The conventional lemon bar is elevated significantly by the addition of poppy seeds, which have a strong lemon flavor. They have a robust flavor and a lovely sweetness. For a splash of color and a bit extra visual interest, I prefer to include black poppy seeds.
| Prep Time: | 20 mins |
| Cook Time: | 30 mins |
| Additional Time: | 30 mins |
| Total Time: | 1 hr 20 mins |
| Servings: | 6 |
| Yield: | 6 mini tarts |
Ingredients
- 1 pound blood oranges (Optional)
- ¼ cup lemon juice, or as needed (Optional)
- 3 eggs, whisked
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 dash salt
- ½ cup butter, cubed
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator
- ¼ cup orange marmalade, warmed
- 1 blood orange, thinly sliced (Optional)
Instructions
- Zest 2 blood oranges and set aside. Juice enough blood oranges to make 3/4 cup juice. Strain juice and discard pulp and seeds. If there is not enough juice to make 3/4 cup after straining, supplement with lemon juice.
- Whisk together eggs, sugar, salt, and blood orange juice in a saucepan. Slowly warm mixture over low heat. Add butter and blood orange zest. Heat until curd has thickened, stirring constantly, for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Pour curd into a bowl and allow to cool for 15 minutes. Place plastic wrap directly onto the top of the curd and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) or temperature recommended on puff pastry package. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out puff pastry following package directions into a rectangular shape on a lightly floured surface. Cut into smaller rectangles, about 3×5 inches each. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake pastry according to package instructions until puffed up and browned, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and brush with warmed marmalade. Allow to cool for 15 minutes.
- Top each puff pastry rectangle with a dollop of blood orange marmalade curd. If desired, top with blood orange slices.
Nutrition Facts
| Calories | 601 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 74 g |
| Cholesterol | 123 mg |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g |
| Protein | 7 g |
| Saturated Fat | 14 g |
| Sodium | 312 mg |
| Sugars | 42 g |
| Fat | 33 g |
| Unsaturated Fat | 0 g |