Best Martha Stewart Lemon Tart Filling Recipes

THE BEST LEMON TART EVER

Steps:

• Combine butter, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer; mix ingredients thoroughly with a paddle attachment. Mix flour into butter mixture to make a smooth dough. Press dough into a 9-inch tart pan; refrigerate crust for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake crust until light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Whisk sugar, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup flour in a bowl until smooth. Pour lemon filling into crust. Cover edges of crust with strips of aluminum foil to prevent burning.
• Bake tart until filling is set, about 20 minutes. Cool completely and dust with confectioners' sugar.

MARBLED LEMON TART WITH SAGE-CORNMEAL CRUST

Steps:

• Sprinkle gelatin over cold water in a small bowl, and let stand until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Whisk together egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a large heatproof bowl. Gradually whisk in lemon juice. Place bowl over a saucepan of simmering water, and whisk constantly until mixture has thickened and registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Whisk in gelatin mixture. Remove from heat, and whisk in butter, a few pieces at a time, until smooth. Let cool, stirring occasionally. Prepare an ice-water bath. Place bowl of yolk mixture over bath, and stir until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes.
• Spread curd into crust; smooth top. Dollop creme fraiche on top. Using a wooden skewer or the tip of a knife, swirl creme fraiche into curd to create a marbleized effect. Refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours (or up to overnight).

LEMON CURD SOUFFLE TART

Steps:

• Crust: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together butter, sugar, and salt on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in egg yolk until smooth. Reduce speed to medium-low and beat in flour until smooth. Shape dough into a flat disk, tightly wrap in plastic, and refrigerate until firm, at least 45 minutes and up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Let chilled dough rest at room temperature to warm slightly, about 15 minutes. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to an approximate 11-inch round (if dough cracks, press back together and let stand a few minutes to warm and soften more). Transfer to a 9-by-1-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom, pressing into edges and trimming excess dough. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Place on a rimmed baking sheet, line dough with parchment, and fill with dried beans or pie weights.
• Bake until dough is set and dry on the bottom, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove parchment and weights and continue baking until golden on the bottom, 5 to 7 minutes more. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together egg yolks, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, lemon zest and juice, and salt until smooth. Add butter to saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a large bowl. Cover surface of curd with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until cool and set, at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days.
• In a mixer bowl, whisk egg whites on medium speed until frothy. Increase speed to high and gradually add remaining 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, beating until mixture forms stiff, glossy peaks, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir 1/3 of egg-white mixture into curd to loosen. Gently fold in remaining egg-white mixture just until no streaks remain (do not overmix). Transfer filling to tart shell, gently smoothing top.
• Bake until puffed and golden brown, 18 to 22 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack, about 30 minutes. Carefully remove tart ring and dust with confectioners' sugar to serve.

SIMPLE LEMON TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees. Remove short-crust dough from refrigerator. Remove parchment paper covering top, and invert onto a baking sheet. Press an 11-inch flan ring in center of short-crust dough to cut out a circle. Keeping flan ring on baking sheet, trim excess dough from outside of ring, and reserve for another use. Prick circle of dough several times with a fork. Chill until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Remove dough-lined flan ring from refrigerator. Bake until light golden brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack before filling.
• Combine creme fraiche, eggs, egg yolks, lemon zest and juice, vanilla bean, and sugar in a medium-size heatproof bowl. Place over a pot of simmering water. Cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens, about 20 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and stir in softened gelatin sheets. Strain mixture through a fine-mesh sieve set over a medium-size bowl. Cover surface of mixture with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming. Set mixture in an ice bath to cool to 100 degrees.
• Add butter, and using a handheld immersion blender, mix for 5 minutes. Pour into prebaked tart shell. Chill until mixture is firm, 2 to 3 hours.
• Just before serving, sprinkle individual slices with a light, even layer of sugar. Caramelize sugar to a golden brown, using a blowtorch or placing under a broiler.

LEMON TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Fill a medium saucepan one-third full with water and bring to a simmer. Put the zest and lemon juice in a medium bowl and whisk in the eggs. Add the sugar and butter and place the bowl over the simmering water; the water must not touch the bottom of the bowl. Cook, whisking constantly, until the butter is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the bowl from the pan of hot water and allow the mixture to cool for 15 minutes. Place the pre - baked tart shell on a baking sheet. Pour the filling into the shell and bake the tart for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the center is just set. Cool the tart completely on a wire rack. Make the garnish: Using a channel knife, cut 6 lengthwise grooves in the lemon, removing 6 strips of rind. Cut a crosswise slice from the center of the lemon and place it in the center of the tart. Slice the remaining lemon and place it in the center of the sections into half and then cut the sections into halfmoons. Arrange the slices around the edge of the tart with the cut sides out. If necessary, rewarm the apricot glaze over low heat or in the microwave. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the top of the tart with the warm apricot glaze. Garnish with a few mint leaves.
• Sift together the confectioners' sugar, flour, and salt into a bowl. Place the butter in a food processor and process until smooth, about 15 seconds. Scatter the flour mixture over the butter, add the egg, and process just until the dough forms a mass; do not overmix. Turn the dough out onto the counter and divide it into 2 pieces. Shape each half into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate.

LEMON FILLING

Steps:

• Sift sugar, cornstarch, and salt into a medium saucepan. Gradually blend in 1/2 cup cold water and lemon juice. Place saucepan over medium-low heat, and whisk until smooth. Add egg yolks and 2 tablespoons butter, and blend thoroughly. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until thickened, and add 1 1/2 cups boiling water. Continue stirring until mixture reaches desired thickness, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat, and stir in lemon peel; rub surface lightly with 1 tablespoon butter to prevent a skin from forming. Can be refrigerated for up to 1 week.