Molly O'Neill's Lemon Curd
Published May 30, 1998
- Total Time
- 10 minutes, plus refrigeration
- Rating
- Comments
- Read comments
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Ingredients
2 large whole eggs
2 large egg yolks
⅓ cup sugar
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon lemon zest
½ cup fresh lemon juice
5 tablespoons butter, diced
Preparation
- Step 1
In a heavy saucepan, combine the whole eggs, yolks and sugar and whisk to combine well. Stir in the salt, zest, lemon juice and butter. Place the pan over medium-low heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the butter melts and the sauce becomes thick and slightly gelatinous. Do not overcook.
- Step 2
Immediately remove the pan from the heat and strain the sauce through a mesh sieve, pressing on the sauce with a rubber spatula. Refrigerate until cooled, and serve with biscuits or scones.
Private Notes
Comments
If you have a quality instant read thermometer handy shoot for around 175°/180°f.
Lovely! I used this as sauce with huckleberries and bread pudding - to die for! Straining the sauce is optional. I like the texture and taste of the lemon zest and straining is very fussy, IMO.
This was excellent; I'd double the batch next time. It takes patience so that the sauce thickens.
Delicious and super quick to make. I've been wondering what to do with the last of the Lemons on the tree and my husband suggested I make lemon curd. I've also made a pavlova base with the egg whites and plan on layering it with the curd and berries. Yum!
So easy. So good. Definitely strain.
I did this in a double boiler instead of directly in the saucepan to minimize the risk of burning or overcooking and it worked like a charm! I served this with Molly O’Neill’s more recent adapted recipe for Chez Panisse’s blueberry cobbler. 10/10

