Strawberry-Quark (Curd Cheese) Tart

This tart is one of our family's favourites.  The base is made up of puff pastry and marzipan, whereas the filling consists of curd cheese and strawberries.  It is a hit with both adults and children alike.

Base Ingredients:
1 packet (300 g fresh rolled puff pastry
100 g marzipan

Filling Ingredients:
250 g curd cheese (Quark) - 20% fat
250 g curd cheese with cream (Sahnequark) - if unavailable, use normal curd cheese as above
2 eggs "M" size
160 g sugar
1 packet vanilla sugar
2 tbsp (level) freshly grated lemon zest
a pinch of salt
1 tbsp cornflour

Topping Ingredients:
700 g fresh strawberries
1 packet red cake glaze (Tortenguß)
2 tbsp sugar

Method:
Grease a 28 cm in diameter pie pan (if possible, with loose bottom) with butter.  Line pan with puff pastry until up the sides.  Roll out marzipan between two plastic sheets to the size of the base of pie pan.  Place marzipan on top of puff pastry base by using the plastic sheet. Remove plastic sheet.

Preheat fan oven to 180° C (conventional:  200° C).

In a bowl, mix all filling ingredients together until well blended.  Add filling into pie pan and spread evenly.  Bake for about 45 minutes.  Once ready, remove from oven and allow tart to cool down completely in pie pan.

Important Note:  During baking, the filling might tend to bulge i.e. rise up in the middle.  If this happens, place a wooden spoon between the oven door and the oven as shown.  By doing so, the filling will not get any cracks on the surface.  Continue baking until done.

Brush strawberries clean (if necessary, wash them).  There are various ways of arranging the strawberries:

Slice strawberries into slices and arrange on top of tart as shown in the photos below:

OR

Just halve strawberries and arrange on top of tart with cut surface up.

OR

Cut the stalk part of strawberries and arrange them with the cut side down.

Prepare glaze according to packet instructions.  Pour glaze from middle of tart.  Don't worry, the glaze will cover the strawberries on its own.  Remove tart from pan and serve.

Bon Appetit!