This Meyer Lemon and Cardamom Tart showcases one of my favorite flavor pairings of all time: Meyer lemon and cardamom. This bright, citrusy tart is insanely delicious and perfect for spring.
Just recently, Chaser told me that lemons are his favorite fruit. We're talking all-time-favorite here. The absolutely no competition, hands down kind of favorite. It got me thinking... Maybe the lemon is my favorite fruit, too? After all, it's the only fruit I consistently consume on the daily (a morning mug of hot water with lemon). Plus, it makes far more appearances in my cooking than any other fruit (in sauces, marinades, vinaigrettes, etc.).
However, after further examination it became abundantly clear that the tomato, is in fact, hands down, without question, my favorite fruit. Duhhh. I mean, have you even read this blog before? Also, why are we even picking favorites to begin with?
For the record, I should note that there are approximately 80 days left until tomato season is back in full swing. Can I get an Amen?! Tomato lovers rejoice. Yeah, that's right: I count down the days to tomato season. Life just isn't the same without them.
But lemons, I have to say, are a pretty darn close second to tomatoes. I mean, can you even think of a fruit that's more versatile? Just try. You can't! (And don't even say limes, because even though they're great, we all know they can't hold a candle to lemons). Lemons aren't a fruit eaten on their own like, say, bananas, but used to enhance the flavors of other foods both savory and sweet. Lemons are in essence a seasoning, like salt, used to bring out the best in all sorts of different foods. What would a nice, fresh piece of fish be without a little squeeze of lemon?
Nothing. That's what.
Lemon, too, is a bold and distinct flavor all it's own. Lemon is timeless; a total classic! Used to flavor cakes, candies, cocktails and the like for decades. Lemon is subtle enough to play a supporting role, yet carries all the talent and charisma to be the star. It's a truly multidimensional fruit and I'm starting to rethink my decision to declare tomatoes as my favorite. Just kidding, lol. That would never happen.
Enter the meyer lemon: Slightly floral, with fragrant notes of orange and that signature puckery pop. Meyer lemons can do everything regular lemons can, but with a little more flair. They're like lemons written in cursive.
Thats why I opted to use meyer lemons in place of regular lemons when I made this tart. I wanted something classic, yet unique. Similar, but different. That's the name of my game.
In addition to using meyer lemons, I also added a touch of cardamom: a warm, aromatic spice commonly used throughout the Middle East and India. Years ago I added cardamom to a lemon ice cream and the flavors went together like Romeo and Juliet. An unlikely pair that, together, was unapologetically romantic. The cardamom brings out the fruity floral notes from the meyer lemon and rounds it all out, giving you this almost unidentifiable burst of fruity, fragrant flavor.
This tart is sweet, sour and makes a lovely addition to any celebratory Spring table. It's familiar, yet exotic, and a real looker to boot.
As someone who admittedly is not a fan of Winter, I'm always a little sad to leave citrus season behind. But even though meyer lemons won't be around in a few months, I always know it's just to make room for all of the brighter, sunnier things to come.
Meyer Lemon + Cardamom Tart
This Meyer Lemon and Cardamom Tart showcases one of my favorite flavor pairings of all time: Meyer lemon and cardamom. This bright, citrusy tart is insanely delicious and perfect for spring. Adapted from A Spicy Perspective.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: tart
- Method: baked
- Cuisine: dessert
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 9 tablespoons (1 stick plus 1 tbsp) unsalted butter, cold
- 1 large egg, cold
For the Filling
- 4 eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ⅔ cup freshly squeezed meyer lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons finely grated meyer lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
For the Candied Meyer Lemons
- 2-3 Meyer lemons
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ¾ cup water
- 5 green cardamom pods, crushed
- pinch of salt
Instructions
To Make the Crust
- Whisk together the flour, powdered sugar and salt. Cut the butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter, fork or your fingers, until the biggest pieces are the size of peas. Place mixture in the freezer for 5 minutes. Make a well in the center, then add the egg and stir with a for until it just starts to come together. Continue stirring until the dough starts to form clumps, then pour it out on to a lightly floured surface and knead ever so gently until all the dry ingredients are incorporated. Form into a disc, being careful not to overwork, wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour (up to overnight).
- Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface until it reaches 10-11 inches in diameter. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Seal any cracks that occurred in the transfer, then fold the overhang in to form double-thick sides, then run the rolling pin over the top to trim off any excess and make them an even height all around. Prick the bottom with a fork, then transfer to the freezer for at least 30 minutes prior to baking.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and butter the dull (not shiny) side of a piece of tin foil and press it firmly against the crust. Bake for about 15 minutes, remove the foil, and bake for another 5-10 minutes until its just starting to turn golden blonde. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes.
To make the filling
- Whisk together the eggs and sugar until it turns lighter in color. Add the cream, lemon juice, zest, cardamom and salt and whisk until totally combined and the sugar is mostly dissolved. Pour into the cooled tart shell, reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees, and bake for about 35-40 minutes until set (not wiggly in the middle). Allow to cool completely before attempting to remove from the pan.
To Make the Candied Meyer Lemons
- Slice the meyer lemons into super thin, even slices, then remove and discard all seeds. Heat the sugar, water, cardamom pods and salt in a medium saucepan and carefully submerge the lemon slices. Simmer on low heat for about 30-40 minutes or until the pulp looks transparent. Remove the slices and allow to cool on a wire rack (be sure to place something underneath as they will drip quite a bit).
Assembly
- Arrange the lemon slices around the cooled tart and dust with powdered sugar right before serving (otherwise it will absorb into the tart and disappear). Best served chilled.
Notes
- The leftover syrup from candying the lemon slices is full of flavor. Strain out any solids and store in the refrigerator - perfect for making cocktails!
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 460
- Sugar: 45.2 g
- Sodium: 523.6 mg
- Fat: 19.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 68.1 g
- Protein: 7.2 g
- Cholesterol: 159.1 mg
Keywords: pie, tart, lemon, meyer lemon, cardamom, dessert, spring, citrus, winter, entertaining
Angela Finnerty
Before I even got to the 2nd paragraph I thought "Nicole likes tomatoes more!"
Coley
You know me too well!! 🙂
Shaina
That looks gorgeous! I want the whole thing!!!
Coley
Thanks! You should totally make it, it's become one of my favorite flavor combos!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
This is one beautiful tart. I just love citrus tarts like this.. and the addition of cardamom is a nice touch too!
Coley
Thanks!! The cardamom really brings out a nice flavor in the meyer lemons. Hope you make it and report back! 🙂
Holly
Soo yes, I will invest in that $10.00 bag of cardamom pods and I am definitely making this. I Love lemon too!
Coley
Awesome! You can find cardamom pods way cheaper at the Indian market in Absecon, and I believe they're sold at the Asian market as well. I've also gotten them in bulk from Wegmans and Whole Foods for a lot cheaper - plus you don't have to commit to a whole bag! You're going to LOVE this tart!!
Kiran @ KiranTarun.com
Spices are much cheaper at Indian grocery stores. This tart looks heavenly 🙂
Kelly
When do you add the powdered sugar and salt when making the crust?
Coley
Whoops! Thanks for pointing out that I left out a crucial little bit of information in the recipe. The salt and powdered sugar get added to the flour at the very beginning, before cutting in the butter. I've adjusted the recipe so that it includes it now. Sorry for the confusion!
Kelly
No worries! Can't wait to try this for my Easter brunch!
Coley
Hope it came out awesome!
Miranda
I made this yesterday (found on Pinterest). Amazing! I love lemon bars but the ones I've eaten recently taste like jellied eggs. So I set off on a mission to try to make my own. This was my first time making a tart and the recipe was easy to follow. I loved that the ingredients are so simple (who needs 7 eggs in a lemon tart?) and the flavor is balanced. It's a real treat! My mission has been accomplished way earlier than expected. Thanks!
Coley
Hey Miranda, thank you so much for your comment! I'm so glad you loved the tart! It's one of my all time favs, and it's perfect for this time of year. Yay!
Eden Passante
Beautiful! Looks amazing!
Coley
Thanks!
Annie
Hi! I'm making your tart today, can't wait til its done! I did run into something. My candied lemon slices are more like caramlized lemon slices. How can I avoid this next time? Thanks!
Coley
Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds like your heat was too high and/or they were cooked too long. Next time just keep a close eye and if you notice them starting to dry out and caramelize, just add a little bit of water to keep the sugar from burning. Hope this is helpful and that you enjoyed the tart!
Jude
Hi! I’ve made the tart twice and it is delicious! However, the curd cracks a lot as soon as it starts to cool down, even if I don’t touch it nor do I attempt to take it out of the pan before it’s cooled off. What am I doing wrong? 🙁
Coley
So glad you like the recipe! As for the cracking, it sounds like the curd may be overbaking a bit. Try baking it for slightly less time or try lowering your oven temperature a smidge. All ovens cook differently and in fact most ovens are not calibrated correctly - buying a separate oven thermometer will tell you how hot your oven actually is - it may be running hotter than it says. The curd should still have a little jiggle to it when removing from the oven. Let me know if this helps!