I was invited to a “Pie Party” at my friend Tom’s house, and then I forgot about it until the day of the party. It is Summertime and the obvious choice for a pie around this time of year is one oozing berries and summer fruits of all sorts! Alas, I had not stocked up from the Farmer’s market and refused to go to the local supermarket for lack luster packaged fruit!
My Lemon Tart
When my stubbornness took over I challenged myself to go with whatever I found in my fridge or in the fruit bowl on the dining room table. The fruit bowl had a couple of sad-looking apples but my fridge offered up 3 lemons: perfect!
This zingy fruit can be a life saver!
Fruit such as lemons or limes have so much flavor their juice alone can be the backbone of a cake or tart, and I took full advantage here in this unbelievable lemon tart adapted from a Mario Batali recipe. There are sweets I can wing, but when it comes to certain cakes I need the guiding hand of an expert (and that he certainly is when it comes to all things Italian!)
I always turn to walnuts if I don’t have almonds to grind for pastry crust recipes (or indeed torte)
If you have a pastry crust recipe you use all the time, by all means use it here. Lots of these recipes call for ground almonds but if I don’t have almonds to grind (I never buy actual ground nuts – it’s too limiting and expensive. I always buy them whole as I can then do what I like with them) try using whatever you might have. I aways seem to have whole walnuts so I used those (I also make a great walnut pesto – check it out HERE).
Another offering at the Pie Party: Loaded fruit tart with mascarpone cheese
I am far from a good baker and even though in general my crust is never the best, or I don’t get my egg whites to peak perfectly, my tarts and cakes never turn out badly. And this lemon tart was no exception and got rave reviews from lemon lovers at the party.
One of the host’s, Tina, made another lemony pie: Lemon Meringue (it was delicious by the way!)
The pie party was in full swing when we got there (somehow we always manage to be late!) and there were pies galore to try – which I diligently did over the course of the evening!
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You will need:
for the crust:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup ground almonds or walnuts
1/2 cup sugar
4 oz unsalted butter (1 stick, 8 tbs)
1 large egg
pinch of salt
for the filling:
3 lemons
4 large eggs, separated
3/4 cup sugar
Equipment: Mr Batali used a 9″ pie pan for his recipe but I found that an 11″ pan worked better (I had leftover filling). *After you make this once you will know what works best for you*
Method:
Preheat oven 450*
1 – Mix the flour, ground nuts and sugar in a bowl with a whisk.
Mix dry ingredients for pastry crust
2 – Add the butter and mix it into the flour mixture using your fingertips. Add the egg and a pinch of salt and mix it together gently with a wooden spoon or your hands until it forms a ball.
Add butter, then egg
3 – Flatten into a thick disk and wrap it in cling film or some sort of plastic and place it in the fridge for about 20 or 30 minutes (you will be getting on with the rest of the recipe)
Flatten into a disc and refrigerate in plastic
4 – When it is time to form the crust simple roll it out into a large disk (an 11 or 12 inch circle) and line your tart pan, trimming off the excess edges. Prick holes in the bottom of the crust with a fork and then place some wax paper or tin foil over the sides and bottom. Weigh the pastry down with dry beans (or pastry weights if you have them) and bake in the oven for about 12 minutes. Remove the beans and the foil and place back into the oven for another 4 or 5 minutes. Remove and set aside until ready to fill. *Turn your oven down to 325*
When ready: roll to fit pan
5 – While crust is in the fridge zest 2 of the lemons and squeeze juice from all 3. You can mix the zest and lemon juice together and set aside.
zest two lemons and squeeze juice of three lemons
6 – In a large bowl beat the egg yolks and sugar together until thick and pale cream-colored. Then, beat in the zest and juice.
beat egg yolks and sugar
7 – Place a saucepan of water on medium heat with about a cup of water and set your bowl into it (if you have a double-boiler, even better but this is a good substitute).
place in a double boiler (or my substitute for one in the form of a saucepan and mixing bowl)
8 – Maintain a low simmer and whisk the mixture constantly until it becomes thick. This can take up to 20 minutes so be patient. When done, remove from heat and set aside.
cook for 20 minutes
9 – Beat the egg whites until thick and peaking. Gently fold the egg whites into the warm egg and sugar mixture.
beat egg whites
10 – Pour into your tart shell and place in the oven for about 15 minutes.
place filling in tart shell
11 – Set aside to cool completely on a wire rack before removing from your tart pan.
bake
Place on a cake or pie plate and dust generously with powdered (confectioner’s sugar) sugar.
dust with powdered sugar
Slice and eat!
Serve
Crappy Kitchen - Good Dinners! 