Lime Meringue Pie

Ingredients

• 220 g crushed cookies, (I used vanilla)
• 100 g unsalted butter, (melted )
• 1 tsp salt
• 800 g condensed milk
• 180 ml lime juice
• 6 egg yolks
• 6 egg whites
• double the weight of the egg whites in sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   --- For the cookie base ---

2. 2

   Process or crush the cookies with the salt until fine and mix with the melted butter.

3. 3

   Put the cookies on a pie mould and press down using your fingers first and use the base of a glass to press it down nicely.

4. 4

   Take to a preheated oven at 160°C/320°F for 5-10min until it starts to become golden every so slightly. Be careful at this stage because it goes from golden to burnt pretty quickly.

5. 5

   Let cool down completely before adding the filling so it doesn't become soggy.

6. 6

   --- For the lime filling ---

7. 7

   Mix the lime juice with the condensed milk.

8. 8

   Add the yolks one by one and whisk them together immediately so the yolks don't oxidize with the sugar from the condensed milk or the acidity from the limes.

9. 9

   Pour onto the cookie base and take to the oven still at 160°C/320°F for 20min.

10. 10

    Let cool down completely and place in the fridge overnight.

11. 11

    --- For the meringue ---

12. 12

    Make it as close as possible to the moment of serving, it's always nicer freshly made.

13. 13

    Put the egg whites and sugar in a bowl where you're going to mix them afterwards. Put it on a bain-marie. Don't let the bottom of the bowl touch the surface of the water. Use a whisk to mix every couple of minutes.

14. 14

    Once you don't feel any sugar crystals at the bottom of the bowl (touch the bottom of the bowl with your finger) you can take it off the bain-marie. If you have a thermometer, check that it reaches 79°C/174°F. Immediately beat with a static or hand-held mixer until it cools down to room temperature and is firm.

15. 15

    Lay on top of the pie and spread out.

16. 16

    You can make the meringue look a bit golden using a blowtorch or place it in an oven at 200°C/400°F on broil or just leave it white.