A SWEET START
Tarte au Citron (Lemon tart)
Ingredients Pastry
1 1/2 cups of plain flour
125g of butter, cubed
1/2 a cup of icing sugar, sifted
2 egg yolks
2 tbsp of cold water
Lemon Filling
1/3 of a cup of fresh lemon juice
1/2 a cup of caster sugar
1 cup (250ml) of thickened cream
2 eggs
3 egg yolks
Method
To make the pastry, rub together flour and butter until fine crumbs form. Add the icing sugar, egg yolks and two tablespoons of cold water. Mix together until the dough forms. With your hand turn out on to a lightly floured surface and knead for a minute or two and then roll into a flat disc shape about 1 inch thick. Wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 45 minutes.
Pre-heat oven to 180 C (350F). Remove the pastry from fridge and place between two sheets of baking paper and roll flat to about 1/4 of an inch thick. Place in a lightly greased fluted tart tin that has a loose base. Make sure that the pastry is slightly over the edge of the tart tin and trim edges with a knife. Prick the base all over with a fork. Cover the pastry case with baking paper and blind bake using pastry weights or dried beans or rice. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Remove baking weights and bake for another 5 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool while you prepare the lemon filling.
To make lemon filling, combine the cream, sugar, eggs, egg yolks and lemon juice and whisk until smooth. Carefully pour the lemon filling in to the cooled pastry case.
Reduce the oven temperature to 140 C (280 F) and very carefully place the tart in the oven (you can place in a flat baking tray if easier). Bake for 30-35 minutes until filling is set. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Sprinkle with a little extra icing sugar and serve. Enjoy!