The perfect Swiss plum Tart, aka, Zwetgschenwähe is what I call a tradition over trend recipe. The first mentioning of a wähe in Switzerland was in 1556. I know you agree, you can’t argue about a recipe that has evolved over centuries and has literally been in use for 461 years.
If you think Zwetgschenwähe is a tongue twister, try “Eusi Lüti lütat lütar weder Lütis Lüti lütät”, which translates to: Our bell sounds louder than the bell of the Lüti family. How about that one for a tongue twister and an awesome gargle-y linguistic challenge.
I’m very familiar with and pretty much understand the Swiss German dialect in the Canton of Aargau, however, you need to keep in mind that they have about 12 additional Swiss German dialects.
The first time I baked a Swiss plum tart or Zwetgschenwähe, as it’s called, was in the city of Basel.
Zwetgschenwähe is traditionally eaten on a Friday which is a meat-free day in Switzerland. Meatless Friday started years ago, even today there are bakeries in Switzerland that only bake wähe on Fridays.
Docking or pricking the rolled-out dough with a fork lets the steam escape from the little air pockets that form while it’s baking. If air is trapped between the form and the dough, it will expand during baking giving you bubbles and an uneven surface. Wähen are made in both sweet and savory forms — filled with all kinds of seasonal fruit, as well as quiche-style fillings. The dough is versatile, you can bake with rhubarb, peach, apricot, or apples to blueberries, cherries, or raspberries.
The savory version gives you endless possibilities from onion wähe to cheese, spinach, tomato, broccoli to ground meat. They might be the main course at noon or a simple evening meal, especially in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Most of the ingredients are needed to make the dough you most likely have in your pantry; so go ahead and do some baking. A pantry by the way in Switzerland is called a Chuchichäschtli.
The classic version of a Zwetgschenwähe is baked with a custard-like topping of cream, eggs, and sugar. Across the border of Switzerland, in the Alsace region of France, they like to add a little of Crème fraîche to make a richer version. I have been patiently waiting for the first of the Italian plums to show up at the local farmer’s market. Italian plums are most often designated for drying to prune state, however, they are also well suited for eating fresh, cooking, baking, and preserving. For a classic Swiss Plum tart, you need to use an Italian plum. Using anything else is just not the same.
Freshly made pastries always taste better. The dough is basic pie dough, easy to make so there is no need to purchase a readymade dough. Wrapped in saran wrap, the dough will keep a few days in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in a freezer.
I was using a ready-to-use purchased pie dough to bake individual plum tarts. Very easy and a quick way to create an awesome meal. I still believe making a quick fresh dough is the way to go, however, sometimes it’s all about convenience and speed.
The Perfect Swiss Plum Tart, aka, Zwetgschenwähe
The Taste
Awesome flavor, not too sweet, the plums add a tart and wonderful sweetness.
A lovely to look at and delicious tart to eat, truly outstanding, scrumptious, perfect,
And easily one of my favorite summer fruit tarts.
The Process
Easy to bake, a Swiss plum tart is about the fruit, and Swiss food is by nature not a fancy cuisine.
Its success depends on using quality ingredients and care.
All ingredients you need to make the dough are usually available in your pantry.
The Verdict
Home-baked pastries always taste better.
You can’t dispute a recipe that has evolved over centuries and has literally been in use for 461 years.
Take advantage of the plum season and start baking.
The Perfect Swiss Plum Tart, aka, Zwetgschenwähe
Ingredients
Dough
- 9 ounce all-purpose flour
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 ounces butter, salted chilled
- 1 cup water chilled
Instructions
Form the dough
- Cut the butter into small chunks and place it in the cooler. Mix flour and salt, add butter, and mix until butter is evenly incorporated. Do not knead like bread dough, just use your fingertips. Otherwise, the butter will get too soft.9 ounce all-purpose flour, 1 pinch salt, 3 ounces butter, salted
- Add water and form a dough. Push the dough together, do not knead. Form into a ball. Wrap, place on a plate and refrigerate until chilled.1 cup water
Roll the dough
- Dust your work table with a little flour, roll chilled dough into a disk of about 12 inches for your 9-inch tart form.
Butter tart form and fill with dough
- Butter the quiche form well, including the rim. To move the dough into the tart form, fold the dough into quarters and lift it into the pan. After unfolding the dough and pressing it in and shaping the edge, prick it all over with a fork and flute the dough with your fingers. Remove any excess dough that overlaps the quiche form with a knife.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees
- Wash plums and cut in half, remove pit and cut plums into quarters. Sprinkle the almond meal over the bottom of the dough and fan plums over the dough. Sprinkle plums with sugar.3 tbsp almond meal, 18 each Italian plums, 2 tbsp sugar
Bake the tart
- Whip half and half, milk, sugar, and corn starch with egg until well blended. Pour over plums. Bake for about 40 to 45 minutes on the lowest shelf in your oven1/3 cup milk 2%, 1/3 cup half and half, 1 each egg, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 3 tbsp sugar
Nutrition
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate