A Very Tart Tarte

Filed in archive Recipes on August 11, 2007

Sharing one of my favorite French dessert recipes seems like a good way to introduce myself to the readers of Like to Cook.

Bonjour, my name is Jennifer. I'm a trained pastry chef from the state of Washington, now living in a small village in the south of France.

My appreciation and love of food, wine, cooking and baking have flourished since moving here four and a half years ago and writing about this was the reason I started a blog, Chez Loulou, in January 2006. More than a year and a half later and here I am, sharing my experiences on Like to Cook.

In my opinion, a traditional Tarte au Citron is the most sublime of all French desserts. It is tart and tangy and perfect to serve any time of the year. My first introduction to lemon tart came from a cookbook by Sheila Lukins, of The Silver Palate fame. I bought the All Around the World Cookbook in 1994 and this tart was the first recipe I attempted. Since then, I've made it dozens of times and have found it to be a sure favorite for all who taste it.

Velvety Tarte au Citron
taken from All Around the World Cookbook by Sheila Lukins

Makes one 9 inch tart, serves 8-10

Dough
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt

Filling
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons heavy (whipping) cream
3 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks

1. Place the butter in a food processor and process a few seconds, until creamy. Add 1/4 cup sugar and process until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 20 seconds, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice. Add the vanilla. Combine the flour and salt, then add to the food processor. Process until the dough comes together around the sides of the bowl; scrape the sides of the bowl and process for a few seconds more.

2. With lightly floured hands, press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press around the bottom edge of the tart and make sure that the dough is not too thick.

3. Trim any excess dough at the top of the tart pan with a knife. Lightly press the dough around the inside of the rim with your thumb so that it extends about 1/8 inch above the pan. Prick the bottom of the dough all over with a fork. Chill the dough in the freezer at least 30 minutes or overnight.

4. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

5. Bake the partially or fully frozen tart shell until fully baked and golden brown, about 25 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.

6. Whisk the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and the lemon juice together in a bowl. Gradually whisk in the Heavy Cream, then the eggs and the egg yolks. Combine thoroughly. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly until the filling thickens and the whisk leaves a trail, about 4 minutes.

7. Strain the filling into a bowl, then pour it into the baked tart shell. Bake for 4 minutes.

8. Cool thoroughly on a rack and serve at room temperature. Before serving, carefully remove the sides and bottom of the pan and gently slide the tart onto a decorative plate.