Shaker Lemon Pie

Serves	8 to 10 slices
Prep time	24 hours, 15 minutes
Cook time	55 minutes
Total time	25 hours, 10 minutes
Allergy	Egg, Wheat
Dietary	Vegetarian
Meal type	Dessert, Snack
Misc	Pre-preparable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot
Occasion	Birthday Party, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Formal Party, Thanksgiving, Valentines day
Region	American
By author	Karen Burns-Booth

Ingredients

1 x 350g (12oz) shortcrust pastry (home made is best but a high quality shop bought is fine)
3 medium lemons, unwaxed (preferably thin skinned lemons, I used Amalfi lemons)
400g white granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 free-range eggs
1 free-range egg yolk
120g melted butter, unsalted
3 tablespoons cornflour

Glaze

1 egg white
white granulated sugar, to sprinkle

Note

My adapted recipe from Saveur Magazine for an American classic, Shaker Lemon Pie; this double crust pie is similar to a lemon meringue pie without the meringue and the filling is in the style of lemon curd but with thin slices of sugared lemons added. NB: Shakers are a religious group that broke away from the Quakers, founded in Great Britain during the 18th Century, many of them settled in the USA where they still have village communities in certain states, notably New England and Ohio. They are known for their simple and frugal lifestyle, hence this pie uses ALL of the lemons, and nothing is wasted.

Directions

Step 1	Start the day before you want to bake the pie; wash the lemons and dry them. Finely grate the lemon zest and add it to mixing bowl. Slice the lemons VERY thinly, almost paper thin, I used a small serrated knife, but a mandoline slicer would be best. Remove the pips and add any juice to the bowl (with the zest) along with the lemon slices. Add the sugar and the salt, mix well, cover and set aside to macerate overnight at room temperature.
Step 2	The next day when you are ready to bake the pie: Pre-heat oven to 210C/425F/Gas mark 7. Butter a 23cm (9") pie dish, tin or pie plate, a deep one is better as it holds the filling without spillage.
Step 3	Roll out half of the shortcrust pastry and line the buttered pie dish with it. Trim the edge leaving a little overhang.
Step 4	Add the eggs, egg yolk, melted butter and cornflour to the macerated sugar and lemon mixture, mix it all together and pour it into the pastry lined pie dish.
Step 5	Roll out the remaining pastry and place it over the filling. Press around the crust to seal it and then crimp it.
Step 6	Beat the egg white with a teaspoon of water until frothy and brush it over the pie crust liberally; sprinkle over the sugar and then make several cuts in the pie crust to allow the steam to escape when baking.
Step 7	Bake the pie in the middle of the oven for 20 minutes before reducing the heat to 180C/350F/Gas mark 4 and bake for a further 20 to 25 minutes until the crust is golden brown and there is a meringue like glaze on the top of the pie.
Step 8	Remove the pie from the oven and allow to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving in slices.