RHUBARB MERINGUE PIE
RHUBARB MERINGUE PIE
RHUBARB MERINGUE PIE

Ingredients
  • 400g/14oz plain flour
  • 250g/9oz cold butter
  • cut into cubes
  • 100g/3½oz icing sugar
  • 1 heaped tsp ground ginger
  • 2 free-range eggs
  • lightly beaten
  • 2kg/4lb 8oz rhubarb
  • 225g/8oz caster sugar
  • 2 oranges
  • zest only
  • 8 free-range eggs whites
  • 400g/14oz golden caster sugar
  • 4 tsp cornflour
Directions
  • Grease a 30cm/12in loose-bottomed tart tin.
  • To make the pastry
  • sift the flour into a large bowl and rub in the butter until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the icing sugar and ground ginger
  • mix thoroughly then add the beaten eggs and just enough cold water to form a dough.
  • Turn the dough onto a floured board
  • knead gently into a smooth ball then roll the pastry out and use it to line the tart tin. Prick the base with a fork
  • line with foil and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile
  • make the filling. Preheat the oven to to 150C/300F/Gas 2. Cut the rhubarb into 5cm/2in lengths and place in an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with the sugar and orange zest then cook
  • uncovered
  • in the oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until the rhubarb is just tender but still holding its shape. Increase oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5.
  • Add baking beans to the tart case and bake blind for 15 minutes
  • then remove the foil and the beans and return the tin to the oven for about eight minutes or until pale golden-brown. Remove the tin from the oven and increase the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 .
  • For the meringue
  • place the egg whites in a large bowl and whisk until they form soft peaks. Gradually add half the sugar
  • whisking all the time
  • then fold in the cornflour and remaining sugar and whisk until the mixture is smooth and glossy.
  • To assemble the pie
  • fill the tart case with the rhubarb
  • standing the pieces on end. Pile most of the meringue on top of the pie
  • keeping enough back to then pipe pointy peaks over the surface. Bake in the oven for about 30 minutes
  • or until the top is crispy and very pale gold. Allow the pie to cool before removing it from the tin.