Matcha Molten Lava Cheese Tart

Make the pastry:

1. In a small bowl, combine together flour and sugar. Cut in the cold butter to the flour and sugar using a pastry blender or use your fingers to rub the flour and butter together.
2. Next, add the beaten egg yolk and milk and combine until the mixture forms a dough. Flatten into a disc and seal with plastic wrap.
3. Place the dough into the fridge for at least 1 hour.
4. After chilling, lightly dust the dough with some flour and use a rolling pin to roll out the pastry on a clean non-stick surface.
5. Use a large round cookie cutter (or wide-mouth mason glass jar lid) to cut out rounds.
6. Place the cut out rounds into the well of a muffin tin and gently press down and up the sides to form the tart shell.
7. Use a fork to lightly pick the bottoms of the shell. Return the muffin tin to the freezer to chill for 1 hour. This prevents the shells from shrinking when baking.
8. Preheat oven to 400°F/204°C.
9. Place a small piece of scrunched up parchment over top of each muffin tin well and place some pie weights in each well. (I used dried chickpeas but you can use any dried beans as well if you don't have pie weights).
10. Bake at 400°F/204°C for 10-12 minutes, or until the pastry is firm and lightly golden.
11. Remove the muffin tin from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool for about 15 minutes. Gently remove the tart shells and leave them to cool completely. You can use a toothpick to assist in removing the tart shells.

Make the filling:

1. Combine matcha, icing sugar, corn starch and milk in a small bowl and mix. Set aside.
2. In another bowl, whisk together egg, vanilla, and lemon juice until combined. Set aside.
3. In a medium-sized heat-safe bowl, add the cream cheese, butter, milk and place it over a double-boiler (or a saucepan with simmering hot water over low-medium heat). Whisk until everything is melted into liquid consistency.
4. Next, add the matcha, corn starch and icing sugar mixture and continue whisking over low heat.
5. While whisking the cream cheese mixture, gradually add in the egg mixture. Keep whisking. (We don't want scrambled eggs). Continue to whisk for another 15-20 minutes over low heat until the mixture thickens a bit and isn't too runny.
6. Note: The filling will continue to thicken up a little when it has cooled.

Assemble:

1. Increase oven temperature to 450°F/232°C.
2. Place the tart shells on a baking tray lined with baking paper. Spoon or pipe enough filing (about 3 Tbsp) into each shell but be careful not to overfill.
3. Lightly brush the top of the filling with the remaining beaten egg.
4. Bake the tarts on the middle rack for 7-8 mins or until the filling forms a nice firm crust.
5. Remove from oven and place on wire rack to cool slightly. You may brulee the tops with a blowtorch for a more caramelized look.