How to Make Lemon Curd

The use of lemon curd dates back to the latter period of the nineteenth century and the early years of the twentieth century. Apart from being an alternative to jam, it was also used as a filling for cakes of small sizes and in breakfast pastry recipes. Unlike today, it was made in small quantities in those days as it did not last as long as jam does, due to the absence of refrigeration technology.

Today, commercially-made lemon curd is widely used as a spread for toast, muffins, bread, and as a flavoring in case of yogurt or dessert recipes. Another popular and delicious recipe made from this curd is lemon curd tart.

Ingredients Required

In order to prepare lemon curd, you require 1 cup of sugar, 2-3 beaten eggs, ¼ cup of butter, ½ cup of lemon juice, and you can also add 1 tablespoon of grated lemon zest if you like.

Kitchen Accessories Required

To add the right quantities of ingredients, you need a measuring cup and spoon, a whisk, one cooking spoon, one pot or vessel to cook the mixture, and a fully-covered container or glass jar to store the curd. 

Procedure

• Whisk the butter and sugar until both are fully incorporated together.
• Next, add the beaten eggs to the mixture and whisk it again till all these ingredients form a blend.
• Now, add the lemon juice and zest to the mixture and mix it properly.

• Then, pour the entire mixture into a vessel or a pot, and cook it on a stove over a medium or low flame, until it attains a temperature of 165-170 °F.
• In order to avoid the mixture from sticking to the pot or getting burnt, stir it intermittently while it is cooking.
• After it is cooked, allow it to cool completely.
• After the curd has cooled, preserve it in a fully-covered container or glass jar, and keep it in the refrigerator.

The above procedure is simple and you can easily make this curd at home. However, there are some tips that you should keep in mind.

• For the first and second step mentioned above, you can use an electric mixer instead of a whisk to speed up the mixing process.
• To avoid curdling of the mixture, take care that it doesn't boil.
• Ensure that the curd is properly stored in a refrigerator. It would last for a longer time if it is.

If you are a calorie-conscious person, you can even make this curd sugar-free by substituting sugar with a liquid artificial sweetener that lowers the calorie count, and therefore contributes to the nutritional value of the lemon curd. Other fruit flavors such as tangerines, limes, and mangoes, and berry flavors such as blackberries and cranberries are also enjoyed on a wide scale. However, lemon still remains one of the most popular flavors.