Honeyed Meyer Lemon & Coconut Custard Tart
If you listen closely, this special tart almost seems to sing “spring is here!” It may look super involved, but many of the same ingredients you’ll use in different ways, for various components, so give it a try. Be patient as you prepare this tart—do let it set properly and you’ll wow everyone you end up serving it to. They’ll taste the love and time you put into it (although, bonus, most of the time is passive time). Decorate it with the optional Candied Lemons (recipe below), or keep it simpler without them. Cook’s choice.
Servings
8people
Servings
8people
Ingredients
  • unrefined coconut oil
  • fine ground sea salt
Crust
  • 11/2cups old-fashioned rolled oatsgluten-free if you have a sensitivity
  • 1/2cup blanched almond flour
  • 1/2cup brown rice flour
  • 1/2cup flaked coconutcan sub shredded
  • 1/4cup unrefined coconut oil
  • 6tablespoons tablespoons raw honey*
  • 1/2teaspoon fine ground sea salt
Custard Filling
  • 1cup raw almondssoaked overnight 8–12 hours, drained, and rinsed well
  • 5cups water
  • 3cups flaked coconutcan sub shredded
  • 1cup coconut milk)full-fat, ideally, Thai style from a can
  • 3tablespoons agar agar flakesIf you can’t find flakes, use 1 teaspoons powder for every tablespoon of flakes
  • 2teaspoons arrowroot flour/starch
  • 5tablespoons raw honey
  • 2teaspoons vanilla extractor use vanilla bean for extra wow factor
  • PInch fine ground sea salt
Meyer Lemon Jelly
  • 5 Meyer lemons
  • 1/2cup water
  • 3tablespoons agar agar flakesIf you can’t find flakes, use 1 teaspoons powder for every tablespoon of flakes.
  • 1/2cup raw honey
  • Pinch fine ground sea salt
Candied Lemons (optional garnish)
  • 1cup Meyer lemon
  • 1/2cup vegan cane sugar
  • 2cups water
Instructions
  1. The night before you want to make this tart: Place raw almonds in a bowl and cover with water to soak 8–12 hours. In the morning, drain and rinse well and either use right away or store in the fridge in an airtight, glass container until you’re ready.
  2. Ready to make the tart: Now, preheat the oven to 350°F, grease the bottom and sides of a 9″ springform pan with coconut oil. You can always make this tart in a regular pie pan, but a springform pan will allow you to easily remove the tart, display it, and slice it while maintaining its good looks.
  3. Make the crust: In a food processor fitted with the S-blade, pulse the Crust ingredients together until uniform and looking “sawdusty.” Press evenly into the pan so the bottom and sides have equal thickness—a little less than 1/4″. Be sure to push the crust up the sides of the pan around 11/2–2″. You can leave the top edge of the crust rustic and uneven (what I did), or use your fingers to shape a straight line. Poke the bottom of the crust with the tines of a fork and bake for 15–20 minutes, until edges are browned and sides and bottom are dry and gently browned.
  4. Remove from oven and allow it to cool while you make the other ingredients. Transfer to the fridge to chill once cool—this fridge step will expedite the setting process for the custard, but it’s not necessary.
  5. Make the custard: To start, we’ll make a coconut-almond milk. Place the soaked/drained/rinsed almonds, 5 cups of water, and shredded coconut into the blender and blend until smooth.
  6. Lay a tight-weave muslin or cheesecloth (double or triple it up for extra straining power), nut milk bag, or clean but threadbare t-shirt (basically, any fabric that will strain) over a large pot or bowl.
  7. Pour the blender contents into the cloth, pulling up all sides and squeezing to strain the pulp from the almond-coconut “milk.” Once strained, discard the pulp (or use to make crackers).
  8. In a small bowl or glass, make a quick slurry by stirring together 1 tablespoon of water and the arrowroot until dissolved.
  9. Then, transfer almond-coconut milk to the pot and add the canned coconut milk, agar agar, and the slurry—heat the pot to a boil, whisking continuously until the contents reaches a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, whisking often—custard will be bubbly and thick.
  10. Then, whisk in the honey, vanilla, and salt for 1 more minute. Remove from heat and set aside to cool for 15 minutes. Pour into the cool tart shell and transfer to the fridge to set for at least 2 hours.
  11. Once the custard has set at least 2 hours, make the jelly. Zest two lemons and place all of the zest into a pot. Juice the zested and remaining whole lemons…… and add the juice to the pot with 1 cup of water…… and agar agar.
  12. Bring the contents to a boil, whisking often, then reduce heat to a simmer, then whisk in honey and remove from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature, then pour the jelly over the completely chilled custard. Return tart to the fridge to chill and set for at least 2 more hours.
  13. If you like, make some candied lemon slices to garnish your tart. Slice lemon into 1/8″ thick slices and remove any seeds and discard.
  14. In a pot, whisk together water and sugar over medium heat until sugar is dissolved and liquid comes to a boil—reduce heat a bit but maintain a gentle boil for one minute, whisking constantly to keep the sugar from browning. This is over-browned, overcooked lemons—keep an eye on things the entire time. Reduce heat to the lowest simmer, and add the lemon slices. Gently simmer for 15 minutes, then flip lemons and simmer for another 15 minutes until translucent.
  15. Remove from the pot with a fork so sugar can drip away (gently tap excess back into pot) and cool on a sheet of parchment paper (NOT wax paper)—reshape into rounds with the fork if needed and allow to cool until hardened.
  16. This may take some practice to get the sugar to the correct temp, but note that chewy lemons are just as tasty, so don’t worry.Carefully remove the tart from the springform pan by placing a bowl underneath the bottom of the pan. Release the clamp and carefully remove the band.
  17. Use Candied Lemons to garnish the tart once removed from the springform pan. Slice and enjoy!
Recipe Notes

*Try to use a delicately flavored, neutral-sweet honey so it doesn’t overpower the citrus flavor—we want it to compliment and sweeten, not dominate. Unless you want the honey to be the hero, then use what you like!