Lightweight, airy chiffon pies are potluck favorites for a reason. The no-bake filling is stabilized with gelatin and lightened with egg whites, resulting in a sturdy yet ethereal tart that can be made well ahead of serving time yet still hold its shape.
The eggs in this recipe are not fully cooked; it should not be prepared for pregnant women, babies, young children, the elderly, or anyone whose health is compromised.
Recipe information
Yield
makes one 9-inch tart
Ingredients
For the Crust
For the Filling
Preparation
Step 1
Make the crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Pulse cookies in a food processor until crumbs form. (You should have 1 cup.) Add almonds, sugar, and salt, and process until almonds are finely ground. Add butter, and process just until mixture holds together.
Step 2
Press mixture evenly into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. Bake until golden brown, 17 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool.
Step 3
Make the filling: In a saucepan, bring apricots, 3/4 cup water, 3/4 cup sugar, and the salt to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until apricots are very soft, 10 minutes. Remove from heat; let cool 20 minutes.
Step 4
Purée apricots and liquid in a blender. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl. (You should have 3 cups purée; reserve 1/2 cup.)
Step 5
In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over remaining 1/3 cup cold water, and let stand until softened, about 5 minutes. Heat 2 1/2 cups apricot purée in a medium saucepan over medium-high. Whisk softened gelatin into purée, and stir until gelatin dissolves.
Step 6
Prepare an ice-water bath. In a medium bowl, whisk together egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar. Whisk in one-third of apricot-gelatin mixture, then pour back into pan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour through a sieve into a bowl set in the ice-water bath. Whisk until just beginning to gel, 5 minutes.
Step 7
In a separate bowl, whisk egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and whisk until stiff peaks form, about 2 minutes. Whisk one-third of whites into apricot-gelatin mixture. Gently fold in remaining whites. Let cool, stirring, until mixture is thick enough to mound, 3 to 5 minutes. Spoon into crust (it will pile high). Refrigerate pie 2 hours or up to 1 day. Before serving, drizzle reserved 1/2 cup apricot purée on top and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
