zoom Proper lemon meringue pie

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    Proper lemon meringue pie

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    Proper lemon meringue pie

    • Preparation time: 40 minutes plus 1 hour chilling
    • Cooking time: 35 minutes
    • Total time: 2 hours 15 minutes 60 minutes 60 minutes 15 minutes

    Serves: 6 - 8

    Ingredients

    For the pastry:
    250g plain flour 
    125g unsalted butter, fridge cold
    50g icing sugar
    1 medium Waitrose British Blacktail Free Range Egg yolk, beaten
    2 tbsp ice cold water

    For the filling:
    75g cornflour
    200g golden caster sugar
    6 unwaxed lemons, juiced and zested
    50g butter
    4 large egg yolks, reserving the whites for the meringue

    For the meringue:
    4 large egg whites
    200g golden caster sugar
    2 tsp cornflour

    Method

    1. Preheat oven 200°C, gas mark 6. Preheat a flat baking sheet.

    2. Place the flour and butter into the bowl of a food processor and pulse together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the icing sugar, egg yolk and one tablespoon of the cold water and pulse again. Add the remaining water and pulse until combined into a ball. Leave to rest for 30 minutes in the fridge.

    3. Tip the pastry onto a lightly floured work surface and roll out to a 3mm thickness. Use the rolling pin to lift the pastry up and transfer it to line a 23cm x 4 cm deep loose bottomed, straight-sided tart tin. Press gently into the corners and leave untrimmed. Place in the fridge to chill for at least 30 minutes.

    4. Take the pastry-lined tin out of the fridge, line the pastry with parchment and fill with baking beans. Place on top of the preheated baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes, then remove the beans and parchment and return to the oven for a further 5 minutes until golden. Remove from the oven and set aside.

    5. For the filling, mix the cornflour, sugar and lemon zest in a medium pan, blend in 350ml cold water and the lemon juice, strained through a sieve to remove the pulp and pips. Cook over a medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and smooth (about 4 minutes). Remove from the heat and beat in the butter until melted, followed by the egg yolks. Return to a medium heat, keep stirring vigorously for a few minutes, until the mixture thickens and bubbles, then set aside to cool while the meringue is made.

    6. Put the egg whites in a large bowl, beat with an electric whisk or stand mixer until stiff, add the sugar and cornflower slowly. Keep whisking until thick and glossy.

    7. Trim the pastry base and fill with the lemon curd. Top with meringue, starting at the edges and working in.

    8. Place back in the oven for 10 minutes until crisp and golden. Leave to cool completely.

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