Meyer Lemon Tart
Author Notes: I have been making lemon bars for many years now from a recipe by John Taylor also known as Hoppin John and a while back I thought it would make a great tart, and it does. If you like Low Country cooking you should search out his cookbook Charleston, Beaufort & Savannah Dining at Home in the Lowcountry. This weeks contest seems like the perfect opportunity to share this recipe. - thirschfeld
Serves 6 to 8
For the crust:
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup semolina flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
For the custard:
- 2 to 3 Meyer Lemons, zested first then squeezed for 1/3 cup juice
- 5 large egg yolks
- 3/4 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature and cubed
- zest from two Meyer lemons
- powdered sugar, for dusting the tart
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. In a large mixing bowl and mixing with a wooden spoon cream the butter with the sugar and salt. Add the flours and mix well. The shortbread crust will look crumbly and like cous cous or cornmeal. Turn the crumbles out into an 8 inch tart pan and press it evenly into the pan starting with the sides and working toward the center. Place your index finger over the top of the flutes and push the crust upward using your index finger as a back stop.
- Slide the the shell into the oven and bake it for 20 minutes.
- While the tart is in the oven combine the eggs, sugar, zest, 1/3 cup Meyer lemon juice in a heat proof mixing bowl and whisk to combine the ingredients.
- Place the mixing bowl over low heat, if you are nervous about this you can most certainly use a double boiler, and whisk the custard, gently and continually, until it starts to thicken. It takes about 13 minutes on low so it will take longer in a double boiler. Once it is very thick, like warm pudding and leaving ribbons as you whisk, remove it from the heat and whisk in the butter.
- When the tart crust is done remove it from the oven and add the lemon curd. Bake the tart another 10 minutes or until set.
- Remove the tart from the oven and let it cool completely. Once cool sprinkle it with powdered sugar just before serving, slice and serve.
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Late Winter Tart (Sweet or Savory)
Tags: Lemony, sour, travels well, winter




3 months ago adele93
would substituting semolina for almond meal work?
3 months ago thirschfeld
I don't see why not.
5 months ago Gluttonforacause
Truly delicious...probably one of the best things I have ever baked. Thank you.
3 months ago thirschfeld
Oh! That makes me happy to hear.
about 1 year ago mariaraynal
This sounds sublime. Or should I say sublemon.
about 1 year ago mariaraynal
Ok, that wasn't clever enough to repeat four times, lol.
about 1 year ago mariaraynal
This sounds sublime. Or should I say sublemon.
about 1 year ago mariaraynal
This sounds sublime. Or should I say sublemon.
about 1 year ago mariaraynal
This sounds sublime. Or should I say sublemon.
about 1 year ago cmsmommy
We don't have Meyer Lemons available here. Can i use regular lemon?
over 1 year ago Tania Staneva
can you substitute the semolina flower with regular flour? or maybe fine cornmeal?
over 1 year ago thirschfeld
you can use all purpose flour and be just fine
over 1 year ago Tania Staneva
thank you for the quick reply. i'm actually making it right now
over 1 year ago MarthaP
Thanks so much for this amazing and easy tart! I made it 2 nights in a row because it was delicious, and because the 13 year old volunteered to do the zesting/juicing! Now I know what to do with Meyer lemons, I will be searching them out. Brilliant!
over 1 year ago Tania Staneva
yes it was amazing. i brought it to work and people were giving me hugs for making it
about 2 years ago PaulieG
This is absolutely beautiful! I'm heading out the the farmers market and might just get me some Meyer Lemons!!
about 2 years ago DeArmasA
does this replace the recipe for "Best Lemon Squares EVER"? :-)
about 2 years ago Hilarybee
Meyer Lemon with semolina. =)
about 2 years ago Kitchen Butterfly
Stunning. Absolutely.
about 2 years ago thirschfeld
thank you Kitchen Butterfly
about 2 years ago Midge
Just beautiful thirschfeld.
about 2 years ago thirschfeld
thank you midge
about 2 years ago gt9
Wow, I can't wait to make this. If mine comes out half that gorgeous I will be happy.
Thanks for sharing.
about 2 years ago thirschfeld
thank you and you are welcome gt9
about 2 years ago gingerroot
I was waiting for your gorgeous photo and boy, is it gorgeous! I can only imagine how good it tastes...
about 2 years ago thirschfeld
thank you gingerroot, loving your curried carrot gratin
about 2 years ago gingerroot
Thrilled to hear that, thirshfeld! Thank you so much.
about 2 years ago Ordinary Blogger (Rivki Locker)
What a beautiful recipe. I am always eying the meyer lemons at Costco but never buy them because I don't quite know what to do with them. This just might be the reason to try! Thanks!
about 2 years ago thirschfeld
thank you Ordinary Blogger. I hope you buy some and give it a go
about 2 years ago dymnyno
Absolutely perfect...obviously you are not "Lazy"!
about 2 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Yum. Almost too pretty to eat.
about 2 years ago thirschfeld
key word I am thinking is "almost"?
about 2 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
I could definitely eat that! Probably 2 slices.
about 2 years ago adamnsvetcooking
I second that!
about 2 years ago testkitchenette
Simply stunning!
about 2 years ago thirschfeld
thank you testkitchenette
about 2 years ago cheese1227
Uhm, I need a lovely thirshfeld visual.....
about 2 years ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
me too! the meyer lemon curd sounds perfect. i love lemon curd so much i sometimes eat it with a spoon.
about 2 years ago thirschfeld
patience, thank you
about 2 years ago thirschfeld
photo has been added, lol.
about 2 years ago cheese1227
Lovely, as usual. Yes, I am a spoiled brat on this point.