Lemon Sabayon Tart With Pine-Nut Crust

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Place the pine nuts with three tablespoons of sugar in a food processor and process until finely ground. Transfer to a bowl and mix with the flour. Using your fingertips or pastry blender, work in four ounces of the butter, a scant two tablespoons of the beaten eggs and the vanilla to form a soft dough. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

2. Step 2

   Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 10-inch straight-sided tart pan.

3. Step 3

   Press the dough evenly into the pan and up its sides. Prick the bottom. Bake about 30 minutes, until the crust is golden. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

4. Step 4

   Select a large metal bowl that will fit partway into a saucepan. Put about one-and-a-half inches of water into the saucepan and bring to a simmer. Put the remaining beaten eggs, the egg yolks and the remaining sugar into the bowl and beat them using a whisk or a hand-held electric mixer. As the mixture begins to warm and thicken, add about a third of the lemon juice. Continue beating constantly, adding lemon juice as the mixture heats and thickens. The mixture should thicken to about the consistency of yogurt. Beat in the remaining butter. Take care that you do not overheat the mixture or the eggs will curdle.

5. Step 5

   Remove the sabayon from the heat and pour it into the cooled tart shell. Preheat the broiler. Broil the tart, watching it carefully, until the top is golden brown.

6. Step 6

   Refrigerate for one-and-a-half to two hours, or overnight, before serving.