Gluten-free Lemon Meringue Pie offers a delicious dessert without compromising dietary needs. I crafted this recipe to be simple and flavorful. Everyone can enjoy this treat, whether gluten-free or not.
Contents
Lemon meringue pie recipe
Lemon meringue pie is a popular classic dessert. It was inspired by the French lemon tart. The meringue was influenced by the Swiss and Italian desserts of the time.
It consists of three main components: a flaky pastry crust, a tangy lemon filling, and a light, fluffy meringue topping. The pie features a delightful contrast of flavors and textures. The zesty lemon curd pairs beautifully with the airy meringue.
This dessert has its own national day – August 15th. It also inspired the creation of the Lemon Meringue Martini, a pie-inspired cocktail.
Gluten-free pastry is tricky because it lacks gluten, the stretchy part that binds ingredients together. Without gluten, pastry tends to fall apart. However, a little bit of egg yolk helps significantly.
Here is how to make the gluten-free lemon meringue pie:
Gluten-free Lemon Meringue Pie
Nutrition
Ingredients
For the pastry
- 4 oz plain gluten-free flour
- 2 oz margarine
- 1 tsp beaten egg yolk
For the filling
- 3 large egg yolks minus the small bit used in the pastry!
- 2 oz caster sugar
- 3 tbsp cornflour
- 1.5 oz margarine
- Grated zest and juice of 2 lemons
For the meringue
- 3 egg whites
- 6 oz caster sugar
Instructions
- Seive the flour into a large bowl and add the butter. Lightly rub the flour and butter between your fingertips until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add a few drops of water and begin to combine with a flat knife. Add a little bit of egg yolk and finish combining with your hands.
- Then wrap the pastry and put in the fridge for 30 mins.
- When chilled, roll out the pastry until it is just larger than the tin and press into the tin. Trim, pierce base with a fork and blind bake for 20 mins. Then remove from the oven and reduce oven temp. to 150oC.
- Meanwhile, make the lemon filling. Put the cornflour and sugar into a bowl and add just enough water to mix to a paste. Put 10fl oz of water into a pan with the lemon zest and bring to the boil. Then add to the cornflour and sugar, mixing continuously until smooth.
- Beat in the egg yolks, lemon juice, and butter and return the whole mixture to the pan, heating until thickened. Pour into the pastry case.
- Whisk the egg whites in a large bowl until they form stiff peaks, then whisk in the caster sugar a little at a time. Spoon the meringue onto the filling and spread to seal the edges of the pastry case. Swirl the top as you like!
Notes
- Blind bake the crust to create a moisture barrier.
- Add a layer of lemon curd before the meringue for extra protection and flavor.
- Ensure the filling is thickened before adding it to the crust.
- Seal the meringue by spreading it to the crust’s edge to prevent moisture infiltration.
- Allow the pie to cool gradually and store it properly.
SIMILAR RECIPES
Pairing suggestions
Lemon meringue pie pairs well with a variety of food and drinks
- Drink Pairings
- Lemon Meringue Pie Cocktail matches lemon meringue pie perfectly.
- Ice wine balances the pie’s acidity with sweetness.
- Late-harvest whites add sweetness and citrus notes.
- Champagne enhances crust flavors and balances sweetness.
- Riesling matches sweetness and counters tartness.
- Sauvignon Blanc complements the pie’s tartness.
- Herbal teas offer a refreshing contrast to the pie’s sweetness.
- Citrus-infused coffees enhance the lemon flavor.
- Dessert Pairings
- Fruit salads with berries enhance the pie’s refreshing qualities.
- Vanilla ice cream contrasts with the pie’s tartness.
- Citrus panna cotta pairs well with lemon meringue pie.
Variations
There are numerous creative variations of this lemon meringue pie. Some popular options include:
- Vegan version replaces traditional ingredients with vegan alternatives. The pie uses a flaky buttermilk crust and vegan Italian meringue topping. The filling includes fresh lemon juice and zest.
- Lemon meringue cupcakes combine pie elements with cupcakes. The cupcakes feature meringue as frosting.
- Lemon passion fruit meringue pie substitutes half the lemon juice with passion fruit juice. This variation introduces a tropical twist to the pie. The tropical twist enhances the pie’s flavor profile.
- Lemon meringue cheesecake is a great variation.
- Raspberry lemon meringue pie adds raspberries to the lemon filling. Raspberries provide a tart contrast to the pie. The tart contrast makes the pie less sweet and more vibrant.
- Mini variants are bite-sized versions perfect for parties. They are made in mini tart tins for easy servings.
- Healthy version uses low-sugar or sugar-free ingredients.
- Lemon meringue bars maintain the classic flavors of the pie. These bars are a quicker alternative to the traditional pie.
- Lemon meringue stuffed waffles incorporate lemon filling into waffles. These waffles make a fun breakfast or brunch option.
- Lemon meringue angel cake is layered with lemon curd. The cake is topped with meringue. Lemon meringue pie fudge transforms pie flavors into creamy fudge.