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1
Put the lemon juice and 180g/6.25 oz/heaped 3/4 cup of the sugar in a small saucepan over a medium heat and cook for 8-10 minutes until reduced.
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2
Remove the heat, add the lime zest and set aside.
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3
Beat the eggs and the remaining sugar in a large bowl, using an electric mixer or a whisk, for about 3-4 minutes until the mixture is fluffy, pale yellow and starting to form ribbon-like shapes when you lift the beaters and it falls back into the bowl.
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4
Add the lemon mixture and cream and whisk to combine.
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5
Cover with cling film and leave to infuse for 1 hour in a cool place but not the fridge.
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6
Meanwhile, grease a 24cm/9.5in loose-bottomed tart tin with butter.
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7
Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface until it is about 3-5mm/ 1/8-1/4in thick, then roll the pastry over the rolling pin and place the pastry over the tart tin.
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8
With one hand lift the pastry edge and with the other gently tuck the pastry into the bottom and sides of the tin so that it fits tightly.
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9
Don't overstretch it or it'll break, and press down gently to push out any bubbles.
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10
Trim off any excess pastry by rolling the pin over the to of the tin.
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11
Prick the base all over with a fork and chill for 25-30 minutes.
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12
This will prevent it from shrinking during cooking.
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13
Towards the end of the chilling time, preheat the oven to 170C/325F/gas 3.
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14
Line the pastry case with a piece of baking parchment and fill with baking beans.
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15
Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, then remove from the oven, remove the beans and baking parchment and turn the oven down to 100C/200F/gas 1/ 2.
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16
Strain the lemon mixture into a medium saucepan and warm it through over a low hear, as gently as possible, stirring continuously.
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17
This gives the filling a head start in the oven - a cold filling would have top bake for much longer.
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18
Pour the filling into the pastry case and bake for 40-45 minutes until set.
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19
It should tremble slightly when the pastry case is gently shaken before removing from the oven.
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20
Leave to cool completely before cutting to serve.
