter, one pat at a time. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes to cool it down. Spread the pastry cream onto a quarter sheet tray and cover with plastic wrap, pressing down onto the pastry cream itself to avoid a skin from forming on the top. Place into the fridge to chill for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Once the tart shells have cooled, place a tablespoon or so of pastry cream to cover the bottom. Then top with 1 1/2 tablespoons of macerated peach filling in each tart. Spoon some more pastry cream to cover the top of the tarts and spread with a spatula to flatten it down.
• For the caramel: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, add the brown sugar and milk. Bring to a boil, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes. Then remove from the heat and add the vanilla and sea salt (be careful it's hot!!).
• To finish the tarts, lay a peach slice on top of each tart. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce.