Afters

There are different ways to make a lemon tart. At Bouchon, the French Laundry, and Per Se, they use a sabayon method, in which the eggs are first cooked with the lemon juice and sugar over hot water, then the butter is gradually incorporated — an easy method that results in a consistently good lemon custard or curd. The crust is made with sweet and nutty pine nuts. The perfect balance for the rich, tart custard.

Ingredients

  • Butter and flour for the tart pan
  • ⅓ Pine Nut Crust recipe (see below)
  • Lemon Sabayon:
  • 2 large eggs, cold
  • 2 large egg yolks, cold
  • ¾ cup sugar
  • ½ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 6 tbsp. (85gms. or 3 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces
alt

Method

  1. For the crust:
    Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Generously butter and flour a 23cm (9”) fluted tart pan with a removable bottom and refrigerate it while the oven preheats.
  2. Remove the tart pan from the refrigerator. Use your fingertips to press the chilled pine nut dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Trim off any excess dough.
  3. Bake the crust for 10 to 15 minutes, then rotate it and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Remove the crust from the oven and let it cool while you make the filling. (There may be some cracks in the crust; they will not affect the finished tart).
  4. For the sabayon:
    Bring about ~4cms. (1½”) of water to a boil in a pot that is slightly smaller than the diameter of the bowl you will be using for the sabayon. Meanwhile, in a large metal bowl, whisk the eggs, yolks, and sugar for about 1 minute, or until the mixture is smooth.
  5. Set the bowl over the pot and, using a large whisk, whip the mixture while you turn the bowl (for even heating). After about 2 minutes, when the eggs are foamy and have thickened, add one-third of the lemon juice. Continue to whisk vigorously and, when the mixture thickens again, add another one-third of the lemon juice. Whisk until the mixture thickens again, then add the remaining lemon juice. Continue whisking vigorously, still turning the bowl, until the mixture is thickened and light in colour and the whisk leaves a trail in the bottom of the bowl. The total cooking time should be 8 to 10 minutes.
  6. Turn off the heat and leave the bowl over the water. Whisk in the butter one piece at a time. The sabayon may loosen slightly, but it will thicken and set as it cools. Pour the warm sabayon into the tart crust and place the pan on a baking sheet.
  7. Preheat the oven grill. Let the sabayon cool at room temperature for 10-15 minutes. Then place the tart under the grill and watch it like a hawk! Brown the top of the sabayon, rotating the tart if necessary for even colour; this will take only a few seconds, so do not leave the oven. Remove the tart from the grill and let it sit for at least 1 hour before serving.

PINE NUT CRUST

To serve

Serve at room temperature or cold, with a dollop of crème fraiche.

Makes enough dough for 3 crusts

Because this dough uses only one egg, it’s difficult to make in a smaller quantity. Freeze the extra dough for another time.

Ingredients

  • 280gms. (10 ounces or 2 cups) pine nuts
  • ⅓ cup sugar
  • 450gms. (1lb. or 3 cups) all-purpose flour
  • 225gms. (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

Method

  1. Place the pine nuts in a food processor and pulse a few times. Add the sugar and flour and continue to pulse until the nuts are finely ground. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl.
  2. Add the butter, egg, and vanilla extract and mix to incorporate all the ingredients (the dough can be mixed by hand or in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment). Divide the dough into three equal parts. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes before using. The extra dough can be frozen, wrapped well, for up to 1 month.