Ingredients

  • 2 cups cake flour, sifted
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 cup toasted, skinned hazelnuts, finely ground
  • 2 sticks (1/2 pound) unsalted butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • Finely grated zest of 1/2 lemon
  • Finely grated zest of 1/2 orange
  • 4 extra-large egg yolks
  • 3 extra-large eggs
  • 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup dried lemon verbena leaves or 6 fresh lemon verbena leaves
  • 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
  • Salt
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2/3 cup fresh orange juice
  • 1/4 cup Cointreau or Grand Marnier
  • 1/2 vanilla bean, seeds scraped
  • 3 pints cape gooseberries
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • Lightly sweetened whipped cream and fresh lemon verbena, for serving

Method

  • In a medium bowl, stir the cake flour with the cinnamon and ground hazelnuts.
  • In another medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar at high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  • Beat in the egg, then beat in the vanilla and lemon and orange zests.
  • Beat in the dry ingredients in 3 batches until almost incorporated.
  • With a rubber spatula, stir the pastry until thoroughly combined.
  • Divide the pastry in half, pat into 2 disks and wrap in plastic.
  • Refrigerate one disk for 1 hour, until firm.
  • Freeze the other disk for another use.
  • Preheat the oven to 325.
  • Roll out the chilled pastry between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap to a 12-inch round.
  • Chill until firm.
  • Unwrap the pastry and press it into the bottom and up the side of a 10 1/2-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom.
  • Refrigerate for about 15 minutes, until firm.
  • Line the pastry with foil and fill the pan with pie weights or dried beans.
  • Bake the pastry for about 45 minutes, until browned around the edges.
  • Remove the foil and weights and bake the tart shell for about 25 minutes longer, until crisp on the bottom.
  • Transfer to a rack and let cool.
  • In a large, heavy saucepan, whisk the egg yolks and whole eggs with the sugar, lemon juice and lemon verbena leaves.
  • Cook over moderate heat, whisking constantly, until hot and thickened, about 5 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until blended.
  • Add a pinch of salt.
  • Strain the curd through a sieve set over a bowl.
  • Pour the curd into the tart shell and smooth the surface.
  • Refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.
  • In a medium saucepan, whisk together the water, sugar, orange juice, Cointreau and vanilla seeds and bring to a boil.
  • Add the gooseberries and simmer over moderately high heat, stirring gently, until the berries are soft, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the pepper and let cool to room temperature.
  • Cut the tart into wedges.
  • Spoon the cape gooseberry compote around the tart.
  • Serve with whipped cream and lemon verbena.