Rustic Lemon Thyme Tarts
These free-form lemon thyme tarts pair a sharp lemon curd filling with fresh thyme stirred in to add a subtle herbal note alongside the citrus. The pastry shells are kept deliberately rustic, so no special tart pans are needed. Altogether the recipe takes about an hour, including blind-baking the shells before adding the curd.
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
- Rolling pin
- Tart Pans
- Oven
- Microplane Zester
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour preferably organic
- ½ cup unsalted butter chilled and diced
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg preferably free-range
For the Filling:
- ¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice from about 4 lemons
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest zest from organic lemons
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves finely chopped
Instructions
For the Crust Preparation:
- In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Add the chilled butter and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the egg and mix just until the dough comes together. Form into a disc, wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 15 minutes.
For the Tart Shells:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a floured surface to about 1/8 inch thick. Cut and press into tart pans. Prick the bottoms with a fork and bake for 10 minutes, or until lightly golden.
For the Filling Preparation:
- In a bowl, whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest, eggs, sugar, and cream until well blended. Stir in chopped thyme.
For the Baking the Tarts:
- Pour the filling into the pre-baked shells. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the filling is set and slightly golden around the edges.
Notes
- Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature for smoother mixing.
- For a non-dairy option, replace heavy cream with coconut cream.
Nutrition
Calories: 362kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 6gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 140mgSodium: 42mgPotassium: 104mgFiber: 1gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 752IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 36mgIron: 2mg
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