Banana Tartlets

• VEGETARIAN

Pastry

1. 2 cups all-purpose flour
2. 1/4 cup sugar
3. Pinch of salt
4. 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons (5 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and chilled
5. 1 large egg
6. 1 tablespoon water

Filling

1. 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2. 8 bananas (2 1/2 pounds), 4 mashed
3. 3 tablespoons honey
4. 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
5. Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
6. 3/4 cup heavy cream
7. 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
8. 1/2 cup granulated sugar
9. 1/4 cup light rum

1. In a food processor, combine the flour, sugar and salt and pulse to blend. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl, beat the egg with the water, then add it to the processor and pulse until combined. Transfer the dough to a work surface and gather it into a ball. Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces and flatten each piece into a 4-inch disk. Wrap each disk in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 1 day.
2. Preheat the oven to 350° and lightly butter six 4-by-1-inch ring molds or tartlet pans with removable bottoms. If using ring molds, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured work surface, roll the pastry disks into 1/8 -inch-thick rounds and gently ease them into the molds. Trim off any overhang. Bake the pastry shells for about 30 minutes, or until golden all around and cooked through. Let cool completely before unmolding.
3. Spoon the banana cream into the pastry shells and arrange the caramelized banana slices decoratively on top. Transfer the tartlets to dessert plates. Spoon any leftover caramel sauce over the bananas and onto the plates and serve.