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Lemon Curd Recipe

Hunar Baig
This is the only lemon curd recipe you'll ever need! It's zingy, bright, perfectly balanced, and super easy to make - let me show you how!!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Course condiments, Dessert
Cuisine British
Servings 450 g

Equipment

  • Medium saucepan
  • Whisk
  • Large bowl (non metallic) - glass would be perfect
  • Large sieve
  • Glass jar (to store the curd in)

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large or 3 medium lemons (zest and juice)
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 150 g white sugar (3/4 cup)
  • 100 g cold butter
  • 1 tbsp cornflour
  • pinch of salt (skip if using salted butter)
  • a few drops of yellow food colouring (optional)

Instructions
 

Lemon Curd Recipe

  • Start by zesting and juicing the lemons, keeping the zest and juice separate and setting aside.
  • In a medium to large saucepan, add the sugar and lemon zest. Rub them together using your fingertips, until the sugar is fragrant.
  • Next, add in the cornflour and stir well.
  • Then add the juice of the zested lemons, mixing well to combine.
  • Now, add in the egg, egg yolk and salt, then whisk until fully combined and smooth. There should be no visible streaks of egg white or yolk. Set aside.
  • In a large non-metallic bowl (glass works well), add the cold, cubed butter. Place a fine-mesh sieve over the bowl and set aside.
  • Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and whisk the lemon mixture constantly until it thickens into a glossy, smooth curd. This should around 5-8 mins. Do not stop whisking or it will curdle.
  • Once the lemon mixture has thickened, it should coat the back of a spoon evenly.
    Pour the lemon mixture through the sieve over the bowl with the butter. Strain out the zest, and remove. Then whisk until the butter is fully incorporated and the curd is silky.
  • This step is optional: at this stage, you can add in a few drops of yellow food colouring to make the curd super vibrant!
  • Cover the surface of the curd with cling film (plastic wrap) to prevent a skin from forming. Once at room temp, transfer to a glass jar and store in the fridge for up to two weeks.
  • Serve with desserts, ice cream, pies, or even on toast—enjoy! ☺️🍋✨

Notes

- Always use a non-metallic bowl for mixing and a non-metallic jar for storage to prevent any metallic aftertaste or reaction with the acid in the lemons.
Keyword Lemon Curd