This delightful lemon meringue pie offers a gentle yet satisfying lemon flavor, avoiding the overpowering tartness that sometimes characterizes lemon-based desserts. It features a buttery, flaky crust, a creamy lemon filling with just the right hint of lemon zest, and is crowned with a soft, fluffy meringue. The pie is baked until golden and finished with a light torching of the meringue to achieve a slightly crispy top. This pie is perfect for those who appreciate the essence of lemon in a more subtle form.
Why You'll Love This:
- Gentle Lemon Flavor: The filling offers a soft, delicate taste of lemon.
- Flaky, Buttery Crust: Provides a delicious contrast to the creamy filling.
- Soft Meringue Topping: Adds a sweet and light texture.
- Perfect Balance: Not too tart, not too sweet, just right for all palates.
- Beautiful Presentation: The torched meringue adds an elegant touch.
Ingredients: For the Crust:
- 190 g all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 130 g unsalted butter
- 1 egg
- A pinch of salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or paste
For the Lemon Cream:
- 150 g sugar
- 3 medium or large eggs
- 200 g butter, cut into cubes
- Zest of half a lemon
- ¼ cup natural squeezed lemon juice
For the Meringue:
- 3 egg whites
- ¾ cup sugar
Instructions:
For the Crust:
- Mix flour, sugar, butter, egg, salt, and vanilla extract in a mixer bowl. Blend until the mixture becomes like wet sand.
- Form a dough ball, flatten, wrap, and freeze for 30 minutes.
- Roll out, fit into a pie pan, and bake at 170°C for 10 minutes with weights, then 15 minutes without, until golden. Cool.
For the Lemon Cream:
- In a small pot, combine sugar, eggs, butter, lemon zest, and juice. Cook over medium heat, constantly stirring to avoid curdling.
- Cook for 10-15 minutes until thickened, transfer to a bowl, and cool.
For the Meringue:
- In a double boiler (bain-marie), whisk egg whites and sugar until sugar dissolves (4-5 minutes).
- Transfer to a mixer and whip to stable peaks.
- Spread over the chilled pie, torch lightly, and garnish with crushed pistachios.
If you prefer a stronger lemon taste, simply add more lemon zest or juice.
Store refrigerated and enjoy! Share your results with me ❤️