Fruit curd

Fruit curd is a dessert topping and spread usually made with lemon, orange or raspberry.cite web |title=Cake Talk: What the terms mean |work=The Joy of Cooking |publisher=The Seattle Times |date=2005-06-29 |url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20050629&slug=caketerms29 |accessdate=2008-09-02] The basic ingredients 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, intensely-flavored spread. Some recipes also include egg whites and/or butter.cite news |author=Gordon Ramsay |title=Lemon and Poppy Seed Scones with Homemade Lemon Curd |publisher=The Times of London |date=2007-06-20 |accessdate=2008-07-13]

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 |title=Preparing and Preserving Lemon Curd - National Center for Home Food Preservation |publisher = Smuckers |date= |url=http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/nchfp/factsheets/lemoncurd.pdf |accessdate=2008-07-13] 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 are feasible because of the use of refrigeration. Commercially manufactured curds often contain additional preservatives and thickening agents.cite web | title = Lemon Curd: Nutrition Facts | publisher = National Center for Home Food Preservation | date = 2004 | url = http://www.smuckers.com/fg/pds/prod_info.asp?brandID=8&catID=252&prodID=467 | format = pdf | accessdate = 2008-07-13]

Modern commercially made curds are still a popular spread for bread, scones, toast or muffins. They can be also be used as a flavoring for desserts or yogurt. Lemon-meringue pie, made with lemon curd and topped with meringue, has been a favorite dessert in Britain and the United States since the nineteenth century.cite web |title= Preparing and Preserving Lemon Curd - National Center for Home Food Preservation |publisher=Smuckers |url=http://www.uga.edu/nchfp/publications/nchfp/factsheets/lemoncurd.pdf |accessdate=2008-07-13]

Curds are different from pie fillings or custards in that they contains a higher proportion of juice and zest, which gives them a more intense, stronger flavor.cite book |author=John F. Mariani |title=Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink |publisher=Lebhar-Friedman |year=1999 |location=New York |pages=p. 182] Also, curds containing butter have a smoother and creamier texture than both pie fillings and custards; both contain little or no butter and use cornstarch or flour for thickening. Additionally, unlike custards curds are not usually eaten on their own.

Other flavor variations also exist using citrus fruits such as limes and nectarines, [cite web |url=http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/NECTARINE-LIME-CURD-TART-WITH-A-BROWN-SUGAR-CRUST-15128 |title=Nectarine lime curd tart with a brown-sugar crust |publisher=Gourmet Magazine |month=June |year=1998 |accessdate=2008-09-02] passion fruit, [cite web |url=http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/PASSION-FRUIT-MERINGUE-TART-232181 |title=Passion-fruit meringue tart |publisher=Gourmet Magazine |month=June |year=2005 |accessdate=2008-09-02] mangoes, [cite web |url=http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/MANGO-CURD-5379 |title=Mango curd |publisher=Gourmet Magazine |month=June |year=1998 |accessdate=2008-09-02] and berries such as cranberries or blackberries. [cite book |url=http://www.recipezaar.com/176302 |title=How to be a Domestic Goddess, Cranberry curd |author=Nigella Lawson |page=p. 343 |publisher=Hyperion Press |isbn=0786867973 |date=2001-11-14 |accessdate=2008-09-02] Literally hundreds of commercial variations are sold globally.

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