Bastille Day, the French national holiday, commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. The Bastille was a prison and a symbol of the absolute and arbitrary power of Louis the 16th's Ancient Regime. This outstanding strawberry pastry recipe highlights the excellent French pastry tradition.

For the pastry shell:

1 egg

pinch of salt

125 grams caster sugar

125 grams cold butter

250 grams flour, sifted

For the crème anglaise:

100 milligrams milk

1 egg yolk

3 tablespoons vanilla sugar

tiny pinch of salt

1 tablespoon flour

Topping:

500 grams strawberries, halved

1- 2 tablespoons strawberry jelly

1. Put all the ingredients for the dough in the food processor and pulse until the dough comes together. You might need to add a drop or two of cold water. Chill the dough for about an hour.

2. Bring the milk to the boil. Make the crème by beating the egg with the sugar and salt until thick and creamy.

3. Add the milk little by little while beating. Add the flour and continue to beat.

4. Transfer mixture to a saucepan and cook until thickened, and then for another minute or so.

5. Cover with a little cling film to prevent a skin from forming and set aside.

6. Roll out the pastry and lay it over a 28cm tart pan. Blind bake for about 20 minutes. Cool and remove pastry shell from pan.

7. Spread the crème over the cooled shell and cover with the strawberries.

8. Heat the jelly until it glistens. Brush over the strawberries and marvel at your brilliant creation!

Makes 6-8 servings.

Recipe is adapted from Onno Kleyn's 'Tarte aux framboises’ as featured in his inspiring book Heimwee naar la douce France and printed courtesy of Food blogger Paola Duque-Westbeek.

Photo courtesy of Expatica.com.

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