fruit curd
{{Short description|Dessert spread and topping}}
{{Infobox prepared food
| name = Fruit curd
| image = Lemoncurd.jpg
| caption = Homemade lemon curd
| alternate_name =
| country = England{{cite web |title=Lemon curd |url=https://harrowgatefinefoods.com/collections/traditional-english-curds |access-date=2025-05-22|publisher=Harrogate Fine Foods}}
| region =
| creator =
| course = Dessert
| type = Spread
| served =
| main_ingredient = Egg yolks, sugar, fruit juice and zest (lemons, limes, oranges, or raspberries)
| variations =
| calories =
| other =
}}
Fruit curd is a dessert spread and topping. It is usually made with citrus fruit, though may be made with other fruits. Curds are often used as spreads and as flavourings.
Description
Fruit curd is a dessert spread and topping usually made with citrus fruit, such as lemon,{{cite web |title=Lemon curd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/lemon_curd_68499 |access-date=2015-01-08 |publisher=BBC}} lime,{{cite web |last=England |first=Kaia |title=Fresh lime curd |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/freshlimecurd_4555 |access-date=2015-01-08 |publisher=BBC}} orange,{{cite web |last=Braker |first=Flo |date=September 1998 |title=Orange curd |url=http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/orange-curd |access-date=2015-01-08 |publisher=Time Inc.}} grapefruit{{cite web |title=Grapefruit Curd Recipe |url=https://aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com/grapefruit-curd-recipe/ |access-date=28 October 2021 |publisher=A Pretty Life in the Suburbs}} or tangerine.{{cite web |date=June 1998 |title=Nectarine lime curd tart with a brown-sugar crust |url=http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/NECTARINE-LIME-CURD-TART-WITH-A-BROWN-SUGAR-CRUST-15128 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915084734/http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/NECTARINE-LIME-CURD-TART-WITH-A-BROWN-SUGAR-CRUST-15128 |archive-date=2008-09-15 |access-date=2008-09-02 |publisher=Gourmet Magazine}} Other flavor variations include passion fruit (or lilikoi),{{cite web |date=5 June 2023 |title=Did You Fall in Love With Lilikoi Fruit in Hawaii? Here's 8 Ways to Enjoy It at Home - Planner at Heart |url=https://planneratheart.com/lilikoi-fruit-everyday-ideas/}}{{cite web |date=June 2005 |title=Passion-fruit meringue tart |url=http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/PASSION-FRUIT-MERINGUE-TART-232181 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203165523/http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/PASSION-FRUIT-MERINGUE-TART-232181 |archive-date=2008-12-03 |access-date=2008-09-02 |publisher=Gourmet Magazine}} mango,{{cite web |date=June 1998 |title=Mango curd |url=http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/MANGO-CURD-5379 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803173202/http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/MANGO-CURD-5379 |archive-date=2008-08-03 |access-date=2008-09-02 |publisher=Gourmet Magazine}} and berries such as raspberries,{{cite web |date=2005-06-29 |title=Cake Talk: What the terms mean |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20050629/caketerms29/cake-talk-what-the-terms-mean |access-date=2008-09-02 |work=The Joy of Cooking |publisher=The Seattle Times |archive-date=2022-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221027123719/https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=20050629&slug=caketerms29 |url-status=live }} cranberries or blackberries.{{cite book |last=Lawson |first=Nigella |url=https://archive.org/details/howtobedomesticg00laws/page/343 |title=How to be a Domestic Goddess, Cranberry curd |date=2001-11-14 |publisher=Hyperion Books |isbn=0-7868-6797-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/howtobedomesticg00laws/page/343 343] |author-link=Nigella Lawson |access-date=2008-09-02 |url-access=registration}} The basic ingredients of fruit curd are beaten egg yolks, sugar, fruit juice, and zest, which are gently cooked together until thick and then allowed to cool, forming a soft, smooth, flavorful spread. The egg yolks are usually tempered in the cooking process to prevent their coagulation. Some recipes also include egg whites or butter.{{cite news |last=Ramsay |first=Gordon |author-link=Gordon Ramsay |date=20 June 2007 |title=Lemon and Poppy Seed Scones with Homemade Lemon Curd |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/lemon-and-poppy-seed-scones-with-homemade-lemon-curd-2cphr90hcdp}}
Curds differ from pie fillings or custards in that they contain a higher proportion of juice and zest, which gives them a bolder, fruitier taste.{{cite book |last=Mariani |first=John F. |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofam00mari |title=Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink |publisher=Lebhar-Friedman |year=1999 |location=New York |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofam00mari/page/182 182] |isbn=978-0-86730-784-9 |url-access=registration}} Also, curds containing butter have a smoother and creamier texture than both pie fillings and custards, which contain little or no butter and use cornstarch or flour for thickening. Additionally, unlike custards, curds are not usually eaten on their own.{{Cn|date=August 2021}}
Homemade lemon curd was usually made in relatively small amounts as it did not keep as well as jam. In more modern times, larger quantities became possible because of the use of refrigeration. Commercially manufactured curds often contain additional preservatives and thickening agents.{{cite web |date=2004 |title=Lemon Curd: Nutrition Facts |url=http://www.smuckers.com/fg/pds/prod_info.asp?brandID=8&catID=252&prodID=467 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061216071902/http://www.smuckers.com/fg/pds/prod_info.asp?brandID=8&catID=252&prodID=467 |archive-date=2006-12-16 |access-date=2008-07-13 |publisher=National Center for Home Food Preservation |format=PDF}}
Use
In late 19th- and early 20th-century England, homemade lemon curd was traditionally served with bread or scones at afternoon tea as an alternative to jam, and as a filling for cakes, small pastries, and tarts.{{cite web |last=D'Sa |first=Elaine M. |date=August 2004 |title=Preparing and Preserving Lemon Curd |publisher=The University of Georgia |url=http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/nchfp/factsheets/lemoncurd.pdf |access-date=31 October 2016}} Contemporary commercially made curds remain a popular spread for bread, scones, toast, waffles, crumpets, pancakes, cheesecake,{{cite web |date=2012 |title=Mango and Lemon Cheesecake |publisher=Food To Love |url=http://www.foodtolove.com.au/recipes/mango-and-lemon-cheesecake-11397 |access-date=2016-02-23 |archive-date=2016-10-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020222755/http://www.foodtolove.com.au/recipes/mango-and-lemon-cheesecake-11397 |url-status=dead }} or muffins.
Fruit curds can also be used as a flavoring for desserts or yoghurt. Lemon-meringue pie—made with lemon curd and topped with meringue—has been a popular dessert in Britain, Canada, Australia, and the United States since the nineteenth century. Lemon curd can also have whipped cream folded into it for such uses as filling cream puffs.[http://www.bonappetit.com/recipe/cream-puffs-with-lemon-cream-filling Cream Puffs with Lemon-Cream Filling.] bon appétit. April 2010. retrieved May 7, 2015.
Gallery
{{Cookbook|Lemon Curd}}
File:Vegan_Lemon_Curd_(48839115308).jpg|Vegan lemon curd
File:Orange curd.jpg|Orange curd
See also
{{portal|Food}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Lemon dishes}}
{{Dessert sauces}}