Itasasu Lemon Food

TART LEMON TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Put the mascarpone, lemon curd, sugar and lemon zest in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. In a separate bowl, beat the cream until it holds medium-stiff peaks. Mix a third of the cream into the mascarpone mixture to lighten it, then fold in the remaining cream.
• Stir together the limoncello, lemon juice and 1/4 cup water in a shallow bowl. Working one at a time, quickly dip half of the ladyfingers in the liquid, turning to coat both sides, and arrange in an even layer in an 8-inch glass baking dish. Spread half of the cream mixture over the ladyfingers and smooth evenly. Repeat with the remaining ladyfingers and the rest of the cream. Sprinkle some lemon zest over the top, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 6 hours and preferably overnight.

LEMON TIRAMISU

Steps:

• Mix together the lemon juice, brandy and 2 oz of the sugar in a shallow bowl.
• Set aside so the sugar has time to dissolve.
• Get ready a 9-inch spring form pan; line the bottom with parchment paper.
• In a very clean bowl, using clean beaters whisk the egg whites until they form soft peaks, start on a slow, gradually on a higher speed.
• Whip the cream also to a soft peak.
• Beat together the remaining sugar, mascarpone, lemon curd, egg yolks and the lemon zest.
• Then you fold the cream in the mascarpone mixture, followed by the egg whites using a metal spoon.
• Stir the lemon/brandy mix and dip the fingers in, line the bottom of the dish with them, sprinkle some extra liquid over the biscuits, you will usually have enough.
• Spoon half of the mascarpone mix over the biscuits, dip remaining fingers and arrange on the top, sprinkle again with brandy lemon juice if you have some left, followed by the rest of the mascarpone.
• Level the top using a palette knife, cover and leave in the fridge overnight.
• To serve, if using, sprinkle the lemon/sugar mix over the top, remove from the tin (if necessary run a knife around the rim) place on a serving plate and cut in wedges.

LEMON TIRAMISU FROM LIDIA BASTIANICH

Steps:

• Pour just enough water in a double-boiler pan so the water level is right below the bottom of the mixing bowl when it is sitting in the pan. Separate the eggs, putting yolks into the large bowl of the double boiler and the whites into another stainless-steel bowl for whipping by hand or with an electric mixer.
• Remove the zest of two or more of the lemons, using a fine grater, to get 2 tablespoons of zest. Squeeze out and strain the juice of these and the other lemons to get 3/4 cup of fresh lemon juice.
• To make the base for the tiramisù, heat the water in the double boiler to a steady simmer. Off the heat, beat the egg yolks with 1/4 cup of the sugar and 1/2 cup of the limoncello until well blended. Set the bowl over the simmering water, and whisk constantly, frequently scraping the whisk around the sides and bottom of the bowl, as the egg mixture expands and heats into a frothy sponge, 5 minutes or longer. When the sponge has thickened enough to form a ribbon when it drops on the surface, take the bowl off the double-boiler pan and let it cool.
• Meanwhile, pour the remaining cup of limoncello, all of the lemon juice, 1 cup water, and 1/2 cup of the sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar, and cook for 5 minutes, evaporating the alcohol. Let the syrup cool completely.
• In another large bowl, stir the mascarpone with a wooden spoon to soften it, then drop in the grated lemon zest and beat until light and creamy. Whip the egg whites with the remaining 1/4 cup sugar, by hand or by machine, until it holds moderately firm peaks.
• When the cooked limoncello sponge (or zabaglione) is cooled, scrape about a third of it over the mascarpone, and fold it in with a large rubber spatula. Fold in the rest of the zabaglione in two or three additions. Now fold in the whipped egg whites in several additions, until the limoncello-mascarpone cream is light and evenly blended.
• Pour some of the cooled syrup, no deeper than 1/4 inch, into the shallow-rimmed pan to moisten the ladyfingers (savoiardi). One at a time, roll a ladyfinger in the syrup and place it in the casserole or baking dish. Wet each cookie briefly-if it soaks up too much syrup, it will fall apart. Arrange the moistened ladyfingers in neat, tight rows, filling the bottom of the pan completely. You should be able to fit about twenty ladyfingers in a single layer.
• Scoop half of the limoncello-mascarpone cream onto the ladyfingers, and smooth it to fill the pan and cover them. Dip and arrange a second layer of ladyfingers in the pan, and cover it completely with the remainder of the cream.
• Smooth the cream with the spatula, and seal the tiramisù airtight in plastic wrap. Before serving, refrigerate for 6 hours (or up to 2 days), or put it in the freezer for 2 hours. To serve, cut portions of tiramisù in any size you like, and life each out of the pan and onto dessert plates.