Individual Lemon Meringue Pie

Lemon meringue pie was a real treat when I was growing up and still is one of my favourite desserts, these individual pies are designed for the smaller family or greedy couple… My wife and I are the latter!

Individual Lemon Meringue Pie.

As a child Lemon Meringue pie was always a special treat. As a result, it still very much feels that way today.

My version breaks down a classic lemon meringue pie recipe and turns it into individual tarts. But by all means, you could turn this into a large pie should you wish.

I am often frustrated by dessert recipes I find online because they are huge. Often developed for 6-8 people rarely for four and heaven forbid for two.

This recipe serves four but you can make split it up and make two tarts on one day and then make up two tarts on another day.

However, the key to achieving this is to ensure that you do not leave the lemon mix in the tart case overnight as it will go soggy.

Retro Dessert Recipes.

Desserts are typically a rarity in our house as regular readers will know. However, that does not mean I am averse to the odd sweet treat or two.

These mini lemon meringue pies are very similar to many of my recipes in that they are heavily inspired by food memories.

Retro food plays an unashamedly huge part in my diet. This lemon meringue pie recipe joins other classics like bread and butter pudding, Sticky toffee pudding, and rice pudding.

When it comes to dessert recipes I want to feel wrapped up in nostalgia. These individual lemon meringue tarts definitely do that.

How To Make Italian Meringue.

Growing up my Mum would always put the lemon meringue pie in the oven to cook with a classic meringue.

However, I prefer an Italian meringue. Not least because it means I get to play with my non cheffy blow torch, seriously it is a plumbers torch, but also because it is my favourite meringue.

Italian meringue, when done well, has that almost melted marshmallow texture.

Obviously, that is a very good thing!

But also ‘cooking’ it with a blow torch means that you get the inevitable scorched parts on the meringue. 

You just don’t get that in the oven and it adds a lovely bitterness which balances the sweet and sour.

Making Italian Meringue does require a little more work than a traditional meringue. You need to make a sugar syrup cooking it to a rolling boil, so you need a sugar thermometer.

But in reality, it is a case of standing there and removing a pan from the stove when the thermometer reaches temperature.

Trust me it is well worth this little extra effort!

How to Make A Balanced Lemon Dessert.

Whilst I am on the subject of balance every aspect of a lemon meringue pie is equally important.

You need the sharpness of the lemon to match up to the sweetness of the meringue.

In many ways, each component should be a little ‘too much’ on their own. Relying on each other to create a zen-like level of balance in the dish.

Individual Lemon Meringue Pie

Yield: 4 Pies

Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Lemon meringue pie was a real treat when I was growing up and still is one of my favourite deserts, these individual pies are designed for the smaller family or greedy couple... My wife and I are the latter 😉

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Ingredients

For the Pastry:

• 225 g Flour
• 175 g Butter
• 50 g Powdered Sugar
• 1 Large Egg

For the Lemon Custard:

• 3 Egg Yolks
• 125 g Sugar
• 3 Lemons, Zest and Juice
• 35 g Cornflour, Cornstarch in the US
• 225 ml Water

For the Meringue:

• 175 g Sugar
• 90 ml Water
• 3 Egg Whites

Instructions

1. Begin by bringing together the ingredients for the flour and butter for the pastry, I find a food processor good for this.
2. Add in the egg and powdered sugar and blitz until a ball is formed, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 minutes.
3. After the pastry has chilled roll out to 3mm-4mm thick on a floured work surface.
4. Cut out a circle wide enough to fill your four tart cases with lots of overhang. 
5. Now line your cases (4X 10cm) using a spare bit of pastry to push into the corners without stretching the pastry too much.
6. Return to the refrigerator for another 30 minutes to chill.
7. Heat your oven to 180°C 350°F before lining your pie cases with baking parchment and pouring in some baking beans.
8. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the parchment and beans and bake for another 5 minutes.
9. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before trimming the excess pastry and turning the oven down to 170°C or 340°F
10. Bring the 225ml of water to the boil on the stove and whilst it is coming to temperature whisk together the cornflour, lemon zest and lemon juice.
11. When your water is boiling reduce the heat and whisk in the cornflour and lemon mix until it begins to thicken, this should take 2-3 minutes.
12. When this is done whisk together the egg yolks and sugar for the lemon custard and pour in a little of the hot lemon mix to loosen.
13. Now pour the loose egg mix into the the lemon and cornflour mix and keep on whisking for 3-4 minutes.
14. Decant this lemon mixture into your pie cases and make for 15 minutes or until set.
15. Finally we are going to make an Italian meringue, put 90ml of water and 180g of flour in a pan and bring to a rolling boil, or soft ball as it is known. You will need a sugar thermometer for this and cook until it reaches 117°C or 240°F.
16. Whisk this is happening whisk your egg whites.
17. Once your sugar syrup reaches temperature pour it into the egg whites as they are being whisked and continue to whisk on high until they cool.
18. Place into a piping bag and pipe onto your pies.
19. Place under a grill to caramilise or use a blow torch, I prefer the latter because... Well it's a blow torch... RAH!

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 947 Total Fat: 41g Saturated Fat: 24g Trans Fat: 1g Unsaturated Fat: 14g Cholesterol: 279mg Sodium: 353mg Carbohydrates: 137g Fiber: 3g Sugar: 89g Protein: 13g

Calorific details are provided by a third-party application and are to be used as indicative figures only.