Chocolate Banana Tart

A True Food Kitchen Exclusive! This tart is a showstopper. Exotic yet familiar, this to-die-for dessert consists of a mesquite-kissed whole grain crust topped with decadent chocolate ganache, fresh bananas, and lightly toasted brazil nuts. The result is not only delicious, but a veritable work of art.

INGREDIENTS 
1 stick butter, softened
1 cup evaporated cane sugar
1 tablespoon brown rice syrup (optional, can substitute equal amount of honey)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup mesquite flour (optional, can substitute equal amount of whole wheat flour)
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/3 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup brazil nuts, toasted and chopped

Ganache:
1 cup organic half & half
1/2 cup organic 82% cocoa chocolate

INSTUCTIONS
For the tart:

1. In a mixer, cream the butter and sugar.
2. Add rice syrup and egg, and continue to mix until smooth.
3. Add the dry ingredients gradually until incorporated (do not overmix).
4. Roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thick and cut into large circles.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until just firmed up.

For ganache and banana-nut topping:

1. Bring half and half to simmer. Pour over chocolate & mix with a spoon to melt chocolate. Allow to cool.
2. Cut three bananas into thin slices. Spread ganache over cookies & top with banana slices.
3. Sprinkle with raw sugar & caramelize with a blow torch.
4. Sprinkle with nuts and top with fresh whipped cream if desired.

Food as Medicine: Bananas are rich in potassium - one banana contains 450 mg, one-fifth of the adult daily requirement - and offer a fair share of magnesium (33 mg), too. Chocolate is a good source of polyphenols. The fat it contains is mostly stearic acid, which doesn't raise cholesterol levels. And a recent study indicates that compounds called flavonoids in dark chocolate are good for the heart. They reduce the stickiness of platelets, inhibiting blood clotting and reducing the danger of coronary artery blockages.

More information on True Food Kitchen, located in Phoenix, Ariz.

Comments

[Lisandra]

Wow, I couldn't finish reading the entire recipe. I simply stopped cold once i saw 1STICK OF BUTTER!. Dr. Weil, I thought this was supposed to be a healthy website. I guess I was wrong.

[moderator44@drweil.com]

Hello
www.drweil.com and all Dr. Weil's global sites are about health. One stick of butter (organic we trust) diffused throughout the entire recipe may not be for everyone but it may be. Of course not everyone will make the recipe but some will like it we hope. Thanks for posting.

[kidog]

From what I've read, the cows that are pasture raised produce good fat and the grain fed cows produce the bad fats. I get Pasture Butter from Organic Valley. I still use it in moderation.

I first saw how an animals diet affects the fat when I had some farmed salmon. I've never had such greasy salmon. That was before it was publicized that farmed salmon should be avoided, but I quit after trying it just once.

I'll have to try this recipe.