RECIPE MAGIC!

Summer isn't the only time to make this lemon olive oil tart, but its bright, citrusy flavour is perfect for hot summer days, providing a cool and refreshing treat. What sets our tart apart is the use of olive oil in both the crust and the filling. Substituting the usual butter with EVOO provides obvious health benefits. But that's not the real reason to replace butter. EVOO lends a subtle, fruity note to the filling and lands a more tender crust.

INGREDIENTS:

For the Crust:
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons cold water

For the Filling:
4 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup fresh EVOO (mild or medium, on the fruity side)
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice from 3 medium sized lemons
2 tbsp lemon zest from 2 medium sized lemons
1-1/2 tsp corn starch 

1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350°.

For the crust, whisk the flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a bowl. Add EVOO and water, stirring with a wooden spoon or spatula (or hands) until the dough comes together into a ball. Place ball into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Starting at the edges press dough up the sides to just over the top, then with a firm hand press the rest of the dough across the base of the pan. If the dough gets too soft, place some flour on your fingers. Chill the unbaked crust in the fridge for 15-20 minutes before baking. Prick the bottom with a fork. Bake the crust for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden. Do not over bake since you'll be baking it again with the filling. Remove from the oven and let it cool slightly.

For the filling, whisk together the eggs, sugar, olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, corn starch and salt in a bowl until well combined. Pour the filling into the pre-baked crust and return it to the oven.

Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the filling is set and the top is lightly golden. Remove the tart from the oven and let it cool completely on a wire rack. Once cooled, remove the tart from the pan and serve at room temperature or chilled. Optional: Dust with powdered sugar or garnish with fresh berries before serving.