A Yoghurt Tart that’s a bit like a cheesecake. Its not too sweet and goes perfectly with one of my favourite fruits, passionfruit.
After my sister was chased across the airfield by a cow in Vanuatu she had to load her wheeley bag into a small boat captained by a local man who was used to navigating boats between the Islands at night. The five adults, medical equipment and bags were loaded into the shallow sided row boat and caste into the darkness on a windy rough night.
My poor sister who wears a jumper on a 30 degree day, hung on for dear life as the captain battled the elements and waves crashed over the little boat. They arrived at around 10 at night bedraggled exhausted and hungry. This is not resort style Vanuatu, this is village style, and there is not much food or comfort. Sick children, pregnant women who never see medical care, bugs and no refrigeration and after days of caring for everyone they could, their time here was mercifully over……………….. anyone would be keen to leave, even if the way out meant a torturous boat ride.
The journey back by boat to the next Island was reasonably uneventful but this was perhaps an omen for the rest of the journey to come. The leg back to Port Vila and a comfortable bed and shower, was another small flight. A small plane where the pilot is pretty much next to you, is not really my idea of fun, and neither is sitting next to my sister in this situation.
As they loaded their bags onto the small plane, the pilot spluttered and coughed and asked for some drugs (nurses usually have these), once he was dosed up, they began loading the plane. He shook his head disapprovingly, at the amount of luggage, warning them that if the plane was too heavy he would have to do a turn and try again. They bounced down the grassy strip and inched off the ground the plane barely reached the upper branches of the trees lining the runway before it abruptly swung around and bounced back down the air strip. Bags were off loaded before another attempt was made and failed and they returned once again to the grassy airstrip. The pilot suggested some of them would have to get off….and my sister was out on that grass before he finished the sentence.
Another of the girls volunteered stay behind, to sit and wait in a tiny tin shed in the heat. There was no clear idea when they would be picked up but this was better than another roller coaster ride to the trees and back. When a couple of large men with machetes approached the shed the girls were unsure if they would ever make it to that comfortable bed in Port Vila or any comfort ever again. These two warriors barely spoke English and my sisters nervous chatter and offers of nuts and muesli bars were refused. They mentioned they had been “sent to protect”….pointing at the machetes, and they all sat quietly in the shed till the plane returned a few hours later. The scariest thought now being….who was out there on this tiny island that might want to harm them?
They did get back to Port Vila, and I am glad I wasn’t on the plane journey there.
My sister really loves a cheesecake and this week I worked out a great new way to make one with yoghurt. Its light and fresh and quick.
Its wonderfully versatile. You can make it with a tart case or a crumb crust. ( just try 250 or 8 oz , of biscuits with about 8 Tablespoons of melted butter, 2 teaspoons sugar, process togeher press into a tart case and bake 15 minutes). I added a little passionfruit juice to this one above but I am sure the possibilities are endless. Find a pastry base recipe here
Yoghurt Tart with Pear and Passionfruit
Ingredients
- 250 gm plain yoghurt drained, Greek or another nice thick yoghurt full fat ( leave at least an hour or preferably overnightchux cloth over a sieve)1 cup
- 60 gm butter soft
- 200 gm sugar castor ( granulated ) sugar 1 cup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 whole eggs
- 2 Tablespoons of flour holds the yoghurt together when baking
- 2 Tablespoons passionfruit juice or lemon or lemon zest or what ever you have
- 20 cm tart case pre baked or a crumb base
Instructions
- Set the oven to 160 C / 320 F
- Beat the sugar and butter till very well combined ( This will be very sugary but don't worry it will be fine)
- Add the eggs and the flour mixing well. Add the vanilla and the yoghurt and beat till well combined.
- Pour into the tart case
- Bake for 25 -30 minutes or till slightly wobbly
And heres a little surprise, Santa Yoghurt Tart…………………………..with crumb crust.
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What a gorgeous tart! I bet it tastes divine! And that story of your sisters is so scary. I don’t know what I’d do in that situation. Glad she got home ok.
I heard about yoghurt tart, but never had a chance to eat it before. The passionfruit shines like jewel on the cake. I enjoyed reading your story! 🙂
What a beautiful tart and I love that you used passionfruit. That’s something I don’t see used very often.
I love cheesecakes but they are so expensive to make . This looks like a great alternative. Love the santa one too
Simply stunning!
What a story! That flight sounds horrendous and then to be thrown off and left with a couple of non-English speaking blokes wielding knives. Now that’s a night to remember and I’m very glad they survived it. What a lovely looking cheesecake and I would love the passionfruit flavour. And the Santa cheesecake is gorgeous xx
Lorraine says the stories are starting resemble your families , Charlie!
What a lovely tart indeed! Yoghurt would add such a nice Tang- yummo!
How thoughtful to send body guards, but I think I would have run a mile before they even had time to explain they were friends 🙂
Ha cute..
Oh yum, I love the idea of creating a yoghurt version of a cheesecake. Gorgeous flavours too with the pear and passionfruit.
PERFECTION! I love the decorative pear ribbons atop. Creative and unique!
Thanks Miss Angie thats nice of you
Oh yum… This tart screams summer :)) What an adventure you had too!
Ooh I love the idea of a yoghurt cheese cake. I bet it tastes pretty amazing. What an adventure you sister was on. I don’t think I’d have been too keen to get on that plane!
No Claire stick to business class
That is definitely a side of Vanuatu that we don’t usually hear about! I think I might stick to this tart without the scary travel moments – it looks beautiful. I love yoghurt in baked desserts.
Ha well said Kari
God that looks amazing. going to make this with GF pastry really soon.
loved the story
Charlie x
Hello my Charlie. You can make it with gluten free biscuits too
Not only is this tart a stunner, it looks absolutely delicious. I can’t always get passion fruit, but I just bought some this week in the market. Now I know just how I should use them.
Love passionfruit but it isnt always easy to get or cheap
Great story. I completely relate to your sister’s adventures. Having lived in Fiji for a year when younger and basically roughing it the whole time, I too have some unbelievable stories to tell of this kind, many concerning means of transport.
Lovely surprise tart – very clever.
Hi Suzanne. Id love to live in Fiji for a while
Wow! What an ordeal your sister had! I imagine this cheesecake would be a very welcome surprise once she got back – it looks fantastic!
Thanks Anna, she was pleased to get home
hehe what dramas! Enough to rival Charlie’s family! 😛
Yes Charlie is my inspiration…
Wow sound like you sister has a very interesting life, what does she do?
She a nurse