When life gives you lemons? Be grateful and get into the kitchen! It’s my favourite home-produce time of year – the Meyer Lemon tree in my back yard is groaning under the weight of ripening fruit. Be prepared for plenty of lemon-y recipes over the next few months.
Most Australians call this recipe Lemon Butter, but it’s also known as Lemon Curd, and it is fabulous in tartlets, as a spread on bread, in the bottom of a lemon meringue pie, or dropped in fat dollops over ice-cream.
I have also been known to eat it straight out of the jar with a spoon – purely for medicinal purposes of course.
Ingredients:
4 large eggs, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice, finely grated zest of a lemon, 125g butter (4oz or 1/4 pound) chopped into small cubes. Ensure all ingredients are ready before you start. (This will make around 2 cups, but you can easily double the quantities for more – that’s what I do so I have some to give away.)
Method:
Make a double boiler by half filling a saucepan with warm water and bringing it to a very slow simmer, and then snugly fitting a basin over the top.
Pop the sugar and eggs into the basin, and begin whisking. You could use a wooden spoon if you prefer but what’s not to love about a good whisk? Beat until the sugar is dissolved. Then dump in the cubes of butter and whisk again until amalgamated.
When the butter is melted add in the lemon zest and juice and keep whisking over low heart until mixture thickens, which will take about ten minutes. Don’t let it boil or it will curdle! Mind you, if the heat is too low it shall take longer to thicken, but you will get a good arm workout.
Finally the mixture will have a rich, silky texture and shall coat the back of a spoon thickly. It will also thicken a little more as it cools.
Pour into sterilised jars or other lidded containers, and allow to cool on bench before putting on their lids. Store in refrigerator. Share. Or not! ♥ xx
These recipes give great opportunities for using your new batch of lemon butter:
Bread and Butter Pudding Recipe (Substitute the Lemon Butter for the Jam)
