Lime Curd

Ingredients You’ll Need

Lemon curd is a citrus spread that originated in England in the 1800’s. Lime curd is a less popular but equally delicious variation made with lime instead of lemon. Curd is a mixture of eggs, sugar, citrus juice and zest, and butter. When heated, it forms into a smooth, thick custardy texture.

Citrus curds were originally eaten as a spread for scones at British tea time, but they can be used in a variety of ways. They’re great for cake filling, on shortcakes, in tarts, on pancakes, waffles, and French toast, over ice cream, or on toast!

• Eggs
• Granulated sugar
• Whole limes (lime juice and lime zest)
• Butter

How to Zest a Lime

This lime curd recipe calls for 2 teaspoons of lime zest, which is about the amount in 1 medium lime. The best way to zest is not with a zester; it’s with a microplane! It’s a handheld metal plate with sharp holes, and it’s faster and more consistent than a zester. You can also use a box grater for the same effect.

Here’s how to zest a lime with a microplane (or fine holes on a box grater):

1. Hold the microplane in one hand, place one end on a flat surface, and hold it at an angle.
2. Hold the lime in the other hand, and drag it down over the microplane holes. Make sure to remove only the colored part of the skin. The white pith can taste bitter and should be avoided.
3. Gradually turn the lime until all green parts of the peel have been removed.

How to Make Lime Curd

Lime curd is made with the same method as lemon curd. While the idea is quick and simple, it’s notoriously difficult to get perfect. It’s easy to end up with a thin or split curd due to under- or overcooking. The best way to avoid this? Use a food thermometer.

Here’s how to make lime curd (or jump to the recipe below):

• Whisk: In a medium saucepan, whisk the eggs, sugar, lime juice, and lime zest.
• Heat: Apply medium heat and cook, stirring slowly and constantly with a spatula, for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture thickens to a yogurt-like consistency. This happens at a temperature between 160°F and 170°F. Avoid simmering or overcooking, as this can result in a lumpy texture.
• Add butter: Immediately remove from the heat and whisk until melted.
• Chill: Transfer the lime curd to a container and press plastic wrap onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours until the curd is chilled.

Troubleshooting & Tips

It’s hard to get lime curd perfectly right, but you can often save it! Here are a few things to do if your curd doesn’t end up thick and glossy:

• Runny lime curd means the curd has not been heated enough; it must be heated to 170°F to thicken. You can “save” a runny curd and thicken it. Place it in a saucepan and use a food thermometer to heat it back to 170°F. Then whisk in another tablespoon or two of butter, which will help it become even thicker when cooled.
• Lumpy lime curd means the curd was overcooked, causing the eggs to cook and become scrambled. The most important part of making lime curd is cooking the mixture gently so that the eggs do not cook. If you have only small lumps in the curd, pass it through a fine mesh sieve to strain out the cooked eggs. But if the entire mixture is split, you’ll have to start over.

Ways to Use It

Once you’ve mixed up your lime curd, there are so many ways to use it! I love it with shortcakes for dessert or over waffles for a decadent brunch. It’s different from lemon curd and goes well with flavors like strawberries, cherries, and coconut. Here are a few ideas:

• Berries: Spoon it over fresh berries for a simple dessert
• Toast: Spread it on toast for a simple snack
• Scones and crumpets: Add it to Homemade Crumpets or Blueberry Scones
• Shortcakes: Add a dollop to Strawberry Shortcake
• Cake filling: Spread it into a layer cake
• Pancakes: Add a dollop to Classic Pancakes or Whole Wheat Pancakes
• French toast: Use as a topping for French Toast or Stuffed French Toast
• Waffles: Use on Classic Waffles or with Strawberry Waffles

More Lime Recipes to Try

• Lime Salt
• Fresh Limeade
• Cherry Limeade
• Cilantro Lime Dressing
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Homemade Lime Sherbet