From Chef Darren McGrady
McGrady worked as Princess Diana’s personal chef, and this recipe was one of Prince William’s favorites. Serves 6 (although William and Harry could polish off a whole one in a sitting).
4 ripe bananas
1/2 cup apricot jelly
For the filling
5 egg yolks
1 egg
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla paste (or extract)
1/4 cup cornstarch
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon unsalted butter (softened)
For the pastry
6 ounces sugar
14 ounces butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla paste
1 pound all-purpose flour
Prepare the pastry: In a food processor add the sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla paste. Pulse until smooth and then add the flour. Tip out onto a floured surface and mix to form a smooth dough. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Roll out the pastry to about 1/4-inch thick and line a 9-inch flan ring. Refrigerate for about 45 minutes. Blind bake using baking beans to hold the shape of the paste until the pastry shell is firm and golden brown. Remove from the oven, remove the baking beans and set aside.
Prepare the filling: In a heavy saucepan bring the milk and cream to a boil. Put the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl and whisk together.
Pour the milk over the egg mixture and whisk. When the milk is incorporated, pour the whole contents of the bowl back into the pan and return to the heat. Continue whisking the pastry cream until it thickens (about 4 minutes) and then remove from heat and spoon into the baked pastry shell.
To serve: Slice the bananas into 1/4-inch discs and arrange neatly on top of the warm filling. Bring the apricot jelly to a boil in a small pan and brush over the top of the bananas.
