Lemon meringue cake

By Patricia_Scarpin

Ingredients

• Meringue shell:
• 4 egg whites
• 3/4 cup (150g) sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• Filling:
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup (50g) sugar
• 3 1/2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/2 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/3 cup (80ml) water
• 3/4 cups (180ml) whipping cream – it should be very cold
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
• Garnish:
• 1/2 cup shaved white chocolate – use a vegetable peeler to get the curls

Details

Servings 8
Adapted from lcbo.com

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat oven to 250ºF (120ºC).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Beat egg whites in an electric mixer until frothy. Slowly beat in sugar. Continue to beat until egg whites are thick and glossy and stand straight up when beaters are lifted out. Beat in lemon juice.
Draw a 10-inch (25cm) round on the parchment-lined baking sheet and scoop mixture into round, spreading meringue mixture to the sides to make a shell. The sides will be about 2- inches (5-cm) high. It should look like a pie shell. Bake for 1½ to 2 hours or until lightly browned and dry – if the oven temperature rises too much, open its door and hold it a bit open using a wooden spoon. Close it again once the temperature gets right. Turn oven off and leave for about 4 hours to cool.
Whisk together the egg, sugar, lemon juice and zest together in a heavy pot to make filling. Combine cornstarch and water in another bowl then stir into lemon mixture.
Bring to boil over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thick. Remove from heat. If lumpy, pour through a strainer into a separate bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing the wrap into the surface of the lemon filling to prevent a film from forming, and refrigerate until firm and cold.
Remove lemon mixture from the refrigerator and break it with a fork or metal whisk.
Using an electric mixer, beat the cream until soft peaks form. Add sugar and continue beating until firm. Fold in lemon mixture.
Spoon lemon filling into meringue shell, spreading evenly. Scatter with white chocolate shavings.