A Chocolate And Tahini Tart For Mikey

I woke up Monday morning to the sad news that Jennie Perillo’s husband Mikey had passed away hours before. Suddenly, just like that, he was gone. The news left me paralyzed. I didn’t know Mikey personally, but I thought about Jennie, their girls, and their family. I put myself in their shoes and could feel the pain almost as mine.

And today in Mikey’s memory, the blogsphere is filling up with love-filled peanut butter pies — his favorite. In Jennie’s words “make a peanut butter pie this Friday and share it with someone you love. Then hug them like there’s no tomorrow because today is the only guarantee we can count on”

We will be doing that with this chocolate and tahini mousse tart. No peanut butter in our pantry, but it doesn’t matter, as it’s all about love and what we are and what we have now — Right now.

Our love goes to you and your family Jennie. You know Mikey is smiling.

Gluten-Free Chocolate and Tahini Tart

Makes a 7-inch tart

Chocolate Pastry

1 cup (140 g) superfine brown rice flour

2 Tbs (20 g) potato starch

2 Tbs (15 g) tapioca starch

2 Tbs (10 g) Dutch-processed cocoa powder

1/4 tsp salt

8 Tbs (115 g) unsalted butter, cold and diced

1/2 cup (125 ml) ice cold water

Place the first five ingredients in the food processor and pulse a couple of times to combine. Add the butter and pulse 10 times until the butter is cut into pea-size pieces. Add the ice water while pulsing. You might not need all of it so reserve a couple of tablespoons. The dough will not form a ball, but should stick together when pressed but not be too wet.

Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap and flatten it a bit with your hand. Refrigerate the dough for about 1 hour.

Roll out the dough to about 1/4 to 1/8-inch thickness and fill the tart mold with it. If the dough cracks, don’t worry, just pinch it back together. It might happen if it’s too cold. Return the tart mold to the refrigerator for another 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350F (180C). Cover the pastry with a piece of parchment paper and fill it with pie weights or dry beans. Bake for 20 minutes, remove parchment and beans, and finish baking for another 8 minutes. Let the tart cool.

Chocolate and Tahini Mousse

10 ounces (300 g) bittersweet chocolate, I used 64%

1 Tbs tahini

1 1/2 cups (375 ml) heavy cream

In a heatproof bowl, melt the chocolate and tahini together over a water bath. Let it cool to room temperature.

Whip the heavy cream to soft peaks. Add the cooled chocolate into the cream and fold together until smooth. Work quickly and make sure not to over fold it over the mousse will break. Transfer the mousse to a pastry bag fitted with a plain tip and fill the tart mold, or simple spoon the mousse into the mold.

Chill the tart for 30 minutes and serve.


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56 Responses to “A Chocolate And Tahini Tart For Mikey”

  1. london bakes says:

    Just beautiful – a very fitting tribute. Thank you.

  2. ❤Cate❤ says:

    This looks absolutely delicious xoxo

  3. lifediving says:

    Heartbreaking and beautiful. Thanks for the reminder to appreciate all that we have today. The tart looks just wonderful.

  4. Noelle says:

    What a beautiful addition to the recipes created for this tribute. Such sad news.Great recipe!

  5. A splendid tart and wonderful tribute!

    Cheers,

    Rosa

  6. <3 will hold on to my loves more than ever today…

  7. pips says:

    Oh my Godness, Aran! This tart must be delicious!!! And I have tahini in the fridge… Now I know what to do in the weekend, thanks <3

  8. A very lovely post. Thanks for some gluten-free inspiration to participate, too.

  9. White Dream says:

    Heartbreaking and a wonderful memory…

    White Dream

  10. Jaime Lee says:

    Thanks for the reminder to cherish every second with loved ones.
    That looks really good by the way.

  11. Linn says:

    The mousse tart looks so comforting. Maybe a weird choice of words…but it really does. Reminds me of the warm fuzzy feeling I got whenever my oldest brother was around. ^^ …& you are so right, it’s all about what we have right now. :)

  12. Shokoofeh says:

    O H
    M Y
    G O O D N E S S
    !

  13. Bev Weidner says:

    Absolutely gorgeous! I’m making one for Jennie in my heart today.

  14. Á la carte says:

    OMG! It is beautiful! Thank you! I read your blog for a few months and I really love it, conragtulation.

  15. this is so beautiful, and thanks for the bittersweet post and recipe.

    my prayers are with jennifer and her family.

  16. I am a regular reader of Jennie’s blog and was also saddened to hear of Mikey’s death. The images of your tart are quite lovely. What a beautiful dessert to make in Mikey’s honor.

    Like you, my husband and I have no peanut butter in our pantry, so I often find myself substituting tahini as well. Works beautifully every time.

    Thank you for your refreshing read. I truly do enjoy your blog.

    Stacy Alexander Freed

  17. Lissy says:

    It`s very beautiful for Mickey`s memory.

  18. Telebrands says:

    Thanks for this recipe for gluten-free chocolate and tahini tart. It looks quite mouth-watering.

  19. Dzoli says:

    Very touching and great for remembering

  20. Ms Dahii says:

    it looks delicious! ♥-♥ and what a beautiful tribute…

  21. A very beautiful post and tribute to love and life :)

  22. Victoria says:

    A beautiful tart and a beautiful sentiment.

  23. Page says:

    excellent recipe!!i love all things with tahini :)
    page

  24. so beautiful!!!! love the idea of chocolate and tahini together. I love tahini and never really had it before with chocolate. now I must try!!!

  25. Cassy says:

    That looks very good. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

    Cassy from Guitar Made Easy

  26. What a sweet tribute. All my love to the family.

  27. Jess says:

    Wow, that’s incredibly sad. Love the tribute though… that’s a great idea!

    xo jess
    http://cheapbutchicclothes.blogspot.com/

  28. What a beautiful tribute!! Such a wonderful thing that Jennie has said! I hope you shared and loved with your family.

    :) Hazel

  29. Nappy-Pants2 says:

    I have to make this soon! Thanks for sharing!
    -C

  30. poucinette says:

    très chouette !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  31. aurorabuddha says:

    I, for one, would like to know where to find all those lovely spoons you have?

  32. Gabrielle says:

    Totally heartbreaking Aran, I feel so touched.
    I love this fabric so much, I’d like to use it for a party, where can I find it? Thank you for your wonderful posts and GF recipes.

  33. Ilke says:

    It is always a slap in the face – reminding us the fragility of life… “stuff” and other things are not that important, the family, friends and everyone’s health are the things we need to fill our life with!
    Very nice tart…I was going to make my favorite chocolate dessert as well but Friday proved to be difficult. But she is in my thoughts and prayers!

  34. Nekoe says:

    This looks amazing and your reason for making it really touched me.

  35. Lx says:

    This is a fantastic blog!
    And as a close friend of mine is gluten intollerant and I never know what to bake for her birthday you have saved us from some hideously dry recipes that none of us appreciate :)
    Thanks x

    lydiagracephotography.blogspot.com

  36. Carly says:

    Truly beautiful. Prayers go out to your friend and her family. I’m certain that if anyones recipe could do justice, it’s your beautiful food that would. :)

    -Carly @ Createlive

  37. kenZeL says:

    it looks very delicious.. i think i’m going to make one. :) thanks for sharing.

  38. Julie says:

    So lovely. And a great combination – I wouldn’t have thought of tahini and chocolate, but I bet it’s delicious.

  39. Love your blog! Just yesterday used your butter cream recipe for some cupcakes I made. Yum and so light. Check out my attempts on my recent post if you like (but be warned they are no-where near as elegant as yours!).
    This tart looks amazing!

  40. A wonderful tart! So adorable.

  41. Gorgeous photos and a lovely tribute to one lost. My condolences to the family.

  42. Seanna Lea says:

    This looks like a lovely recipe for such a sad occasion.

  43. Shelby says:

    A thoughtful post and beautiful recipe…Thank you!

  44. Aran, this tart is stunning. I love the peanut butter pie posts, but it’s really about making and sharing food with people you love – whether it’s a peanut butter pie or a gluten-free chocolate and tahini tart.

  45. Zita says:

    Oh My, yum! I’m going to bake this tart in the afternoon! Your photos are wonderful again… as always!

  46. Zita says:

    Oh My, yum! I’m gonna bake this tart in the afternoon. Your photos are wonderful again… as always!

  47. Betty says:

    Great pics ! Can you take a look at my blog ?? http://my-petsss.blogspot.com/

  48. hmmmm…it looks deliciuos!!!

  49. Wendy says:

    What a lovely post and tribute. Thank you for sharing.

    Wendy
    Around My Family Table

  50. Druv says:

    Nice post, keep up the good work.

  51. Sini says:

    All too often we forget how greatful we should be for every single minute we are able to share with our loved ones. I’ll definitely make this cake and let you know how it turned out.

  52. Lou says:

    Hi Aran

    I have just made and eaten your delicious scones. My 3 year old loved them. Thank you, Lou

  53. Aran,
    I want you to know, I posted a few of your recipes on ‘Pinterest.’ I wonder if there will be an uptick in your notoriety, if that is possible. It’s nice to see you are doing well!
    Tracy Christian

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