Shaker Lemon Tart

Name: Shaker Lemon Tart
Total time: 3 h
Yield: 8 to 12 servings
Ingredients: 2 lemons, preferably Meyer; 1 3/4 cups sugar; 3 eggs; 3 tablespoons pastry or all-purpose flour; 6 tablespoons salted butter, melted; 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3/4 teaspoon sugar; 15 tablespoons unsalted butter (almost 2 sticks), very cold and cut into 1/4-inch cubes; 1/2 cup ice-cold water; 1 tablespoons milk

Recipe from Alice Waters

Adapted by Christine Muhlke

Shaker Lemon Tart — Craig Lee for The New York Times

Total Time: About 1 hour 30 minutes, plus 45 minutes' freezing and refrigeration, and overnight sitting
Rating: 4(407)
Comments: Read comments

This uncomplicated lemon pie is a variation of one attributed to the Shakers, a religious community best known for their simple living philosophy and exquisitely designed furniture. It is said that Shaker cooks waste nothing, and if that is true, this tart is a perfect example of that ethos. The entire lemon (minus the seeds) is used – sliced thinly and macerated with plenty of sugar overnight – then baked with eggs and melted butter in a soft, flaky pastry. The end result is delicately-flavored and bright without the lip-puckering quality of most lemon desserts.

(This recipe calls for Meyer lemons, which are milder than standard lemons, but the traditional variety will do – the thinner-skinned the better.) —Christine Muhlke

Featured in: Shaker Lemon Tart

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Ingredients

Yield:8 to 12 servings

For the Filling

2lemons, preferably Meyer
1¾cups sugar
3eggs
3tablespoons pastry or all-purpose flour
6tablespoons salted butter, melted

For the Pastry

2½cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
½teaspoon salt
¾teaspoon sugar
15tablespoons unsalted butter (almost 2 sticks), very cold and cut into ¼-inch cubes
½cup ice-cold water
1tablespoons milk

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
The day before serving, prepare the filling. Wash and dry the lemons. Freeze them for 10 minutes and then slice them as finely as you can using a mandoline, meat slicer or very sharp knife. As you slice, pull out and discard any seeds. Place the lemons in a mixing bowl and toss with the sugar. Cover with a dish towel and set on the counter overnight.
Step 2
The next day, prepare the pastry: combine the flour, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using a fork or pastry cutter, work half of the butter into the flour until it resembles coarse meal. Quickly work the remaining butter into the dough until the biggest pieces are the size of lima beans. Drizzle in the water in several additions, tossing and mixing between each. (It should look rather ropy and rough.) Stop adding water when a few bits of dry flour remain in the bottom of the bowl; do not overwork the dough or it will become tough. Gather the dough into 2 balls and wrap each tightly with plastic wrap, then flatten into disks. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
Step 3
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Unwrap a disk of dough, place between two sheets of plastic wrap and roll into a 9-inch circle, ⅛-inch thick. Trim the excess dough. Lay it on a cookie sheet, cover and refrigerate. Roll the second disk into an 11-inch circle, ⅛-inch thick. Trim the excess dough. Gently place the larger circle in a 9-inch tart pan, letting the excess dough rise up the sides (do not trim). Cover and refrigerate until needed.
Step 4
Using your hands, mix the eggs, flour and butter into the lemon-sugar mixture, squeezing the lemons as you mix. Pour the mixture into the dough-lined tart pan to just below the pan’s rim. Using the point of a paring knife, carve 4 to 6 holes in the crust of the small dough circle. Lay it on top of the filling. Roughly fold the edges of the bottom crust over the top circle. Brush with milk. Bake for 30 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for 20 minutes more. Cool completely before serving.

Ratings

4 out of 5

407 user ratings

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Comments

Philip7 years ago

In Step 2, the dough should divided so that the larger disk is 1.5X the smaller. Gather all of the dough into a log shape. With a knife, score the top of the dough to mark off 5 equal portions. Cut the log into a 3-portion piece, and a 2-portion piece. Flatten into two disks, etc.

Jennifer7 years ago

I have made this several times and it is a winner but I choose now to put the macerated lemons in the food processor and pulse them until the peel is well broken down, becoming part of the pulp and juice. Then I add the eggs and flour and finish the pie. I use the Foolproof Pie Dough recipe from Cook's Illustrated (vodka) which works fine. Everybody adores this recipe! The Shakers never wasted anything, no doubt why the peel is included? Good luck everyone!

Julie7 years ago

No, peel and all. That's why it's important to slice thinly. Intense lemon flavor and rich pastry, decadent!

Dave2 months ago

Really pleased with the pie. My only suggestion is to put a baking sheet under the pie to catch drips. Got a little smoky in my place when I was baking this.... :-(

CaliRMG4 months ago

I wondered if store bough pie crust worked. I see one commenter recommended that. Has anyone else had success?

devorah4 months ago

Made this tart, is it suppose to have a little bit of a bitter bite, like a marmalade? Or be completely sweet? Not sure?

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