I don’t know if you’ve experienced this kind of feeling… or better said urge ;) The urge for lemons, oranges and everything citrus when the weather is bad and when it’s cold outside. There are days where I think “I need vitamins immediately – is there a lemon somewhere so I can have a bite?!” ;) Well… fortunately, there are ways to avoid this kind of weird behavior. Just make this Tarte au Citron Meringuèe and all is fine! Let me show you how to make it (with a little help of my friend aka. the Retro Ribbon Red handheld mixer from Russell Hobbs).
I am a huge fan of the sweet’n’sour flavor combination. I really like it when dishes or in my case bakes combine different flavors – sweet/sour, sweet/salty or sweet and hot. So good! That’s why this French classic here is one of my favorites. A crunchy base with a sour filling and a sweet meringue topping. It’s a dream come true. At least for me ;)
To get a tart like this one here perfect, you need the right “toys” in your kitchen ;) The dough for the crust is something you can do with your hands – pretty much old-school. For the meringue topping, you need a bit more power. I used my new Retro Ribbon Red handheld mixer from Russell Hobbs for the job. The perfect helper for the perfect meringue.
My kitchen has seen many gadgets in many different shapes and sizes. I have tested various food processors and mixers over the last several years. The handheld mixer from Russell Hobbs (Advertising) here is one of the good ones I have to say ;) Quite powerful for such a small gadget. My regular stand mixer would have taken much longer to get the meringue ready. The handheld mixer created the perfect thick and glossy meringue in no time. I think my stand mixer will stay turned off for this kind of jobs in the future ;) The whisks of the Retro Ribbon Red handheld mixer are covered with some kind of fiberglass plastic – super durable and they do not scratch my bowls as much as steel whisks. Pretty neat :D
If you want to know more about the gadget or Russell Hobbs in general, check out the Russell Hobbs website (Advertising).
Well… back to the Tarte au Citron… you need a thick meringue (no matter what kind of machine you use) to top this tart. To get the flambéed look, you can either use a kitchen torch or the grill of your oven. Only with that, your tart is perfect. But it’s easy to achieve – don’t worry ;)
INGREDIENTS / ZUTATEN
For the dough:
5 oz. (140g) butter
3/4 cup (90g) confectioners’ sugar
zest of 1 organic lemon
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup (40g) ground almonds (blanched)
1 3/4 (230g) all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. rosemary, chopped
pinch of salt
1 medium egg
1 medium egg yolk
For the lemon cream:
4 large organic lemons (about 5 fl. oz.)
4 medium eggs
1 1/4 cups (150g) confectioners’ sugar
1/4 cup (60g) butter
For the meringue:
3 medium egg whites
3.5 oz. (100g) confectioners’ sugar
Für den Teig:
140g Butter
90g Puderzucker
Abrieb von 1 Bio-Zitrone
1/2 TL Vanille Extrakt
40g Mandeln, blanchiert und gemahlen
230g Mehl (Type 405)
1/4 TL Rosmarin, fein gehackt
Prise Salz
1 Ei (M)
1 Eigelb (M)
Für die Zitronencreme:
4 große Bio-Zitronen (ca. 150ml Zitronensaft)
4 Eier (M)
150g Puderzucker
60g Butter
Für das Baiser:
3 Eiweiß (M)
100g Puderzucker
DIRECTIONS / ZUBEREITUNG
1. Add the butter and confectioners’ sugar to a large bowl and mix until light and fluffy. Add the lemon zest, vanilla extract, and ground almonds and mix in. Mix the flour with rosemary, and salt and add together with the egg and egg yolk to the bowl. Mix until the dough starts coming together. Shape into a ball, flatten, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight.
2. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and transfer to an 9 inches (23cm) tart tin with loose bottom. Press into the tin and cut off overlapping dough. The dough should stick out slightly over the edge cause it will sink down a bit while baking. Prick with a fork several times and place in the fridge for another hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 390°F (180°C). Place a piece of baking parchment on the dough and fill with baking beans. Blind bake the tart base for 18-20 minutes. Take out of the oven and let cool down. In case the edges are a bit uneven, trim immediately with a sharp knife.
4. Wash the lemons, dry and zest. Get the juices out of the lemons (you need about 5 fl.oz. and add together with the lemon zest, eggs, and confectioners’ sugar to a saucepan. Stir constantly and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. As soon as the mixture thickens and bubbles up, remove from the heat and stir another 1-2 minutes, then add the butter and stir until melted completely. Pour the filling into the pre-baked and cooled crust and let sit for about 15 minutes so the filling can develop a little skin.
5. Preheat the oven to 270°F (130°C). Bake the taste for 15 Minutes. It should not brown or anything. Take out and let cool down completely.
6. For the meringue add the egg whites to a large bowl and whisk until foamy, then gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and mix on high speed until the meringue is thick and glossy. Fill into a piping bag with a star tip and decorate the cooled tart with it. Use a blow torch and brown the meringue a bit (you can also use the grill in your oven). Serve immediately.
1. Die Butter mit dem Puderzucker hell und luftig aufschlagen. Den Abrieb der Zitrone, Vanille Extrakt und gemahlene Mandeln dazugeben und unterrühren. Mehl, Rosmarin, Salz, Ei und Eigelb dazugeben und zu einem glatten Teig verkneten. Den Teig zu einer Kugel formen, platt drücken und in Klarsichtfolie einschlagen. Über Nacht in den Kühlschrank legen.
2. Den Teig auf einer bemehlten Fläche ausrollen und in eine 23cm (9 inches) Tarteform mit herausnehmbaren Boden legen. Den Teig in die Form drücken und am Rand trimmen – der Teig sollte ein klein wenig überstehen, weil er beim Backen etwas nach unten sacken wird. Mit einer Gabel mehrmals einstechen und dann für 1 Stunde in den Kühlschrank stellen.
3. Den Ofen auf 180°C (390°F) vorheizen. Den Teig mit einem Stück Backpapier belegen und die Form mit Backbohnen oder ähnlichem befüllen. Die Tarte für 18-20 Minuten Blindbacken. Form aus dem Ofen holen und die Backbohnen entfernen. Sollte der Rand etwas uneben sein, mit einem scharfen Messer trimmen. Abkühlen lassen.
4. Die Zitronen heiß waschen, trocknen und mit einer Reibe die Schale entfernen und in eine Schüssel geben. Zitronen auspressen – es werden etwa 150ml Saft benötigt. Saft, Abrieb, Eier und Puderzucker in einen Topf geben und bei mittlerer Hitzezufuhr und ständigem Rühren zum Kochen bringen. Sobald die Mixtur andickt und blubbert, vom Herd ziehen und für 1-2 Minuten weiter rühren, dann die Butter unterrühren. Die Zitronencreme auf den vorgebackenen Boden schütten, vorsichtig glatt rütteln und dann für 15 Minuten stehen lassen, damit sich eine Haut bilden kann.
5. Den Ofen auf 130°C (270°F) vorheizen. Die Tarte für etwa 15 Minuten backen – sie sollte keine Farbe bekommen. Herausholen und komplett abkühlen lassen.
6. Für das Baiser das Eiweiß in eine große, fettfreie Schüssel geben und aufschlagen. Sobald die Masse schaumig aussieht, den Zucker langsam einrieseln lassen und dabei weiter aufschlagen – die Masse sollte fest sein und glänzen. Die Baisermasse in einen Spritzbeutel mit Sterntülle füllen und die gesamte Oberfläche mit Tupfen bedecken. Mit einem Küchenbrenner das Baiser etwas bräunen (geht auch mit der Grillfuktion des Backofens). Sofort servieren.
Craving more? Keep in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for new post updates and more. You can also contact me with any questions or inquiries!
Here is a version of the recipe you can print easily.
PrintTarte au Citron Meringuée (Lemon Meringue Tart)
- Prep Time: 60
- Cook Time: 35
- Total Time: 600
Description
Delicious and famous French classic: Tarte au Citron Meringuée. A lemon tart with a silky sweet meringue topping. So good!
Ingredients
For the dough
- 5 oz. (140g) butter
- 3/4 cup (90g) confectioners’ sugar
- zest of 1 organic lemon
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (40g) ground almonds (blanched)
- 1 3/4 (230g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 tsp. rosemary, chopped
- pinch of salt
- 1 medium egg
- 1 medium egg yolk
For the lemon cream
- 4 large organic lemons (about 5 fl. oz.)
- 4 medium eggs
- 1 1/4 cups (150g) confectioners’ sugar
- 1/4 cup (60g) butter
For the meringue
- 3 medium egg whites
- 3.5 oz. (100g) confectioners’ sugar
Instructions
- Add the butter and confectioners’ sugar to a large bowl and mix until light and fluffy. Add the lemon zest, vanilla extract, and ground almonds and mix in. Mix the flour with rosemary, and salt and add together with the egg and egg yolk to the bowl. Mix until the dough starts coming together. Shape into a ball, flatten, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge overnight.
- Roll out the dough on a floured surface and transfer to an 9 inches (23cm) tart tin with loose bottom. Press into the tin and cut off overlapping dough. The dough should stick out slightly over the edge cause it will sink down a bit while baking. Prick with a fork several times and place in the fridge for another hour.
- Preheat the oven to 390°F (180°C). Place a piece of baking parchment on the dough and fill with baking beans. Blind bake the tart base for 18-20 minutes. Take out of the oven and let cool down. In case the edges are a bit uneven, trim immediately with a sharp knife.
- Wash the lemons, dry and zest. Get the juices out of the lemons (you need about 5 fl.oz. and add together with the lemon zest, eggs, and confectioners’ sugar to a saucepan. Stir constantly and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. As soon as the mixture thickens and bubbles up, remove from the heat and stir another 1-2 minutes, then add the butter and stir until melted completely. Pour the filling into the pre-baked and cooled crust and let sit for about 15 minutes so the filling can develop a little skin.
- Preheat the oven to 270°F (130°C). Bake the taste for 15 Minutes. It should not brown or anything. Take out and let cool down completely.
- For the meringue add the egg whites to a large bowl and whisk until foamy, then gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and mix on high speed until the meringue is thick and glossy. Fill into a piping bag with a star tip and decorate the cooled tart with it. Use a blow torch and brown the meringue a bit (you can also use the grill in your oven). Serve immediately.
Notes
- Enjoy baking!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10