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Maple Lemon Meringue Tart
Serves 8 portions
Preparation time 1 hour 30 minutes
Cooking time 15 minutes
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Ingredients
FOR THE PASTRY
- 150g unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
- 180g maple sugar
- 2 eggs
- zest of ½ a lemon
- ¼ tsp baking powder
- 375g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
FOR THE LEMON FILLING
- 200ml lemon juice
- 150g maple sugar
- 4 eggs
- 200g unsalted butter
FOR THE MERINGUE
- 3 egg whites
- 180g maple sugar
EQUIPMENT
- You will also need a loose-bottom, fluted flan tin and some baking beans.
Method
TO MAKE THE PASTRY
- In a food processor, add the butter and maple sugar and pulse together, then add the eggs and mix on a low speed.
- When the mixture is smooth, add the flour, baking powder and lemon zest and bring together into a dough.
- Wrap the dough in cling film and refrigerate for 2 hours.
- Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and use a rolling pin to roll out the pastry until it is big enough to cover your tin.
- Press the pastry into the folds of the tin and make sure that any cracks are covered.
- Chill for one hour.
- Put a baking sheet in oven and preheat to 180c.
- Line the chilled pastry case with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beans.
- Bake the pastry case for 15 mins. Remove from the oven and take out the beans and greaseproof paper.
TO MAKE THE LEMON FILLING
- Add the egg, lemon juice and maple sugar to the pan and bring to a boil.
- Add the butter bit by bit, mixing continuously, then pour the curd into your tart case.
- Keep the tart in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours so the curd sets.
TO MAKE THE MERINGUE
- Place the egg whites in a clean, dry mixing bowl and whisk until soft peaks form.
- Gradually add the maple sugar, whisking all the time until the whites reach stiff peaks.
TO ASSEMBLE
- Take the tart out of the fridge.
- Spoon the meringue mixture into a piping bag fitted with a plain 1½cm nozzle and pipe even blobs over the surface of the chilled curd in a neat pattern.
- Gently toast the meringue with a blowtorch or place under the grill until lightly browned.