Tart and sweet, just like a lemon tart is supposed to be. Bites to remind of us of Spring in the middle of Winter.

I’ve noticed that lemon tart recipes are showing up on some of my feeds. Deep in the heart of Winter (a low of negative 30-something Fahrenheit in Ulaanbaatar today) , I think many of us are longing for Spring. The bright yellow zest and the taste of fresh lemon does seem to bring the feeling of Spring into the house, even if only momentarily.

Last summer, I found some four-inch baking dishes that are the perfect size for the two of us to share. And if I happen to eat the whole thing (ahem), I shouldn’t feel too guilty. Tiny tart – tiny guilt. As a nod to my friends who can’t eat gluten, or eggs, or milk, I created this recipe without any animal products or wheat. I really wanted to see if I could make a tasty crust with a nut and oat combination. The tart filling turned out nice and custard-like with a lovely sweet and tart lemony flavor. The crust had a nice nutty crunch to it which paired perfectly with the filling. This dessert turned out delicious!

Lemon Tart for Two

Ingredients

Crust

• 1 1/2 tbsp oats
• 1 1/2 tbsp finely chopped pecans
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• tiny pinch salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tbsp applesauce

Filling

• 3 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• tiny pinch salt
• ¼ cup soy milk (or other non-dairy milk)
• 2 tbsp water
• juice of one lemon juice (about 3 tbsp)
• zest of one lemon

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F (190C). Grease a 4-inch tart pan.
2. Put the oats, pecans, and sugar into a food processor or blender and process until finely ground.
3. Add the remaining dry ingredients and blend well. Transfer to a bowl and add the vanilla and apple sauce. Stir well until completely combined.
4. Put the mixture into the tart pan. Press mixture with moistened fingers until it evenly covers the bottom and extends up the sides of the pan as far as possible.
5. Put it in the oven and cook for 8-10 minutes, until it is crisp but not overdone. Set aside to cool before filling.
6. Whisk together sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a small saucepan.
7. Stir in the soy milk and water until completely combined.
8. Heat until thickens over medium heat stirring constantly.
9. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and zest (reserve a tiny amount of zest for garnish).
10. Return to heat and continue whisking over heat for 2-3 minutes. Mixture should be smooth and lump-free.
11. Pour mixture into the tart crust. Sprinkle reserved lemon zest on top of tart. Chill until set, about an hour.