17th Century: Prune Tart

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Preparation info
  • Makes a

    22–25 cm

    tart
    • Difficulty

      Easy

Appears in
Pride and Pudding: The History of British Puddings, Savoury and Sweet

By Regula Ysewijn

Published 2016

  • About

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