Recipes

Tarte au Citron (Lemon Tart)

A crisp sweet pastry shell filled with a sharp, silky lemon custard.

Gordon Ramsay · Dessert · French

Tarte au Citron (Lemon Tart)
Prep 40 minutes (plus chilling)
Cook 45 minutes
Serves 8
Level Hard
View source — Gordon Ramsay ↗

A crisp sweet pastry shell filled with a sharp, silky lemon custard.

Ingredients

For the pastry: 1 3/4 cups (225 g) flour

  • For the pastry: 1/2 cup (115 g) cold butter, cubed

For the pastry: 1/3 cup (75 g) powdered sugar

  • For the pastry: 1 egg yolk and 1-2 tablespoons cold water
  • For the filling: 5 large eggs
  • For the filling: 3/4 cup (150 g) caster sugar
  • For the filling: 2/3 cup (160 ml) heavy cream
  • For the filling: Zest and juice of 4 lemons
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting

Directions

  1. Rub the butter into the flour and powdered sugar until sandy, then bind with the egg yolk and a little water to form a dough. Wrap and chill 30 minutes.
  2. Roll out and line a 9-inch (23 cm) tart tin. Chill again, then blind-bake with parchment and beans at 350°F (180°C) for 15 minutes, remove the beans and bake 10 more minutes until pale gold.
  3. For the filling, whisk the eggs and sugar, then whisk in the cream, lemon zest and juice until smooth.
  4. Lower the oven to 300°F (150°C). Pour the filling into the warm shell and bake for 25-30 minutes until just set with a slight wobble in the center.
  5. Cool completely, then chill. Dust with powdered sugar (or caramelize the top) before slicing.

Notes

Based on Gordon Ramsay’s tarte au citron.