Small Batch Lemon Curd Recipe With Lemon Zest

Name: Lemon Curd for Two
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 2 large egg yolks; 1/3 cup + 2 teaspoons white granulated sugar; 1 1/2 ounces lemon juice (from 1 to 2 lemons); 1 teaspoon lemon zest (finely grated); Pinch of salt; 2 tablespoons butter (unsalted, softened)

Prep: 2 mins

Cook: 3 mins

Total: 5 mins

Servings: 2 servings

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This lemon curd recipe is perfect for two people. While lemon curd is pretty intense on its own, it's great when spread on cheesecake or biscuits. Or you can fold it into whipped cream to make a delicious topping for shortcake or gingerbread.

The only trick to making this small batch of lemon curd is starting with a small pan (a 1-quart pan is perfect) and being patient. If you try to speed it up by increasing the heat, you'll risk scrambling the egg.

2 large egg yolks
6 tablespoons white granulated sugar
1 1/2 ounces lemon juice, from 1 to 2 lemons
1 teaspoon lemon zest, finely grated
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

Using a 1-quart saucepan, add the egg yolks and sugar and whisk until well blended.
Turn the heat to medium-low under the saucepan and stir in the lemon juice, lemon zest, and salt. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, for a couple of minutes.
Stir in the butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, and continue to cook until very thick, glossy, and opaque. (You might find that you get a foamy white top layer that doesn't seem to want to blend in. You will need to cook the curd until it disappears, which it should do by the time the mixture is thickened.) When the curd is done, it will look like a very bright, thick Hollandaise sauce.
As soon as you reach this point, pour the sauce (now called curd) through a small strainer into a bowl. Press it with the back of a spoon to extract the sauce, but leave the coagulated proteins and zest behind.
Let cool for a few minutes, then cover with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 20 to 30 minutes.

Raw Egg Warning

Consuming raw and lightly cooked eggs poses a risk of foodborne illness.

Meyer Lemon Curd

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
351	Calories
19g	Fat
40g	Carbs
8g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 2
Amount per serving
Calories	351
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g	24%
Saturated Fat 10g	48%
Cholesterol 309mg	103%
Sodium 149mg	6%
Total Carbohydrate 40g	14%
Dietary Fiber 0g	1%
Total Sugars 38g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 5mg	23%
Calcium 46mg	4%
Iron 1mg	6%
Potassium 109mg	2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.