Light Lemon Meringue Pie

(3)

Smooth and soothing; a great classic pie right down to the crust, redefined with a generous amount of lemon and fewer egg yolks in the filling.

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Cook Time:
45 mins
Additional Time:
2 hrs 15 mins
Total Time:
3 hrs
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings
Nutrition Profile:

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 tablespoon sugar

  • teaspoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 3 tablespoons canola oil

  • 1-2 tablespoons ice water

Filling

  • 1 ¼ cups sugar

  • ¼ cup cornstarch

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 1 ½ cups boiling water

  • ½ cup lemon juice

  • 1 ½ tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest

  • 1 large egg

  • 1 large egg white

  • 2 teaspoons butter

Meringue

  • 3 large egg whites

  • ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar

  • Pinch of salt

  • ½ cup sugar

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

  1. To make crust: Set oven rack at lowest level; preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Stir together flour, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Cook, swirling the pan, until the butter is a light, nutty brown, about 30 seconds. Pour into a small bowl and let cool. Stir in oil. Slowly stir the butter-oil mixture into the flour with a fork until the mixture is crumbly. Gradually stir in enough ice water so that the dough will hold together in a ball. Press the dough into a flattened disk.

  2. Place the dough between two sheets of plastic wrap and roll into a circle about 12 inches in diameter. Remove the top sheet and invert the dough over a 9-inch pie plate. Remove the remaining wrap. Fold the edges under at the rim and crimp. Line the shell with a piece of foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 10 minutes, remove the weights or beans, and continue to bake until the crust is golden, 8 to 10 more minutes. Cool the pie shell on a rack while you make the filling. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees .

  3. To make filling: Whisk together 1 1/4 cups sugar, cornstarch and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium heavy saucepan. Gradually whisk in boiling water. Place the saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

  4. Whisk together lemon juice, zest, egg and 1 egg white in a small bowl. Whisk a small amount of the hot sauce into the egg mixture, then whisk this mixture back into the sauce. Return to a simmer over medium heat, stirring, then cook for an additional 30 seconds. Stir in the butter until melted and pour into the baked pie shell. Set aside while you prepare meringue.

  5. To make meringue: Beat 3 egg whites in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and pinch of salt and beat at high speed until soft peaks form. Slowly add 1/2 cup sugar, beating constantly, until the mixture holds stiff, shiny peaks. Beat in the vanilla. Spread the meringue over the hot filling, sealing to edge of crust. Make attractive peaks with a metal spatula, knife or the back of a spoon. Bake until the top is lightly browned, about 15 minutes. Cool the pie on a rack until it is room temperature, about 2 hours.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

340 Calories
9g Fat
63g Carbs
4g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 340
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 63g 23%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 46g
Protein 4g 9%
Total Fat 9g 11%
Saturated Fat 2g 11%
Cholesterol 30mg 10%
Vitamin A 110IU 2%
Vitamin C 7mg 8%
Folate 52mcg 13%
Sodium 167mg 7%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 1mg 5%
Magnesium 8mg 2%
Potassium 88mg 2%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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