A note on the crust. It has a bit of heat, from both the ginger, and the cayenne. I personally loved the cool, creamy, citrus filling with the spicy crust, but if heat isn’t your thang, feel free to omit the spice.
Grapefruit Curd
Makes 2 1/2 cups
Adapted from The Art of Simple Food
1/3 cup sugar
zest from two grapefruits
1/2 cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
2 eggs
3 egg yolks
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
Combine the grapefruit zest with the sugar on a clean cutting board and using the back of a spoon, rub the zest into the sugar until it is fragrant. This will release the essential oils and pack in that grapefruit flavor.
In a small saucepan, beat together the eggs, yolks, milk, grapefruit sugar, and salt. Stir in the grapefruit juice, and add the butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until the mixture coats the back of a spoon. Be careful not to boil or the eggs will curdle! Remove from heat and let cool. Pour into clean glass jars and store in the fridge.
Tartlets with Gingersnap Cayenne Crust
Makes eight 2-inch tartlets, and one 6-inch tart, or one 9-inch tart
1/2 stick of butter, melted
1 1/2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
pinch of salt
2 cups grapefruit curd
Preheat the oven to 375. Combine the crumbs with the brown sugar, cayenne and salt, and then drizzle in the melted butter. Stir until the mixture resembles wet sand. Press into the tart pans and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the crust is fragrant and slightly darkened. Let cool slightly.
Pour the curd into the prepared tart shells and bake until it is just set. For the tartlets, this should take about 5 minutes, or 15 to 20 minutes for a 9-inch tart.
Cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve.
