Make Lemon Curd

Lemon curd is a close cousin to the familiar lemon meringue pie filling and, in fact, could be used to fill pies or tarts. Curd is typically used to fill small tarts, served with scones or served on toast. Curd typically contains citrus juice, eggs, butter and sugar. The mixture is a custard base and requires gentle heating to prevent curdling. We'll show you a couple different ways to make this tasty treat.

Ingredients

Method 1: Using Lemon Zest

  • 7-8 ripe lemons (1/2 cup lemon juice)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest, grated
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • This recipe makes about 1-1/2 cups of lemon curd.

Method 2: Using Ginger

  • 3 ripe lemons
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
  • 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
  • This recipe makes about 2 cups of lemon curd.

Steps

Using Lemon Zest

  1. Zest the lemons. It's much easier to juice a zested lemon than it is to zest a juiced lemon. Here are some ways to do this:
    • The first way is to use a lemon zester. This is a handy tool, built with the express purpose of peeling the skin off lemons and limes.
    • Another way to do this is with a fine-toothed grater. The advantage to this is that rather than having long strips of skin to then chop fine, the grater does all that in the process of grating.
    • A third method is paring. With a paring knife or vegetable peeler, peel away strips of lemon skin.
    • If you use a peeler, make sure you trim off any of the white pith before proceeding—it's very bitter.
    • Mince the lemon zest, until you have 1 tablespoon of lemon zest—about 1 lemon.
  2. Juice the lemons. A regular hand juicer should get you about 2 tablespoons of juice from one lemon. If you find you're not getting enough juice, try rolling the lemon firmly on a hard surface to break up the tissue and release more juice, or microwave it for 10 seconds to warm it up.
  3. Beat the eggs. Combine the Whisk eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest in a small saucepan, and whisk together until well-blended.
  4. Add butter. Stir in the butter with a spoon, and mix until smooth.
  5. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Do not bring to a boil. Over low heat, gently bring the mixture barely to a simmer (small bubbles occasionally rising to the surface). Cook, stirring constantly, for about 15 minutes or until the mixture thickens.
  6. Let cool slightly. Pour into small glass jars, custard cups, or small bowls, and store in the refrigerator.

Using Ginger

  1. Zest and juice the lemons as described in Method 1 above.
  2. Juice the lemons. A regular hand juicer should get you about 2 tablespoons of juice from one lemon. If you find you're not getting enough juice, try rolling the lemon firmly on a hard surface to break up the tissue and release more juice, or microwave it for 10 seconds to warm it up.
  3. Combine ingredients. In a small saucepan, combine the zest, juice, sugar, and butter, and bring up to barely simmering (small bubbles occasionally rising to the surface) over low heat.
  4. Stir occasionally. Cook until the sugar dissolves, and add the ginger.
  5. Beat the eggs. When combined, add them to the saucepan, making absolutely sure the heat is low and that your mixture isn't boiling, or your eggs will curdle.
  6. Cook, stirring constantly. Continue stirring about 10 minutes, until the mixture thickens.
  7. Let cool slightly. Pour into small glass jars, custard cups, or small bowls, and store in the refrigerator.
  8. Serve it up! Spread your delicious, home made lemon curd on toast, waffles, or scones, add it to mini pie shells, or just eat it with a spoon.



Tips

  • Use a whisk to initially stir the ingredients together. When the curd starts to thicken, you will have to switch to a spoon to stir the mixture.
  • One of the best known flavors of curd is lemon, but other flavors are well known and include, orange, lime or raspberry. All make for yummy tea time treats.
  • The mixture will just coat a spoon when the curd is cooked through.
  • Cook over very low heat to prevent curdling.

Things You'll Need

  • Grater
  • Zester
  • Juicer
  • Measuring cups
  • Measuring spoons
  • Whisk
  • Cooking spoon
  • Small saucepan
  • Glass jar to store curd

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Sources and Citations

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