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Meyer Lemon Chess Pie is sweet, tangy, and fragrant with the heady aroma of Meyer lemons. This lemon-lover’s delight is an outstanding variation on the classic Lemon Chess Pie.
My love affair with Meyer lemons continues! This merits an exclamation point because we lemon lovers wait impatiently for the Meyer lemon crop, and when it arrives (in winter in Southern California), we rejoice.
A decade ago, tired of cadging Meyers from my neighbors, I planted a dwarf tree in a whiskey barrel.
Look at my first crop! (Again with the exclamation point, which you will understand if you are lucky enough to have a fruit tree in your yard.) The leaves are a little sketchy (chlorotic?). Don’t judge! Focus on the fruit.
I vote for Meyer lemon season to be a bona fide holiday.
What are Meyer lemons?
- First off, they’re usually smaller and rounder, with a smoother skin than regular lemons (which might be Lisbon or Eureka varieties of lemon). The yellow color, both skin and flesh inside, is darker and more intense than regular lemons, with perhaps a slight orange colored undertone, and they have a thinner peel.
- They are a hybrid (Citrus x meyeri), a cross between a lemon and mandarin. They’re native to China, and were brought to the U.S. in 1908 by Frank Meyer, a Dutch-born plant explorer who collected extensively in Asia for the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. It was originally used as an ornamental plant because of it’s beauty.
- They’re sweeter than a regular lemon, with a faint floral perfume. However, they’re still not sweet enough to eat out of hand like you would an orange.
- They’re less acidic than regular lemons, so a recipe with Meyers might use a tad less sugar than a recipe using regular lemons.
How to make Meyer Lemon Chess Pie
Gather your ingredients. For this pie, you’ll need:
- Pie shell (9 inch, either homemade or store bought)
- cornmeal
- flour and salt
- granulated sugar
- 2-3 Meyer lemons
- eggs
- half and half (or whole milk)
- butter
Fit the shell into a pie dish. Mix the filling either by hand or with an electric mixer. Pour into the pie shell, bake and voila!
The top will get slightly browned, which is A-OK!
Meyer Lemon Chess Pie, fragrant with the heady perfume of Meyer lemons — an intoxicating mix of lemon, mandarin and maybe even a hint of lime — sweet and tangy, creamy and comforting.
Close your eyes when you eat this one, and savor the flavor.
Meyer Lemon Chess Pie is sweet, tangy, and fragrant with the heady aroma of Meyer lemons. This lemon-lover’s delight is an outstanding variation on the classic Lemon Chess Pie.
Ingredients
- 1 (9-inch) prepared pie shell
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon flour
- Pinch kosher salt
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons grated zest (from 2 Meyer lemons)
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup half and half (or whole milk)
- 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons or half a stick) butter, melted
- 1/4 cup Meyer lemon juice
Directions
- Heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a bowl, mix cornmeal, flour, salt, sugar and grated zest. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each egg.
- Add half and half, butter and lemon juice and stir well. Mixture will appear to thicken slightly.
- Pour into prepared pie shell. Bake on bottom shelf of oven (so it is closer to the heating element) for 35-40 minutes. Center will be slightly jiggly when it is done.
- Remove from oven and cool on a rack.
- Serves 8.
Notes
You may substitute regular lemons instead of Meyer lemons. You may have to increase the sugar a bit.
Variations: Serve piled high with fresh raspberries or fresh blueberries in season.
Recipe source: This recipe is a mashup of about 6 or 7 recipes I consulted online, in cookbooks, etc. Let me know if you add your own tweak to it!
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Other Shockingly Delicious recipes that show off Meyer lemons
Drinks
Best Homemade Lemonade
A unique Basil Margarita
Agua Fresca Watermelon Lemonade
Strawberry Basil Lemonade
Strawberry Lemon Iced Tea
Chia Meyer Lemonade
Salad-y type recipes and condiments
Lemony White Bean, Tuna and Celery Salad
Meyer Lemon Vanilla Salad Dressing (the best!)
Preserved Meyer Lemons
Lemony Baby Bok Choy, Apple, and Miso Salad
Cherry Tomato and Preserved Lemon Salad (vegan)
Meals
Roast Chicken Thighs with Meyer Lemon and Smoked Paprika
Sticky Lemon Oregano Chicken
Salmon Quiche with Preserved Lemon
Lemony Pasta with Smoked Salmon and Dill
Desserts and sweets
Easy Lemon Curd
Meyer Lemon Posset
Blue Ribbon Meyer Lemon Mascarpone Cheesecake
Meyer Lemon Marmalade
Meyer Lemon Chess Pie
Lemon Filling (no eggs)
Lemon Icebox Cake
Avocado Lemon Grass Ice Cream
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This recipe was originally published Jan. 8, 2012 and has been updated and republished today.
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At ShockD, you’ll find scrumptious, tried & true, "scary good" recipes, tips and coaching to make YOU a fabulous home cook! Don't blame me if you need a 12-step program to wean yourself away!
E-mail me: Dorothy.Reinhold@gmail.com
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