Traditional South African Milk Tart (Melktert)

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1. 1Step 1: For the pastry, pulse the butter, flour and sugar in a food processor until it has the consistency of breadcrumbs. Alternately, rub in the cold butter with two knives or a pastry cutter. Try not to use your hands as it will warm up the butter.
2. 2Step 2: Add the egg and water and mix until just combined.
3. 3Step 3: Bring the pastry into a ball and flatten into a disk on a piece of cling wrap. This makes it easier to roll into a round shape later.
4. 4Step 4: Chill and rest the pastry for about 30 minutes before use.
5. 5Step 5: Roll out the pastry and line a 25 cm tart pan ensuring that the pastry overlaps the sides a bit as it may shrink during baking if not rested enough. I chilled it again for another 10 minutes before baking.
6. 6Step 6: Switch on the oven and heat to 200 degrees celcius / 400 F / Gas mark 6.
7. 7Step 7: Prick the base and line with parchment paper and baking beans or beans, and bake blind for about 10 minutes.
8. 8Step 8: Remove the baking beans and bake for another five minutes. Be careful not to get a burn as you may drop the beans and damage the tart case.
9. 9Step 9: Reduce the oven temperature to 170 degrees celcius / 350 F / Gas mark 4.
10. 10Step 10: Cook the filling while the pastry base is baking in the oven.
11. 11Step 11: In a medium size bowl mix the butter and flour ensuring there are no lumps. Add in the condensed milk, vanilla and the egg yolks and mix until smooth.
12. 12Step 12: Heat the milk until it reaches boiling point stirring occasionally with a flat edged wooden spoon to prevent it catching and burning on the bottom of the pot.
13. 13Step 13: Add a little of the boiled milk to the egg mixture ensuring that you whisk out all the lumps. Slowly add the rest of the milk while whisking or stirring and then return to the pot and place back on the heat.
14. 14Step 14: Stir the milk mixture on the heat until it thickens and it starts to bubble.
15. 15Step 15: Remove the pot from the stove and let the mixture cool for about 10 minutes.
16. 16Step 16: Whisk the egg whites and salt until they are glossy but not too stiff. It should be soft peaks at this stage, not the 'tip it over your head and it doesn't drop' stiffness.
17. 17Step 17: Fold the egg whites into the cooled custard mixture.
18. 18Step 18: Pour into the pastry case and bake for 15-20 minutes until it is set. Do not over bake as it will rise and sink like an overdone souffle.
19. 19Step 19: Sprinkle with cinnamon powder and serve.