Vegan Aquafaba Lemon Meringue Pie

Chava Eicnner says: ‘Here’s a challenge for you! Lemon meringue pie isn’t a dessert you’d ever expect to eat again as a vegan (although there have been several meringue recipes in the not too distant past, as is in the lemon meringue pie with raspberry coulis and also Justine’s Gurt Lush Meringues). However, this aquafaba meringue version is exactly like the kind you get with a pavlova. It complements the creamy lemon filling perfectly! Eat this pie on the day you make it.’

CHAVA’S AQUAFABA TIPS

  • Have a look at the FAQs in www.aquafaba.com – lots of great information and links to other recipes and sites.
  • Vegan meringue is amazing but it takes a little practice and experimentation. Our suggestions for this recipe is to make the meringue separately, then assemble.
  • Smaller peaks work better as they fuse together in the cooking and are less likely to go soggy in the middle – as in the photo. Alternatively, make individual tartlets.

Thanks to Chava Eichner of Flavourphotos for the recipe and photo.

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Total time

2 hours 40 minutes

Meal

  • vegan-desserts

Servings

10-Dec

Ingredients

Pie Shell
1 sheet ready-rolled shortcrust pastry, eg JusRol, Aldi, Tesco, Sainsbury’s. Most are vegan – just avoid the ‘butter pastry’ type obviously!

Lemon Filling
550ml soya or almond milk
80g custard powder in a tub, not a packet. Birds, Tesco et al in a tub are fine whereas the packets usually contain milk derivatives
Zest of 1 unwaxed or organic lemon (do the zesting first before squeezing the juice)
125ml lemon juice
100g caster sugar
Generous pinch of turmeric

Meringue Topping
125ml aquafaba (chickpea water)
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/2 cup caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence

ALL KITTED OUT
26cm/10inch loose-bottomed tart tin OR 10 mini loose-bottomed tart tins; baking parchment; baking beans (regular dried beans will do); measuring spoons; measuring cups; scales; hand whisk; medium-small non-stick saucepan and clean wooden or silicone spoon (no garlic traces!); electric freestanding whisk and glass or ceramic bowl OR an electric mixer with the big bowl on a stand type; large piping bag; baking tray

Instructions

1. Pre-heat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas Mark 6. Line the tart tin(s) with shortcurt pastry. Place baking paper on top and fill with baking beans. Blind bake in the hot oven for 15-20 minutes, until the edges turn pale golden brown. SWitch off the oven and let it cool.
2. Make the Lemon Filling. Mix one third of the plant milk with the custard powder, sugar and turmeric. Whisk to remove any lumps. Pour into the non-stick saucepan with the remaining milk and lemon zest. Heat, stirring continuously, until the custard is thick. Stir in the fresh lemon juice and pour into the pre-baked pastry shell. Let it cool while you make the meringue.
3. Using a good electric whisk, blend the aquafaba for 5 minutes. Add the cream of tartar and continue beating until soft peaks form. It’s not a quick process but you can’t overbeat.
4. Pre-heat the oven to 100°C/200°F/Gas Mark ¾. (You’ll have to guess a bit but it’s a very very low oven basically!)
5. Slowly add the sugar to the meringue mix, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing in thoroughly after each addition. Keep mixing until you have a bowl of fluffy meringue mix. You should be able to tip the bowl upside down without it falling out! It takes about 15-25 minutes.
6. Transfer the meringue mixture into the piping bag.
7. Line a shallow baking tray with baking parchment. If making a large tart, use the tart tin as a guide and draw round it onto the parchment, using a pencil. Fill the circle you’ve drawn with pretty, piped pyramids of meringue that touch each other and join up to make the complete meringue topping. See the picture! If you’re making smaller tarts, this can be done without the drawing as the surface area is smaller.
8. Bake in the very low oven for 2 hours without opening the oven. Use an oven timer or phone. Turn the heat off and allow the meringues to cool. Just before serving, carefully transfer the meringue topping(s) to the prepared lemon tart(s).
9. Eat the dessert on the same day it’s made.

Optional extras / notes

  • 2 hours of this is in a very low oven. The rest of the time is prep and beating the meringue.

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