For me, a lemon tart has to be all about the zing and tang of the lemons - that little shock you get when you take the first bite. I like to use Lisbon or Eureka lemons because they have high acidity levels. If you want a softer lemon flavour, try using Meyer lemons, which are a hybrid with lower acidity - you may need to adjust the sugar content accordingly. This recipe uses only the juice in the filling, but you can wash the lemons well, finely grate the rind and then rub it into the sugar for extra lemony flavour.
The filling is a custard of eggs, lemon juice, sugar and crème fraîche. I use whole eggs to give the finished tart a glassy or transparent look, and crème fraîche rather than cream because I like the flavour - it has the same fat percentage as pouring cream so you can substitute pouring or thickened cream if you prefer.
It's really important to seal the pastry well to prevent any seepage during cooking, and to trim the pastry soon after cooking. Let the tart cool in the tin before removing it, or it will crack.
Tip 1: To make the custard, mix sugar and eggs, then let the mixture stand
To make the custard, you need to mix the sugar and eggs, then let the mixture stand until the sugar dissolves completely - the mixture will be cloudy at first, then become glassy as the sugar dissolves. I use superfine caster sugar because it dissolves easily, and stir the mixture rather than whisk it to avoid creating air bubbles. Let it stand for around half an hour, stirring occasionally, to ensure the sugar dissolves properly, then stir in the lemon juice and crème fraîche.
I add a little of the runny egg mixture to the crème fraîche first to thin it and to make sure there are no lumps. Transfer the mixture to a jug for easy pouring and when you're ready to fill the tart, skim the air bubbles from the surface.
Tip 2: For the pastry, use a little less butter than usual
For this tart, I use a sweet pastry with less butter than usual to make the pastry easier to handle. A rich shortcrust pastry would get fatty around the edges, and I prefer a pastry that doesn't compete with the creamy filling - a pastry that's crisp and snappy. I add a little water to the dough to make it a bit elastic so it's easier to work with and you get a nice crisp finish.
Tip 3: Rest the pastry before rolling
Rest the pastry in the refrigerator after mixing it to give the flour time to hydrate and to relax the gluten; it also firms the butter, making the pastry easier to roll. Take it out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before you start rolling so it's easier to manage - pastry can crumble and crack if it's too cold. Roll it out to a large round and trim some excess but leave it still larger than your tart tin so there's plenty to hang over the edges. The pastry needs to be docked or pricked to stop it puffing up during baking, but don't be too vigorous - you don't want to create large holes.
Tip 4: Use pastry trimmings to "push" the pastry to the edges of the tin
Line the tin with the pastry, then roll the trimmings into a ball and use it to push the pastry case neatly into the edges of the tin (fingers don't conform with the edges as well). I leave the pastry overhanging to make it easier to fill the tart to the top, and I trim the edges off after the tart's baked. This also prevents the filling from spilling between the pastry and the tin, which would make the tart stick.
Tip 5: Dried chickpeas make the best baking weights
For blind-baking, I use a double layer of foil, because it's durable and you can get it to fit neatly into the sides of the case.
Dried chickpeas are the best baking weights - they're less messy than rice. The key to blind-baking is to cook the pastry thoroughly, until it's evenly golden brown because once you add the filling the pastry won't cook any further. I bake my pastry at a relatively low temperature to ensure it browns evenly from top to bottom.
Tip 6: Patch over any cracks in the pastry case
When the tart case is cooked, remove it from the oven and use thin pieces of pastry trimmings to patch up any cracks, then brush it lightly with eggwhite to seal it further. Return it to the oven briefly, then allow it to cool completely to set the pastry. This helps to prevent it absorbing moisture from the filling.
Tip 7: Half-fill the tart with custard
Half-fill the tart with the custard, then transfer it to the centre rack of the oven before you fill it right to the top - this prevents spills and makes it easier to slide the tart into the oven. Bake it at a low temperature, checking and rotating it halfway through cooking to ensure it cooks evenly, until it's set but still has a bit of a wobble in the centre. The best way to check this is to nudge the pan gently.
Tip 8: Trim the tart while it's still warm
Set the cooked tart aside for just five minutes to cool slightly, then trim the pastry edges with a knife. You need to do this while the tart is still warm, before the pastry firms, to prevent it from cracking. Cool the tart in the tin for 2 hours to make it more stable, then remove it (leaving it in the tin much longer will make the pastry soggy).
Tip 9: Let the tart cool in the tin, and it eat it on the day it's made
Let the tart cool in the tin before removing it, or it will crack. The tart is best eaten on the day it's made and shouldn't be refrigerated, so bake it early in the day and allow time for it to rest before serving.
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Lemon tart recipe
Serves 12
35 mins preparation | 1 hr 30 mins cooking plus resting, chilling
35 mins preparation | 1 hr 30 mins cooking plus resting, chilling
It's really important to seal the pastry well to prevent any seepage during cooking, and to trim the pastry soon after cooking.