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Passion Fruit Meringue Tart

We’ve all heard of lemon meringue pie.

But what about passion fruit meringue pie?

Or, tart, in this case. Pie, tart… whatever you call it, it’s a crust with some filling that belongs in my mouth.

Passion Fruit Meringue Tart

A delightfully tart passion fruit curd makes up the filling of this impressive looking dessert, with a fluffy, marshmallow-like meringue floating, cloud-like, on top of the curd. While the curd on its own is almost too sour to be enjoyable, when paired with the meringue topping and buttery pastry crust it settles into perfection.

Passionfruit Meringue Pie with Passionfruit Curd filling

Like liquid gold. In a pastry crust.

Passionfruit Meringue Tart

Being that this was my first time EVER making meringue pie, I think I did pretty darn good. Meringue is a tricky beast, or so I hear. I definitely need to work on my ‘peak’ technique, as mine looks more like monster fur than what I envision meringue pie looking like. I think I may have overbeaten my meringue by a tiny bit, yielding a slightly stiffer meringue that didn’t want to pull up quite as freely. But next time, well, next time I’ve got this.

You meringue purists are probably going to scold me for over-toasting my meringue too, but I’ll just say I’m one of those people that likes their marshmallows charred and crispy. And since meringue is basically half-way to being a marshmallow anyway, well, let’s just say you’re lucky I stopped when I did.

Plus, torches are fun.

When they work properly, at least. (Note to self: hold the refill can upside down. Otherwise you might just think your stupid torch is broken and order a new one…)

Passion Fruit Curd Tartlet with Torched Meringue Topping

I adapted the recipe slightly to make mini tartlets, halving the curd recipe (also because I didn’t want to waste a good 2/3 of my precious passion fruit on one recipe).

As it stands, I got 3 tartlets (using this pan) and 3 itty bitty mini tarts (in this pan) out of half a batch of curd. A full batch would give you more than enough for a 9 or 10-inch tart, depending on the depth and volume of your tart pan. Heck, I think you’d even be fine making this into a 9-inch pie.

Passion Fruit Meringue Pie

We’re half-way through passion fruit week, and I’m not done yet. In fact, in addition to the third recipe I planned on posting this week, I may or may not have two other little recipes to share as well. I told you I was going to put that $12 bag of passionfruit to good use.

Passion Fruit Meringue Tart

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Ingredients:

For Passion Fruit Curd:

  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 2/3 cup thawed unsweetened passion fruit puree or juice from fresh passionfruit (from about 12 passionfruit)
  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into chunks

For Pastry Crust:

  • 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour plus additional for dusting
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons ice water, plus more as needed

For Meringue:

  • 4 large egg whites, room temperature
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup water

Directions:

  1. To prepare curd, in a bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, cornstarch, and salt until smooth.
  2. Heat passion fruit in a medium heavy saucepan over moderate heat until it just begins to simmer. Slowly ladle hot juice into egg mixture, 1/4 cup at a time, whisking constantly, until combined and warm to the touch. Return to saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in butter, 1 cube at a time, until mixture is thickened and just comes to a boil, about 6 minutes. Cook, whisking constantly, 2 minutes more. Press curd through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl, discarding any remaining solids. Cover, pressing plastic wrap or waxed paper onto the surface of the curd, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours.
  3. While curd is chilling, make the crust. Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl (or pulse in a food processor). Cut in butter with a pastry blender (or pulse) until broken up into pea-size chunks. Lightly whisk together yolk and water and, with a fork, stir into flour mixture (or pulse) until dough just comes together. If necessary, add more water, 1 teaspoon at a time, stirring (or pulsing) until just combined. (Do not overwork, or pastry will be tough.)
  4. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 8 portions. With heel of your hand, smear each portion once in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather all of dough together with scraper and press into a ball, then flatten into a 5-inch disk. Wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and chill until firm, at least 1 hour.
  5. Allow dough to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes prior to rolling out.
  6. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and roll into a 12-inch round. Gently ease dough into tart pan, pressing with floured fingers onto bottom and up side of pan. Trim overhang to 1/2 inch and fold inside, pressing against rim of pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  8. Line shell with foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until edge is pale golden, about 20 minutes (10 minutes for smaller tartlets). Remove foil and weights and bake until bottom and side are light golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes more (or 10 to 15 for tartlets). Let cool completely.
  9. To prepare meringue, combine egg whites and salt in a large metal mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer.
  10. Combine sugar and water in a small, heavy saucepan set over moderate heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved and syrup begins to bowl. Insert a candy thermometer into the syrup, then continue to boil (without stirring), brushing any sugar crystals down side of pan with pastry brush dipped in water.
  11. When syrup reaches about 235 degrees F, begin to beat egg whites on medium-high speed until they form soft peaks.
  12. When syrup reaches 238 to 242 degrees F, immediately remove syrup from heat and pour in a slow, thin stream down side of bowl into whites (to not pour onto beaters to prevent splattering). Increase speed to high and beat until meringue is cool to the touch and holds stiff peaks, about 10 minutes in a stand mixer or 15 with a handheld.
  13. Transfer shell to a serving plate. Spread curd into the shell. Dollop meringue on top of curd, then spread to edge of crust. Draw meringue up into peaks with a rubber spatula.
  14. Toast meringue using a small creme brulee or culinary torch, holding flame 1 to 2 inches from meringue and moving evenly back and forth over peaks, until lightly browned in spots. Slice and serve. While the tart and filling will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, the meringue topping is best when served within a few hours.

Adapted from Epicurious.

All images and text © / Love & Olive Oil

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