Barbara Kafkas Lemon Curd Recipes

Steps:

• Whisk the sugar, eggs, corn syrup and lemon juice together in a medium heavy-bottomed saucepan. Drop in the pieces of butter.
• Put the saucepan over medium heat and start whisking. You want to get into the corners of the pan, so if your whisk is too big for the job, switch to a wooden or silicone spatula. Cook, continuing to whisk - don't stop - for 6 to 8 minutes, until the curd starts to thicken. When it is noticeably thickened and, most important, you see a bubble or two come to the surface, stop; the curd is ready.
• Immediately scrape the curd into a heatproof bowl or canning jar or two. Press a piece of plastic wrap against the surface to create an airtight seal and let the curd cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.

Steps:

• Cut peeled oranges in half as if for juicing. Squeeze out as much juice as possible with your hands into a sieve over a 4-cup glass measure. With the back of a wooden spoon, squeeze any remaining juice from the pulp through the sieve into the measure (you should have about Y cup). Discard pulp.
• Add butter and sugar to orange juice. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap and cook in a 650- to 700-watt oven at 100 percent power for 3 minutes. Prick plastic to release steam. Remove from oven; uncover.
• In a small bowl, lightly whisk eggs to combine. Gradually whisk about 1/2 cup of orange mixture into the eggs to warm them. Thoroughly whisk the warmed eggs back into the orange mixture. Cook, uncovered, at 100 percent power for 1 minute.
• Remove from oven and whisk to combine. Return to oven and cook, uncovered, at 100 percent power for 45 seconds longer.
• Remove from oven and immediately pour into a blender. Add lemon juice and process for about 45 seconds, or until smooth.
• Scrape into bowl or plastic container and refrigerate until cold.

Steps:

• Place butter, sugar, lemon juice and zests in an 8-cup glass measure or a 2 1/2-quart souffle dish. Cover tightly with microwave plastic wrap. Cook at 100 percent power in a 650- to 700-watt oven for 4 minutes. Prick plastic to release steam.
• Remove from oven and uncover. Whisk together eggs in a small bowl. Whisk about 1/4 cup of the butter mixture into the eggs to warm them. Scrape egg mixture back into measure, whisking constantly. Cook uncovered for 3 minutes.
• Leaving dish in oven, whisk until smooth. Cook, uncovered, for 2 minutes more. Remove from oven and puree in a food processor or blender until completely smooth. Store, tightly covered, in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.

Steps:

• Using a carrot peeler, remove the zest of 3 lemons, being careful to avoid the white pith. Put the zest in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Add the sugar and pulse until the zest is very finely minced into the sugar.
• Cream the butter and beat in the sugar and lemon mixture. Add the eggs, 1 at a time, and then add the lemon juice and salt. Mix until combined.
• Pour the mixture into a 2 quart saucepan and cook over low heat until thickened (about 10 minutes), stirring constantly. The lemon curd will thicken at about 170 degrees F, or just below simmer. Remove from the heat and cool or refrigerate.