Berry Tarts

Happy World Vegan Day!

Today also marks the beginning of World Vegan Month. Movember is so last year, it's all about Vegember in 2016. The Vegan society are encouraging as many people as possible to take the 30 Day Vegan Pledge this month. Unsure? Well head on over to their website to get inspired. There's a load of events happening all over the country from cookery classes to supper clubs. A number of chains are offering discounts on Vegan dishes throughout this month too - Zizzi are offering 30% off all Vegan dishes.

These Vegan Berry Tarts have a simple crumbly nut crust that is sweetened with maple syrup and coconut oil. The filling is made of coconut cream and a fresh berry filling. The dough is pressed into tart tins which are then baked and filled up with the most amazing coconut cream and mixed berries. They're gluten-free, dairy-free, grain-free and refined-sugar free!

Ingredients

For the filling...

1 can of coconut cream

2 handfuls of mixed berries

2 tbsps coconut sugar

For the crust...

160g pecan nuts or a mixture of pecans and walnuts (soak them overnight prior to baking)

250g pitted Medjool dates

3 tbsps of melted coconut oil

2 tbsps maple syrup or coconut sugar

Method

For the crust...

1. Toast the nuts on a baking sheet for around 5 minutes in an oven at 150C. Allow to cool a little

2. Then put the nuts in a food processor with the dates and melted coconut oil and mix well so it forms a soft dough.

3. Spread the mixture between 4 well greased small flan tins and then heat in the oven for around 15 minutes at 150C.

4. Once out of the oven, cool down before adding the filling.

For the filling...

1. Whisk the coconut cream up

2. In a small pan, heat up the berries and coconut sugar until it forms a puree. Allow to cool.

3. Put the coconut cream and berry puree in the fridge separately.

4. After around 20 mins in the fridge, take both mixtures out and then fold the coconut cream into the berry mix.

5. Add the filling to the pastry crusts.

I'd recommend eating immediately. Why? Purely because you'd be silly not to.

Berries are a great source of polyphenols and they are great to avoid those unwanted energy highs and lows after eating refined sugar.