PEAK PRACTICE

This delicate tart is likely to test your baking skills, but who doesn’t love a challenge? It is a spectacular dessert. The creaminess of the Italian meringue marries perfectly with the citrus perfume of the lime, and the crumbly short pastry is sublime … no pun intended.

LIME MERINGUE TART WITH CRACKED PEPPER

LIME CURD
1 cup sugar
55g unsalted butter, cut into cubes zest of 1 lime
¾ cup freshly squeezed lime juice
2 free-range eggs pinch of salt
TO ASSEMBLE
1 quantity sweet pastry (see recipe at right)
1 quantity Italian meringue (see recipe next page), made with ¼ tsp cracked black pepper added as a garnish