Lemon Meringue Pie
Serves 8.
Ingredients
For the pastry:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 6 Tbs. (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup shortening
- 2 to 3 Tbs. ice water, or as needed
For the lemon curd:
- 3 eggs
- 5 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 Tbs. milk
- Pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 8 Tbs. (1 stick) softened unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch pieces
For the meringue:
- 4 egg whites
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
- 1/3 cup sugar
Directions
To make the pastry, in the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, salt and sugar and pulse once to mix. Add the butter and shortening and process in short pulses to form pea-size crumbs, 20 to 25 seconds. While pulsing, gradually add the water to form larger, moist crumbs, 10 seconds more. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and, with floured hands, shape the mixture into a flat disk. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour or as long as overnight.To make the lemon curd, in the top pan of a double boiler or in a nonreactive saucepan, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, sugar, milk and salt until blended. Then whisk in the lemon juice. Set the top pan over the bottom pan of simmering water but not touching the water, or set the saucepan over medium-low heat. (If using a saucepan, take care not to heat the mixture too quickly.) Cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spatula or spoon, until the mixture is warmed through, 1 to 2 minutes.
Begin adding the butter a little at a time, stirring each addition until blended before adding more. Continue cooking, stirring constantly and scraping the bottom of the pan, until a finger drawn across the back of the spatula leaves a path, 8 to 10 minutes more. Immediately remove the pan from the heat. Pass the curd through a chinois set over a nonreactive bowl and cool to room temperature.
Position a rack in the center of an oven and preheat to 425°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry into a 12-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie dish, fit the dough into the dish and trim the edges, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold under the excess dough and, using your thumb, decoratively flute the edges.
Line the bottom of the pie shell with parchment paper and fill the center with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 12 minutes, then remove the parchment paper and weights. Continue baking until the pastry is golden and flaky, 10 to 12 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and cool 5 minutes.
Reduce the heat to 350°F. Pour the curd into the pie shell. Bake until the curd is set around the edges but still a little loose in the center, 20 to 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the meringue: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, vanilla and cream of tartar on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Gradually add the sugar, 1 Tbs. at a time, beating on high speed until stiff, glossy peaks form, about 4 minutes more.
Spread the meringue over the hot pie filling to the edges of the pastry to seal and prevent shrinkage. Bake until the top is golden, about 15 minutes. Transfer the pie to a wire rack and cool to room temperature, then refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. Dip a knife in warm water to cut slices.
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Rated 5 out of
5
by
Miho from
My favorite lemon meringue pie recipe
I’ve made this multiple times now. This is the only lemon meringue pie I’ve made, but it’s so amazing I wouldn’t use any other recipe. The curd is tart and creamy with sweet meringue on top, which goes so well with the crusty crust. I even printed it out just in case it goes away. I would recommend this recipe.
Date published: 2021-01-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
LIfeSavoured from
Well worth the effort!
The curd is not the cornstarch based filling you most find but a custard-like, rich base that goes perfectly with the airy meringue. I like my pie tart, so I reduced the sugar in the curd to about 1/3 c., and used only 6 tbsp. of butter. The curd was really smooth, so I skipped the chinois, stirred it while it cooled, and poured directly into the shell – still perfect. For the meringue, I threw in the extra egg white and used all 5 (you use 5 yolks in the curd) and it gave the pie a nice bit of extra height. I also cut the sugar in the meringue to 1/4 c., but will use less next time - but I like my pie less sweet. Great lower carb, lower sugar dessert (est. 10g in 1/8 of the crust) with less than 1 c. of sugar (less than 3/4 c. with my reductions). Already getting requests to make it again!!!
Date published: 2012-02-03