Ingredients (8 servings):
8 large lemons
3 eggs, separated
½ cup sugar, divided
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Confectioners’ sugar
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Celsius. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Slice the stem ends from the lemons so they can sit level. Cut off the tip end of each lemon, parallel with the bottom and roughly ⅓ of the way down. Reserve the tops.
Hold each lemon firmly and use a serrated knife to cut out the pulp. Use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh into a sieve placed over a bowl. Squeeze the juice from the pulp and reserve for later. Place the hollowed-out lemons on the sheet pan.
In a heat-proof bowl, combine the egg yolks, ¼ cup sugar, ¼ cup reserved lemon juice, and flour. Whisk until pale yellow. Place the bowl over a pot of simmering water and continue to whisk for about 8 minutes, until very thick. Remove from the heat and beat with an electric mixer for about 10 minutes, until cooled, while scraping down the sides. Transfer to a clean bowl and set aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the egg whites with the remaining ¼ cup sugar. Beat with the electric mixer on low speed until frothy. Slowly increase the mixer speed until the meringue is shiny and hold soft peaks, about 2 to 3 minutes.
Whisk about ⅓ of the meringue into the yolk mixture, then fold in the remaining meringue gently. Fill the lemon shells to just below the rim.
Bake for approximately 14 to 17 minutes, until the tops are golden and have risen about 1 inch above the shell.
Serve immediately, garnished with confectioners’ sugar and the reserved lemon tops.