Lemon Chess Meringue Pie
- Pie dough, recipe follows
- 5 large egg whites
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 pinches salt
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1/2 cup white chocolate shavings, garnish
- Remove the prepared pie dough from the refrigerator and place on a lightly floured surface.
- Roll out the pastry to a large round, about 12-inches in diameter.
- Transfer to a 9-inch pie pan, trim the edges to within 1/2-inch of the pan, and crimp decoratively.
- Refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line the shell with parchment paper and fill with pie weights.
- Bake for 10 minutes.
- Remove the paper and bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack.
- In a small bowl, beat 1 egg white and brush over the bottom of the crust to seal.
- Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
- Combine the whole eggs, 1 1/2 cups of the sugar and a pinch of salt in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until thick and pale.
- Beat in the cream, juice, butter, cornmeal, zest and nutmeg.
- Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake until the custard is just set, 35 to 40 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and leave the oven on.
- While the pie is baking, make the meringue.
- In a large, clean bowl using clean beaters, beat the remaining 4 egg whites with the cream of tartar and a pinch of salt with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
- Beating constantly, slowly add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar until glossy, stiff peaks form, being careful not to over beat, as this will make it difficult to spread.
- Using a rubber spatula, spread the meringue evenly over the pie filling, smoothing out to the pastry edges so the meringue won't draw up or weep during baking.
- With a dull knife make decorative peaks in the meringue.
- Bake until the meringue is golden, 14 to 15 minutes.
- Transfer the pie to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Garnish the top of the pie with the white chocolate shavings, cut into wedges and serve.
- 11/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces and chilled
- 2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
- 3 to 5 tablespoons ice water, as needed
- Sift the flour, sugar and salt into a large bowl.
- Add the butter and shortening.
- Rub the fats between your fingertips and thumbs, or use a pastry blender, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- One tablespoon at a time, work in enough ice water until the dough comes together, being careful not to overmix or the crust will be tough.
- Shape into a smooth ball of dough, flatten into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap.
- Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, and up to 2 days.
- Yield: 1 (9 or 10-inch) piecrust
pie, egg whites, eggs, sugar, salt, heavy cream, lemon juice, butter, yellow cornmeal, lemon zest, nutmeg, cream of tartar, white chocolate shavings
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/lemon-chess-meringue-pie-recipe.html (may not work)