Lemon Torte (inspired from Purple Oven's)

Ingredients

• 4 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup ground cashew
• 1/4 cup chopped cashew
• 1/8 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup water
• 4 egg yolks (- slightly beaten)
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1/3 cup lemon juice
• 17 liquid ounces all-purpose cream (- or whipping cream)
• 4 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

1. 1

   Using a thick marker, draw 2 big circles, about 7 inches in diameter each, side by side, on a parchment paper. Make sure that there is enough space in between and around the circles when this is placed on top of your baking sheet. Set aside.

2. 2

   Mix together the chopped and grounded cashew with the flour in a bowl and set aside.

3. 3

   In a bowl, beat egg whites using an electric mixer at low speed until it is foamy. This takes about 3 minutes. Add the cream of tartar and salt and go on beating at medium speed until soft peaks form, takes about 3 minutes.

4. 4

   Continue to beat, this time at medium-high speed, adding 1 tablespoon of sugar at a time and beating well after each addition. Beat until stiff peaks form and become glossy. This will take another about 4-5 minutes.

5. 5

   Now gently fold in the ground cashew mix into the meringue in 3 to 4 parts. Be careful not to over fold.

6. 6

   Take the premade pattern and place it on top of a baking sheet.Place another parchment paper on top of it. Fill a pastry bag (fitted with a big round tip) with a quarter of the meringue and pipe it on the parchment paper following the circle pattern. Use a knife or spatula to make it even. Do this to the other circle and then slowly pull the pattern underneath and make another sheet, so you have four cashew-meringue wafers. If you don’t have a pastry bag & tip, you can use a ziplock bag. Just cut off one of the bottom corners to pipe through.

7. 7

   Bake in a preheated oven at 150°C for 20-30 minutes or until the top turns a light golden brown. Once that happens, turn the oven off but leave the meringue in there for another 15-20 minutes. Once it is cold enough, gently peel the parchment paper from the meringue.

8. 8

   While waiting, prepare the lemon curd. Mix together sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a saucepan. Add water and then simmer over medium heat stirring constantly until it thickens into a paste-like consistency.

9. 9

   Remove it from heat and add the egg yolks. Mix until completely blended then add the butter, lemon peel, and lemon juice. Mix well and let it cool before using.

10. 10

    Once both meringue and lemon curd are cool, take the whipping cream from the fridge. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add sugar and whip until stiff.

11. 11

    Assemble the torte. First, place a bit of whipped cream on the center of a serving plate then place the first layer of meringue wafer at the center. This will help hold it in place. Then spread lemon curd on top of the wafer and pipe some cream. Repeat the process to create four layers. Use the excess whipped cream to cover the sides and pipe some rosettes on top and the excess lemon curd to make decorations.

12. 12

    Chill it for at least 2 hours but I find it is best served when frozen!