Holiday Baking: Festive Cranberry Tart Recipe from Provence
Do particular foods make you think of the holiday season? For me, the appearance of cranberries in the supermarket is a sure sign that Thanksgiving and Christmas festivities are around the corner. The cranberry tart recipe below is from Moulin Castelas, a beautiful olive plantation and mill near Les Baux de Provence.
Moulin Castelas Olive Oils
Domaine Castelas includes 110 acres in the Vallée des Baux and 160 in the Plaine de Crau. Visit Moulin Castelas for a tour of the olive mill and a chance to walk through the olive groves. The on-site boutique offers tempting products. They have a selection of olive oils with blends of olive varieties, including those typical of the appellation Salonenque, Aglandau, Grossane, and Verdale.
Owners Catherine and Jean-Benoît Hugues are a French couple who lived in Arizona before returning to their native country when they “fell in love with some old olive trees.” They bought the estate in 1997 and constructed a new olive mill in 2002 to make the best olive oil possible. The Hugues family makes their olive oil carefully at each process step, much like a winemaker makes wine. And the results are spectacular: Moulin Castelas has won top awards in national and international competitions.
In addition to pure olive oils, Castelas produces oils infused with different flavours, like rosemary, basil, and citrus. And unlike some producers, they don’t just add chemical flavourings to their oils. Instead, they macerate them with ingredients, adding fresh rosemary to their olives before milling them together.
Olives and the Alpilles
Moulin Castelas is in Les Baux de Provence, perched high in Les Alpilles. The town is home to the biggest and best-known Alpilles chateaux, with magnificent views over the surrounding landscape. It is also a recognized AOP for olive production and an AOC for wine production. Grapevines seem to thrive in this climate, and over a dozen vineyards are in the region.
Several villages surround the Alpilles, each with a distinctive character. Some are charming medieval villages with ancient Roman ruins. Others have world-class restaurants, museums, and art galleries worth exploring. Nature lovers will enjoy visiting Parc Naturel régional des Alpilles or cycling in the area. Les Alpilles has something for the whole family to enjoy. Check out our articles on olives and olive groves in Provence or learn more about les Alpilles.
Cranberry Tart with Organic Olive Oil
Equipment
Ingredients
For the pastry:
- 200 g flour
- 50 g olive oil CastelineS Classic Organic Olive Oil
- 50 g water
- 1 pinch salt
For the filling:
- 50 g pecans finely chopped
- 500 g cranberries fresh
- 2 oranges organic, grated rind and juice (approx 200 mL)
- 4 tbsp sugar
Instructions
For the pastry:
- Mix the flour and salt in a large bowl, and add the Classic AOP Vallée des Baux de Provence organic olive oil to obtain a grainy texture.
- Add the water and knead lightly.
- Form into a ball and leave to rest for 30 minutes in cling film.
For the filling:
- On a floured work surface, roll out the oil dough. Place the pastry in a tart tin.
- Prick the base with a fork, sprinkle with the pecans and place the cranberries on top.
- Mix the orange zest and juice with the sugar and pour over the cranberries.
- Baking for approx. 35 minutes at the very bottom of an oven preheated to 220°C (430°F). Depending on the temperature of your oven, the tart may bake quicker, so keep an eye on the tart.
Other Cranberry Recipes to Try
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