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Pecan Torte

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes one 10-inch torte

Ingredients

9 large eggs, separated
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest, plus more for garnish
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon salt
12 ounces pecans, toasted and finely ground (3 cups)
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
Passover Lemon Curd (recipe follows)
Mixed berries, for serving

Passover Lemon Curd

2 large eggs plus 6 large egg yolks
1 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
Freshly grated zest of 2 lemons plus 2/3 cup fresh lemon juice (3 lemons)
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) margarine, cut into 6 pieces
(makes 1 3/4 cups)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 350°F. Put the egg yolks, granulated sugar, zest, vanilla, and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until pale and thickened, about 4 minutes. Fold in pecans.

    Step 2

    Beat the whites in a clean mixing bowl until stiff peaks form; fold into the yolk mixture. Pour into a 10-inch springform pan.

    Step 3

    Bake until golden brown, about 1 hour (if the top browns too quickly, tent with foil). Let cool on a wire rack 30 minutes. Remove the sides of the pan. Let cool completely. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serve with curd and berries; garnish with zest.

  2. Passover Lemon Curd

    Step 4

    Beat the eggs, yolks, sugar, and salt with an electric mixer until pale and thickened. Beat in the lemon juice; add the margarine. Bring to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking. Cook until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Pour through a fine sieve into a bowl; stir in zest. Refrigerate until cold, about 1 hour.

The cookbook cover with a blue background and fine typeface.
Reprinted with permission from The Martha Stewart Living Cookbook: The New Classics by Martha Stewart Living Magazine, copyright © 2007. Published by Clarkson Potter, a division of The Crown Publishing Group. Buy the full book from Amazon.
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