Lemon Meringue Pie For Two Recipes

THE BEST LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• For the pie crust: Pulse the flour, shortening, sugar, salt and vinegar in a food processor until the mixture looks like damp sand, about 10 pulses. Add the butter and pulse until you can still see large pea-sized pieces. Sprinkle in 3 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough begins to come together. Pinch the dough; if it doesn't hold together, add up to 3 more tablespoons ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough holds together when pinched. Lay out a sheet of plastic wrap and dump the dough onto the plastic. Using the edges of the plastic, press the dough into a disc. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and preferably overnight. (Freeze up to 2 months.)
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough out into a 13-inch round. Place in a 9-inch pie dish, gently pressing the dough into the edges and letting the excess dough drape over the sides. Refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Trim any excess dough with a paring knife and crimp the edges decoratively or press them down with the tines of a fork. Prick the dough on the bottom all over with a fork. Place a sheet of parchment paper inside the dough and fill with pie weights or uncooked rice or beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Carefully remove the parchment and weights and bake until the crust is deep golden brown on the edges and lightly golden in the center, 10 to 12 minutes more. Let the crust cool to room temperature.
• For the filling: Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium saucepan. Add the lemon juice and 1 1/2 cups water and whisk to combine. Whisk the egg yolks in a separate medium bowl. Place the sugar mixture over medium heat and cook, continuing to gently whisk, until the mixture begins to bubble and is extremely thick. Temper the eggs yolks by slowly adding half of the hot sugar mixture to the yolks while constantly whisking. Add the tempered yolks to the saucepan and return to the heat. Bring the mixture back to a simmer and cook, stirring constantly with a rubber spatula, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and lemon zest until completely melted and incorporated. Pour the filling directly into the pie crust and cover with plastic wrap pressed directly against the surface of the filling (see Cook's Note). Refrigerate while you make the meringue.
• For the meringue: Add the egg whites to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment along with the sugar, cream of tartar and salt. Whisk together to combine. Place the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture feels hot to the touch. Transfer the bowl to the mixer and add the vanilla. Whisk on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Remove the plastic wrap from the pie and gently mound the meringue on top of the filling. Use an offset spatula to make sure the meringue completely covers the filling and meets the crust all around the edges. (This will seal in the filling and help prevent weeping.) Use the offset spatula to create swirls and peaks in the meringue. Toast the meringue using a kitchen torch or broil in the oven until golden brown, keeping an eye on the meringue if broiling, 1 to 2 minutes. Refrigerate the pie until the filling is completely cool and set, about 4 hours.

GRANDMA'S LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• To Make Lemon Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together 1 cup sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt. Stir in water, lemon juice and lemon zest. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until mixture comes to a boil. Stir in butter. Place egg yolks in a small bowl and gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of hot sugar mixture. Whisk egg yolk mixture back into remaining sugar mixture. Bring to a boil and continue to cook while stirring constantly until thick. Remove from heat. Pour filling into baked pastry shell.
• To Make Meringue: In a large glass or metal bowl, whip egg whites until foamy. Add sugar gradually, and continue to whip until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over pie, sealing the edges at the crust.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until meringue is golden brown.

CLASSIC LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening until crumbly. Gradually add 3 tablespoons cold water, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball. , Roll out dough to fit a 9-in. pie plate. Transfer crust to pie plate. Trim to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Bake at 425° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned., Place egg whites in a large bowl; let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, flour and salt. Gradually stir in water until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. , Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot filling into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in butter and lemon zest. Gradually stir in lemon juice just until combined. Pour into the crust., For meringue, in a saucepan, combine 2 tablespoons sugar and cornstarch. Gradually stir in cold water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture is clear. Transfer to a bowl; cool., Beat egg whites and vanilla until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat in cornstarch mixture on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Spread evenly over hot filling, sealing edge to crust., Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until the meringue is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack for 1 hour. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before serving. Refrigerate leftovers.

SMALL LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
• Scatter the shortening over the flour mixture and use a fork to mash it in. The mixture will resemble coarse sand.
• Add the chilled butter over the course flour mixture and use a fork to mash it in.
• Sprinkle the ice water over the dough half tablespoon at a time.
• Press the dough together. Stop adding ice water once the dough has come together.
• Flatten the dough and shape it into a disk. Wrap the dough disk tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 C).
• Roll out the dough 1 inch larger than the pan and place it into a 6 inch pie pan. Click for a 6 inch pie pan.
• Pinch the edges for a decorative look, if desired.
• Prick the pie shell with fork, lightly. Bake for 10 minutes or until light golden. Remove from oven, let cool while you mix the filling ingredients.
• Lower the oven heat to 325 degrees F (160 C).
• Whisk the egg yolk in a medium bowl and set aside.
• In a medium-sized saucepan, add the 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 cup water, and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil on medium heat, whisking constantly. Let simmer for a minute or two until the mixture begins to thicken, and then remove from the heat and allow to cool for a couple minutes.
• Take a small spoonful of the cornstarch mixture and whisk it into the beaten egg yolk to temper the yolk. Continue to whisk in spoonfuls of the cornstarch mixture until you've used about half of the cornstarch mixture.
• Then add the egg yolk mixture back to the pot with the cornstarch. Return to a boil, on medium heat, stirring constantly. Cook 3 to 4 minutes.
• Remove from heat and stir in the lemon juice and butter.
• Pour the filling into the pre-baked pie shell.
• In a regular bowl or stand mixer bowl, add the egg white. Beat with mixer until soft peaks form.
• Add sugar and vanilla. Beat until stiff peaks form.
• Pour the meringue on top of the pie filling. Spread it out to reach the crust on all sides.
• Use a spatula or spoon and make peaks or swirls.
• Bake in the 325 degree F (160 C) oven, about 20 minutes, or until the meringue peaks are a light brown and set.
• Cool completely on a wire rack before serving or the filling may not be set. Click for a wire cooling rack.

ULTIMATE LEMON MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• For the pastry, put the plain flour, butter, icing sugar, egg yolk (save the white for the meringue) and 1 tbsp cold water into a food processor. Pulse until the mix starts to bind - make sure the mix is not overworked.
• Tip the pastry onto a lightly floured surface, gather together until smooth, then roll out and line a 23 x 2.5cm loose-bottom fluted flan tin. Trim and neaten the edges. Press pastry into the flutes. The pastry is quite rich, so don't worry if it cracks, just press it back together. Prick the base with a fork, line with foil, shiny side down, and chill for 30 mins-1 hr (or overnight).
• Put a baking sheet in the oven and heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Bake the pastry case 'blind' (filled with dry beans) for 15 mins, then remove the foil and bake a further 5-8 mins until the pastry is pale golden and cooked. Set aside. Can be done a day ahead. Lower the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• While the pastry bakes, prepare the filling. Mix the cornflour, golden caster sugar and lemon zest in a medium saucepan. Strain and stir in the lemon juice gradually. Make the orange juice up to 200ml with water and strain into the pan. Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and smooth.
• Once the mixture bubbles, remove from the heat and beat in the butter until melted. Beat the egg yolks (save white for meringue) and the whole egg together, stir into the pan and return to a medium heat. Keep stirring vigorously for a few minutes, until the mixture thickens and plops from the spoon. (It will bubble, but doesn't curdle.) Take off the heat and set aside while you make the meringue.
• Put the egg whites in a large bowl. Whisk to soft peaks, then add 100g of the golden caster sugar a spoonful at a time, whisking between each addition without overbeating. Whisk in the cornflour, then add the remaining 100g of sugar as before until smooth and thick.
• Quickly reheat the filling and pour it into the pastry case. Immediately put spoonfuls of meringue around the edge of the filling (if you start in the middle, the meringue may sink), then spread so it just touches the pastry (this will anchor it and help stop it sliding). Pile the rest into the centre, spreading so it touches the surface of the hot filling (and starts to cook), then give it all a swirl.
• Return to the oven for 18-20 mins until the meringue is crisp and slightly coloured. Let the pie sit in the tin for 30 mins, then remove and leave for at least another 30 mins-1 hr before slicing. Eat the same day.

LEMON MERINGUE PIE FOR TWO

Steps:

• For the crust and filling: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the miniature graham cracker pie crusts on a small baking sheet. Bake until light golden and toasted, about 8 minutes. Cool completely.
• Meanwhile, heat the sugar, cornstarch, lemon zest and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, whisking continuously, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture thickens, about 2 minutes. Remove from the heat.
• Whisk together the egg yolks and lemon juice in a medium bowl until smooth. While continuously whisking, slowly add the sugar syrup to the egg mixture until completely incorporated. This will temper the eggs without overcooking or scrambling them. Transfer back to the same small saucepan and return to the stove over medium heat. Cook, whisking continuously, until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like consistency, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, then whisk in the butter and vanilla until smooth.
• Spoon the filling into the pie crusts and smooth out the tops. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of each pie, pressing onto the filling so it doesn't create a "skin." Refrigerate until chilled through and completely set, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• For the meringue topping: Add the sugar, cream of tartar and egg white to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment and whisk to combine. Place the bowl over a small saucepan of simmering water, making sure the bottom of the bowl is not touching the water. Cook, whisking constantly, until the sugar is dissolved and the mixture feels hot to the touch, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the bowl to the mixer and whisk on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, 5 to 6 minutes. Whisk in the vanilla until combined. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a medium star tip.
• Remove the plastic wrap from the pies. Pipe the meringue evenly on top of each pie in a circular motion to create a large rosette, making sure to cover the filling completely. Toast the meringue using a kitchen torch or broil in the oven until golden brown, keeping an eye on the meringue if broiling, 1 to 2 minutes.