Easy Vegan Lemon Meringue Pie
This is a surprisingly simple Vegan and Gluten Free Lemon Meringue Pie. It can be made in parts so still possible for a busy baker juggling various jobs. Using my homemade eggless lemon curd and a delicious aquafaba meringue you'll be surprised how much this reminds you of the 70/80's classic Lemon Meringue Pie.
Servings: 8 slices
Calories: 399kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
Sweet shortcrust pastry
- 80 g butter I use Flora plant butter
- 20 g fat (I use Trex white vegetable fat) I use Trex vegetable fat solids
- 200 g gluten free plain flour all purpose flour
- 50 g caster sugar
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 3 tbsp water
- 1 tsp psyllium husk powder (optional) optional
Lemon curd
- 5 lemons squeezed then topped with water to 300ml
- 200 g caster sugar
- 60 g cornflour/cornstarch corn starch
- 1 tbsp Bird's original custard powder
- 1 tsp arrowroot
- 4 tbsp water
Meringue topping
- 100 ml aquafaba I use Oggs or drain a tin of chickpeas [see notes]
- 100 g caster sugar
- 2 tsp cream of tartar
Instructions
To make the pastry
- Make your flaxseed egg by adding the flaxseed, water and psyllium husk (if using) to a small jug, stir to combine and leave.
- Measure the gluten free flour, 'butter' and vegetable fat into a large bowl and using your fingertips or a pastry cutter work the fat into the flour until you have breadcrumbs.
- Stir in the sugar, then add your flaxseed egg.
- Stir the 'egg' into the breadcrumb mixture and turn out onto the kitchen surface. No need to flour the surface.
- Bring the crumble mixture together and knead until you have a ball of pastry dough. Pop into a container and put in the fridge to chill while you make the lemon curd.
To make the lemon curd
- Add the juice from 5 squeezed lemons to a jug and add enough water to make the liquid up to 300ml. Add this and the caster sugar to a medium saucepan and begin to heat until all the sugar has dissolved.TOP TIP: keep back one of the lemon halves for later.
- In a small bowl measure the cornflour, custard powder and arrowroot, then add 4 tablespoons of water and mix to combine, stir slowly otherwise physics gets in the way!
- Remove the lemon and sugar liquid from the heat and pour in the cornflour paste whist stirring with a small whisk. Once all the paste has been combined with the lemon liquid, return to the heat.
- Continue to stir on a medium heat. The lemon mixture will change from a cloudy pale cream colour to a slightly translucent delicate yellow colour and thicken. Taste to make sure it's not too sour for your liking (if it is add a little sugar at this stage and stir until it melts).
- Remove from heat and set aside. Now you can return to making your pastry case.
To make the pastry case
- Pre heat oven to 200°C | 180°C fan | 400°F | Gas 6
- Remove the pastry dough from the fridge and knead for a minute. Roll out into a circle with a good thickness (just under 1cm) and line a 20cm round cake tin with the pastry. Preferably use a loose bottom so you can easily remove your pie at the end.
- Trim the edges of the pastry with a knife. If you like you can gently press a fork around the edges to create a pretty pattern. I also prick the bottom of the case with a fork to encourage an even bake.
- Take a large square of baking paper and screw it up in your hands. This can then be placed inside the pasty case shell and on top of that add your blind baking beads
- Blind bake for 10 minutes, then remove from oven, carefully take out the baking paper and baking beads and return to the oven for another 10 minutes
- Remove from oven and leave on the side to cool slightly.
To make the meringue topping
- Wipe the mixing bowl you plan to use with half a lemon, this ensures the bowl is grease free and encourages the very best fluffy meringue whites.
- Pour the 100ml aquafaba into the bowl, add the 2tsp of cream of tartar and using a mixer or hand held whisk, whip for approximately 6-8mins to get a stiff bowl of fluffy white meringue.
- Now add the caster sugar one tablespoon as a time and continue to whisk until all the sugar has been incorporated. Set aside for a minute.
To build and bake your lemon meringue pie
- Return the lemon curd in the saucepan to the heat and bring back to almost boiling.
- If using the grill to caramelise your meringue turn on the grill.
- Pour the hot lemon curd into the slightly cooled pie case. Then add spoonful's of sweet meringue to the pie making sure all curd is covered and no longer visible. I don't tend to bother with piping the meringue but instead take a fork and draw swirl patterns in the meringue for effect.
- Pop the meringue under the grill and watch like a hawk, rotate the pie if necessary to get an even colour.
- Remove from grill once beautifully golden and leave on the side to cool completely.
- Once completely cooled pop into the fridge for that final setting to take place (approx. 30mins)
Notes
If using a tin of chickpeas, make sure you thoroughly shake the tin to ensure all the starch is released from the contents of the tin.
You can use the leftover chickpeas to make hummus or simply to add to a salad.
Nutrition
Calories: 399kcal | Carbohydrates: 75g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 28mg | Sodium: 80mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 36mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg