17^th Century: Prune Tart

Prune tarts have always been my favourite. They are traditionally eaten in my hometown of Antwerp on Ash Wednesday, though nobody knows exactly why. I haven’t been able to find out why this is a tradition unique to Antwerp. On Ash Wednesday the shopfronts of the bakeries showcase prune tarts – some open, some with a lattice top. I prefer as little pastry as possible, as the bakeries often use a lot of sugar in their pastry.

This recipe by Gervase Markham instructs t