Luscious Lemon Tart

A gifted copy of The River Café Cookbook from her sister after they dined there in August ‘98’ inspired Kathy Paterson and she’s been making their stupendous Lemon Tart ever since.  The original is a much larger tart (30cm) and Kathy’s method is slightly different. Kathy says this is a great recipe for those with laying hens and she recommends freezing the unused egg whites or making meringues.

Serves 8

For the pastry

175g ( 1 ½ cups) plain flour

a pinch of salt

90g cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

60g ( ½ cup) icing sugar

2 large egg yolks or 3 smaller egg yolks

For the filling

150g ( ¾ cup) caster sugar

finely grated zest and juice of 4 tart lemons

3 large whole eggs

4 egg yolks (from large eggs)

150g unsalted butter, cut in half

Make the pastry, place the flour, salt and butter in a food processor and process until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the icing sugar and process quickly, then add the egg yolks. Process until the mixture begins to come together. Tip out onto the bench top and bring together in a ball. Flatten and wrap. Place in the fridge for about 1 hour to chill.

Meanwhile, heat the oven to 180C.  Place a flat baking tray in the oven to heat.

Using a coarse grater, grate the pastry into a 20cm loose-bottom fluted tart tin. Press the pastry on to the sides and base. Prick the base with a fork making sure you don’t go all the way to the tin base. Line the pastry case with crumpled baking paper and fill with baking beans or rice. Place in the oven (on the hot tray) and bake blind for 20-25 minutes until light brown. Remove from the oven and remove the beans or rice and paper. Return to the oven and bake until the pastry base looks dry. If necessary, cover pastry case with a piece of baking paper to prevent browning too quickly. Remove from the oven and leave to cool.

Make the lemon filling, place the sugar, lemon zest and juice in a medium-sized, heavy-based saucepan. Lightly whisk the eggs together in a bowl, then sieve into the saucepan. (This removes any chalaza that clings to the yolks). Place over a low heat and whisk until the sugar dissolves.

Add half the butter and continue to whisk until the mixture starts to cook and thicken. Once thick add the remaining butter and continue to whisk or stir until the mixture is thick. Continuous whisking prevents curdling. Remove from the heat and whisk until lukewarm.

Increase the oven temperature to 230C.

Spoon the lemon filling into the pastry case to completely fill. (Any excess lemon filling can be stored, well covered in the fridge and used as a spread). Place in the oven and bake until the top is brown, about 10 minutes, but keep an eye out.  I like the top quite brown and it doesn’t seem to upset the lemon filling.

Serve warm or cold with whipped or runny cream.

Tips

• Rice for baking blind can be cooled completely and stored for many more uses to come.

• Use a tart lemon variety for a good lemon flavour.

• Don’t allow the lemon mixture to get too hot or boil as it will curdle.

 This delicious tart is from Kathy Paterson’s cookbook ‘Meat and Three’ to purchase a copy visit Kathy’s website.