A sweet and sour closure: About 30 years ago, I received a non-vegan recipe for a lemon pie; It was my first encounter with this delightful dish. It’s my turn, now, to share with you my vegan version of this delicious dessert.
Anyone can make a lemon tart! The ingredients are available all year round – but the refreshing filling makes it a definite summer dessert.
There are many versions of lemon tart: some add whipped cream or meringue to the lemon filling, while others prefer an intense lemon flavor.
Some prefer a snowy meringue topping, and some choose whipped cream instead.
Some prefer firm filling that feels almost like jelly candies, while others (like me, for example) like a stable yet soft filling, which creates a contrast to the crunchy crust.
In any case – this is a rustic and elegant dessert at the same time. Comfort food on the one hand and impressive on the other – without much effort – what more can we ask?
The original version is rich in eggs, butter, or sour cream. However, I find that the vegan version presented here is no less delicious: excellent crunchy crust, lemon filling based on coconut milk, and with a perfect degree of consistency, with a mildly sweetened whipped cream on top.
We start by making a shortcrust pastry, line a base and sides of the pan, “blind” baking for 15 minutes, and then “open” baking for another 15 minutes, until golden.
We continue with the lemon filling, consisting of coconut milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest. In addition to cornstarch, we replace the eggs with agar-agar powder.
We then add whipped cream, a slight touch of lemon zest – and place in the refrigerator to set.
Serve cold or at room temperature.
Enjoy and let me know how it turned out ❤️
Crust
- 1¼ cups white spelt flour
- 100 gram vegan butter, cold and diced
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar preferable grounded with vanilla bean
- pinch salt
- 2 tbsp water
- pinch lemon zest optional
Lemon Filling
- 500 ml coconut milk or almond milk
- ⅓ cup white sugar
- ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp agar agar powder
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- ¼ tsp natural yellow food color optional
- 3 tbsp water to dilute the cornstarch together with the food color
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- lemon zest of one lemon
- pinch salt
Topping
- 250 ml plant-based whipping cream mildly sweetened
For Serving
- lemon zest optional
Early Preparations
- Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- grease the pan
Crust
- Put all the dough ingredients in a food processor container; it is better to use the plastic blade; Process for a few seconds until it forms into a ball of dough; if lacking water, add a little gradually.
- Line the base and sides of the greased pan with the dough. Start with the sides and continue to the bottom. Prick the dough with a fork and place in the refrigerator for about half an hour.
- Cover the dough with baking paper – if necessary, cut the excess of the paper out of the pan. Next, fill the pan with coarse salt or beans.
- Bake in the center of the oven for 15 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, do not turn it off! Remove the salt carefully (first with a spoon, then together with the baking paper. Keep the salt for next time.
- Return to the oven and bake for another 15 minutes – until golden. Remove and cool on a wire rack to room temperature.
Lemon Filling
- In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch with the yellow food coloring powder, add the three tablespoons of water and mix well.
- In a small saucepan, cook over medium heat coconut milk, sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, agar-agar, salt, vanilla, and mix.
- Add the diluted cornstarch and food coloring; Cook over a medium-high heat while stirring, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens. Cook for another minute. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
Topping
- Whip the cold whipped cream until it is very firm; Fill a whipping bag with a wide star tip and pour over the lemon filling in circles – from the outside towards the center. Put in the refrigerator for several hours to set.
For Serving
- Sprinkle lemon zest on the whipped cream. Serve cold or at room temperature (on summer days – do not leave outside the fridge for too long – it might melt the whipped cream.
Its cornstarch
Not cornflour right?
Hello Malani
Yes, It’s cornstarch 🙂
Sara in the recipe you have 3 T. Two times is it 3 or 6 thanks
Upps… Just once = 3 tbsp cornstarch – that’s it. Correcting it now !
Instead of the second time – it’s 3 T of water to dilute the cornstarch and food color
– Thank you for sharing