When your making lemon meringue pie do you have to use baking beans make the pastry?

You don't have to used baking beans when blind baking your pastry in the first stage of producing any dessert dish that requires a sweet dessert pastry base. There are various alternatives that have proved just as successful such as dried beans (or pulses), raw rice and ceramic baking weights are also an option. If at a push none of above are to hand use baking parchment with uncooked rice added over top.