British · Desserts

Lemon Curd

Lemon juice, zest, sugar, butter and eggs stirred over gentle heat into a glossy, tart, spreadable curd. Twenty-five minutes.

Not yet ratedThis recipe has no ratings yet 25 min total Serves 20 servings Easy
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Method

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  1. Put the lemon zest, juice, sugar and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water, making sure the bowl does not touch the water.

  2. Stir until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved.

  3. Beat the eggs and the yolk together, strain them into the bowl and stir constantly.

  4. Cook, stirring, for 10 to 12 minutes, until the curd is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon and reaches 75°C / 167°F.

  5. Strain through a fine sieve into a bowl to remove the zest and any specks of egg.

  6. Pour into a sterilised jar, cover the surface with baking paper and seal when cold.

Chef’s Tips

  • Keep the heat gentle. Above 85°C the eggs scramble.
  • Stir constantly and scrape the sides of the bowl.
  • Strain it. It takes a minute and makes the curd perfectly smooth.

Pairing Suggestions

  • Buttered scones
  • Toast
  • Victoria sponge

Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate in a sterilised jar up to 2 weeks. Freeze for 3 months.

Common questions

How long does Lemon Curd take to make?

About 25 minutes in total — 10 minutes of preparation and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe serves 20.

What are the key tips for making Lemon Curd?

Keep the heat gentle. Above 85°C the eggs scramble. Stir constantly and scrape the sides of the bowl. Strain it. It takes a minute and makes the curd perfectly smooth.

What should I serve with Lemon Curd?

Buttered scones; Toast; Victoria sponge.

Can Lemon Curd be made ahead or frozen?

Refrigerate in a sterilised jar up to 2 weeks. Freeze for 3 months.

Is Lemon Curd suitable for a special diet?

This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, low-carb and keto. Those labels are checked against the ingredient list, so a dish is only marked when nothing in it contradicts the claim.

How many calories are in Lemon Curd?

About 76 kcal per serving, with 1 g protein, 9 g carbohydrate and 4 g fat. The figures are calculated from the ingredient list and are an estimate.

Nutritional Highlights

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list. Treat these as an estimate — brands and cuts vary.

76Calories
1gProtein
9gCarbs
4gFat
0gFibre
9gSugar
10mgSodium

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Written and tested by Turab

One person, one kitchen — no test kitchen, no team. How every recipe on this site is checked before it goes up.