Home

Lemon Tart

17/11/2023

Here is the recipe for lemon tart, a classic Italian dessert that combines the sweetness of the shortcrust pastry shell with the freshness of a lemon cream:

Ingredients

For the shortcrust pastry:

  • 250 g of type 00 flour
  • 125 g of cold butter, cubed
  • 100 g of icing sugar
  • 1 large whole egg + 1 yolk
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • A pinch of salt

For the lemon cream (Lemon curd):

  • 4 lemons (juice and grated zest)
  • 200 g of sugar
  • 100 g of butter
  • 3 whole eggs + 1 yolk

Preparation

For the shortcrust pastry:

  1. In a bowl, rub the flour with the cold butter, working with your fingertips until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs.
  2. Add the icing sugar, grated lemon zest, and a pinch of salt, mix.
  3. Add the whole egg and the yolk and work the ingredients until a homogeneous dough forms.
  4. Form a dough ball, wrap it in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Roll the dough out into an even layer and line a previously buttered and floured tart mold.
  6. Prick the bottom with a fork, cover with parchment paper and dried beans (or pie weights) and bake blind at 180 °C for about 15 minutes.
  7. Remove the weights and paper and bake for another 5-10 minutes until golden brown.
  8. Let the base cool before adding the lemon cream.

For the Lemon curd:

  1. Wash and grate the lemon zests, avoiding the white part, and squeeze their juice.
  2. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the butter together with the sugar, zest, and lemon juice.
  3. Whisk the eggs and yolk and strain them into a bowl, then gradually pour into the saucepan with the lemon mixture.
  4. Continue to stir over low heat until the cream thickens, leaving a trail on the wooden spoon.
  5. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly, then pour the cream over the shortcrust pastry base.
  6. Let cool completely before serving.

Fun Facts

Lemon tart is often enriched with an Italian or French meringue, which is then browned in the oven or with a kitchen torch, offering a pleasant contrast of textures and flavors.

Happy cooking and, above all, enjoy your meal!

Lemon Tart