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Thursday, January 3, 2013

Quick Lemon Curd

This photo is a hint for the next recipe to come!
Why is this called curd?  I would like someone out there to tell me, because, by ingredients and method, it should rightly be called something waaaay more attractive, like, say, lemon custard.  Seriously.  Curd?  If you’ve ever spooned delicious, bright, lemony curd straight into your mouth from a pan or even a store-bought jar, I am not talking to you.  You are excused.  But, hey, you out there still reeling from the words lemon and curd together:  Come over here close and repeat after me:  “It is really lemon custard.  Fresh lemon CUSTARD.  And it only takes a few minutes to make.  I will try this!”  Let’s go.


Ingredients (Makes about 1 1/4 cups or 295ml)
2 small lemons
2 large eggs
Heaping 1/3 cup or 80g sugar
1/4 cup or 50g cold, unsalted butter
2 teaspoons cornflour or cornstarch


Method
Grate the zest off of your lemons and ignore the photo of me using my zester.  Even after I chopped the pieces with a big knife, the lemon zest was rather big and there were hurtful comments about same from my recipe testers.  Sniff.


Juice the lemons and strain out the seeds.

Cut your butter up into cubes and set aside, back in the refrigerator.

In a small bowl, whisk together your lemon juice and eggs.


Add in the rest of your ingredients, except the butter.


Still whisking constantly, cook the mixture in a saucepan over a medium heat until it thickens.



Add in the butter and mix thoroughly, simmering for a further minute or two.  Your lemon curd, or custard, is now done!



Spoon it straight into your mouth (let it cool a little, silly) or await further instructions as I have two recipes coming up, starting Sunday, that will use that lovely lemon curd.  I mean, custard.  If you aren’t using it within a couple of hours, cover with cling film and refrigerate.


Enjoy!

This lemon curd can be used in a variety of ways. Here are the links to the recipes I mentioned above:

Hot Lemon Curd Soufflés


Citrus Lust Mini Bundt Cakes with Lemon Curd


Lemon curd recipe originally from Delia Smith's How to Cook Book 1.

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I've entered this lemon curd recipe in Tea Time Treats for January, where the theme is citrus.  The hosts are Karen from Lavender and Lovage and Kate from What Kate Bakes.  If you have a citrusy item to add, just click on Lavender and Lovage or the photo caption below.

Tea Time Treats Link
                                            
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20 comments :

  1. HollyJanuary 3, 2013 at 5:48 PM

    I love lemon curd and can't wait to see what recipes you make with it. I made some a few days ago in my Vitamix and it is so good. Might post it coming up in the next week or so. My mother-in-law always uses the microwave but the Vitamix made it even easier. I've been eating it by the spoonful!

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  2. Kalamity KelliJanuary 3, 2013 at 8:53 PM

    I was JUST thinking this morning that I needed to learn to make lemon curd for some scones I was going to make and also a donut recipe I had - now I can! thanks!!

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  3. RebeccaSubbiah RD ✈January 3, 2013 at 11:10 PM

    this looks so good and yep custard sounds better

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  4. StacyJanuary 4, 2013 at 2:48 AM

    If you need more for your recipes, Kelli, I found a link to Delia Smith's site where she has a recipe enough to make four cups of lemon curd. Just use regular sugar where she calls for golden caster sugar and 350g = 1 1/2 cups. 225g butter = 1 cup. http://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/main-ingredient/lemon/lemon-curd.html

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  5. StacyJanuary 4, 2013 at 2:49 AM

    Thanks, Holly! It's like sunshine on a spoon!

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  6. StacyJanuary 4, 2013 at 2:50 AM

    Any ideas why it's called curd, Rebecca? I do believe it is a British thing that many Americans haven't even heard of before.

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  7. movita beaucoupJanuary 4, 2013 at 5:56 PM

    I loves me some lemon curd. And pastry cream - which sounds more elegant than anything with the word "curd" in it. Especially when in desserts. Cheese curds, for example, are perfection on poutine, but you wouldn't serve poutine at a tea party, so it's acceptable. I'm not sure where I'm going with this... I guess I'll have to keep loving lemon curd despite it's dodgy name.

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  8. SerenaJanuary 4, 2013 at 9:42 PM

    LOVE lemons this time of year! So fresh and 'springy'!

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  9. StacyJanuary 4, 2013 at 10:14 PM

    You go wherever you want to with that, Rachael, and I will happily go with you. :) Somehow curds when we are talking about cheese don't sound so offensive. Sweet curds, on the other hand... I just don't know.

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  10. StacyJanuary 4, 2013 at 10:28 PM

    Me too, Serena! And I like to think the vitamin C helps keep us healthier during the colder weather. Win-win!

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  11. Stephie SwopeJanuary 5, 2013 at 5:17 PM

    Mmm I do love lemon curd...I mean, Custard! ;-)

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  12. Kate PetJanuary 5, 2013 at 8:12 PM

    I can eat lemon curd all the time.. it's so good! Custard, it is! :)

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  13. StacyJanuary 5, 2013 at 10:17 PM

    Thanks, Katerina! I agree!

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  14. StacyJanuary 5, 2013 at 10:18 PM

    Me too, Stephie!

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  15. AlexJanuary 6, 2013 at 7:40 AM

    It's so delicious!

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  16. StacyJanuary 6, 2013 at 9:56 PM

    Thanks, Alex! It was!

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  17. @Lavender and LovageJanuary 19, 2013 at 7:36 AM

    I adore lemon curd and this looks fabulous and a PERFECT entry for Tea Time Treats! I would have LOVED this spread on my toast today! Thanks so much! Karen

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  18. StacyJanuary 19, 2013 at 7:41 AM

    Thank you, Karen! I debated about which citrus recipe I would share since I've had several just in the last two weeks, but since two of them used the lemon curd, I decided it was better to start at the beginning. I am delighted to be included in this month's Tea Time Treats!

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  19. Stacy RushtonFebruary 26, 2014 at 7:58 PM

    I'm totally using this recipe for the pavlova I am making this weekend. I found some great Meyer lemons at the store last night!

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  20. Stacy RushtonFebruary 26, 2014 at 10:58 PM

    You are going to LOVE it with Meyer lemons, Kelli! If you have a microplane, zest the lemons with that. The finer pieces make a smoother curd, I mean, custard.

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