- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 2/3 cup finely chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup cake flour
- 3 tablespoons (packed) golden brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons chilled vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons (about) ice water
- 1 3/4 cups plus 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup cornstarch
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 5 large eggs, separated
- 2 tablespoons grated lemon peel
- 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Mix first 5 ingredients in large bowl; add butter and shortening. Using electric mixer, beat at low speed until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water. Beat until dough holds together, adding more water by 1/2 tablespoonfuls if dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap disk in waxed paper and chill until firm enough to roll, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
- Roll out dough between sheets of waxed paper to 12-inch round. Peel off top sheet of paper. Invert dough into 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish; peel off paper. Press dough gently into dish. Trim overhang to 3/4 inch; turn under and crimp edge decoratively. Freeze crust until firm, about 30 minutes.
- Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust until golden at edge, about 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans; continue to bake until crust is pale golden, piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 12 minutes. Cool completely on rack.
- Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
- Whisk 1 3/4 cups sugar and 1/3 cup cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Gradually add 1 1/2 cups water and lemon juice, whisking until cornstarch dissolves and mixture is smooth. Add yolks and peel; whisk to blend. Cook over medium-high heat until filling thickens and boils, whisking constantly, about 8 minutes. Pour into prepared crust.
- Using electric mixer, beat whites and cream of tartar in large bowl until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining 1/3 cup sugar, beating until stiff and shiny. Mound meringue atop warm lemon filling, spreading to seal to crust at edges.
- Bake pie until meringue is golden, about 20 minutes. Cool pie 1 hour. Refrigerate up to 6 hours; serve cold.