Creamy, tangy, and shiny like a mirror: lemon curd is the lemon cream that is spread all over England, from scones to tea time toasts. In French pastry, it has become an essential base: lemon tart filling, macaron center, layer cake or yule log insert.
And it is probably the quickest base to master: 4 ingredients, a saucepan, 20 minutes. The whole secret lies in gentle cooking at 83°C while whisking constantly, and passing it through a sieve for a silky texture. Once you’ve tasted homemade, it’s impossible to go back to store-bought jars.