Servings: Makes 34 tartlets
Ingredients:
Key Lime Curd:
4 large eggs
2/3 cup fresh Key lime juice (or regular lime juice)
3/4 cup granuulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 teaspoons finely grated Key lime zest (or regular lime zest)
Tartlets:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cake flour
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter or margarine, cut up
1/4 cup solid vegetable shortening
6 tablespoons cold water
Garnish:
Confectioners' sugar
Slices of lime
Instructions:
For Key Lime Curd:
Whisk together first 4 ingredients in a saucepan, and cook over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, 12 minutes or until mixture is thickened. Stir in lime zest. Pour carefully through a wire-mesh strainer into a bowl. Cover mixture, and refrigerate 4 to 6 hours.
For Tartlets:
Pulse flours, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a food processor until combined. Add 1 cup butter and shortening, and pulse until mixture is crumbly. Add cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, pulsing after each addition. Remove dough, and wrap in plastic wrap; chill at least 2 hours.
Shape dough into 34 (1-inch) balls, and press balls into lightly greased 3-inch miniature tart pans. Prick with a fork.
Bake at 375°F/190°C for 13 minutes or until golden. Remove from pans, and let cool on wire racks.
To Assemble:
Spoon 2 to 4 tablespoons lime curd into each tart shell; heavily dust tops with confectioners' sugar and garnish with thin slices of lime.
Note:
You may substitute miniature muffin pans for the miniature tart pans.
Makes 34 tartlets.
Date: September 8, 2006