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Lemon tart

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(Redirected from Lemon pie)
Lemon tart
A served portion of Lemon tart
TypeTart
Place of originFrance
Main ingredientsPastry shell, lemon paste

A lemon tart (French: tarte au citron) is a French dessert dish, a variety of tart.[1] It has a pastry shell with a lemon flavored filling.[2]

In the United Kingdom, lemon tart consists of a pastry case (often made in a fluted tart tin) containing a baked lemon custard (usually composed of eggs, sugar, lemon juice and cream). Usually recipes include blind-baking before adding the custard. Sometimes, the tart is dusted with icing sugar prior to serving.[3][4][5][6]

Alternatively, the lemon filling can be cooked in a saucepan and then added to the baked pastry case.[7]

History

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The first lemon tart recipes began to emerge in the 18th century, when lemon-based tarts appeared in French cookbooks.[8] It was in 18th- and 19th-century France that the Tarte au Citron evolved into its modern form. French pastry chefs perfected the pairing of pâte sucrée (sweet shortcrust pastry) with a smooth lemon curd filling, resulting in the elegant and minimalist dessert recognized today.[9] Contrary to popular belief, the classic French tarte au citron does not traditionally include a meringue topping. While both meringue-topped and plain versions can be found in French pâtisseries today—with the former often favored for its visual appeal—the original tarte au citron is served without meringue.[10]

Similar desserts

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A dessert very similar to the lemon tart is the Shaker lemon pie, usually served for dessert, made with a crust usually made of shortcrust pastry and lemon custard filling. The lemon pie is prepared with a bottom pie crust. Distinct from the Shaker lemon pie is the lemon meringue pie, the latter which has no upper crust but meringue on top instead.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Classic French Lemon Tart (Tarte au Citron) - Simple Step-By-Step Recipe". 2020-09-09. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  2. ^ Mirlene (2022-06-16). "Lemon Tart". Savory Thoughts. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  3. ^ "Lemon Tart". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. ^ "BBC - Food - Recipes : Tarte au citron". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  5. ^ "Thick Lemon Tart". Delia Online. November 9, 2015.
  6. ^ "Mary Berry". Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  7. ^ Waitrose Limited. "Heston's Lemon tart". Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  8. ^ Team, Chef Olivia (2024-10-25). "The History of Lemon Tart - RecipStory". Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  9. ^ Team, Baking Heritage (2025-03-13). "The Origins and History of Tarte au Citron - Baking History | Baking Heritage". bakingheritage.com. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  10. ^ Audrey (2019-03-11). "Classic French Lemon Tart (Tarte au Citron)". Pardon Your French. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
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