I want you to take a tasty adventure with an easy dish that will elevate your overall taste – try the orange curd recipe.
In this blog post, we will discuss the complete preparation process for orange curd. Later, we will also look at variations, pro tips to level up the taste, storage and freezing tips and much more.
What is Orange Curd?
Orange curd is a creamy spread prepared from sugar, orange juice and sugar. It contains a rich, smooth texture and a tangy sweet taste like lemon curd but with different flavors of oranges. The ingredients are cooked until thickened, then the curd is cooled before using it.
It is versatile and can be used in a lot of ways. You can add orange curd as a filling in tarts, cakes or pastries, or as a topping for waffles, pancakes or yoghurt. It is prepared with orange juice and zest to bold the flavours.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Vibrant Flavor: The fresh and zesty taste of the oranges provides a vibrant flavour. It is a fun twist from an ordinary lemon curd with a unique citrus twist.
- Versatile Uses: The orange curd is versatile. You can top it over waffles or pancakes, fill tarts or pastries or spread it on toast.
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe contains simple ingredients. You can prepare it with just a few steps and normal ingredients.
- Homemade Goodness: Preparing the curd at home allows you to choose high-quality ingredients and prevent extra preservatives and additives present in the store-bought version.
Tips
- Use fresh orange juice and zest: Ensure that fresh orange juice and zest make your curd taste better. The zest has oils that improve the citrus flavour.
- Control the sweetness: You can adjust the amount of sugar by adding less or more sugar. You can start with the recommended amount of sugar and then add more if you want.
- Strain the curd: After cooking, you can strain the curd through a strainer to avoid cooked egg bits or zest. It provides a creamy and smooth texture.
- Cook slowly over low heat: Cook the curd over a low-medium flame to avoid the eggs from curdling. Stir continuously to ensure it is evenly heated.
- Cool gradually: Before putting the curd in the refrigerator, let it cool completely at room temperature. You can cover it with plastic wrap to prevent skin from forming.
Variations
- Blood Orange Curd: You can use blood oranges instead of ordinary ones for a little tangy flavour and rich colour.
- Orange-Lemon Curd: You can mix lemon and orange juice in equal amounts for a citrusy twist which is both zesty and sweet.
- Orange-Passion Fruit Curd: You can combine passion pulp with orange juice for a citrusy, tropical flavour that offers an exotic touch to the curd.
- Orange-Chocolate Curd: Once you prepared the curd, mix in finely chopped chocolate until melts, providing the orange chocolatey curd.
- Rosemary-Infused Orange Curd: You can infuse the orange juice with a sprig of rosemary before making the curd. Ensure to remove the rosemary before mixing the juice for a herbal flavour.
Serving Suggestions
- Scones or Biscuits: You can try spreading the orange curd on scones or biscuits for a delicious snack or breakfast.
- Pancakes or Waffles: You can try orange curd on waffles or pancakes instead of syrup for a zesty, fresh flavour.
- Yoghurt or Parfait: You can layer orange curd with granola and Greek yoghurt for a refreshing and tangy parfait.
- Toast or Croissants: You can serve it by spreading it on toast or warm croissants for a quick and healthy breakfast.
- Dessert Tarts: For a tasty dessert, you can try serving the orange curd in little tart shells or on a baked tart crust.
Storing and Freezing
Storing
- After the orange curd is prepared, ensure that it is transferred to the air-tight container with a tight lid.
- You can store it in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
Freezing
- Before freezing, let it cool completely. Pour the curd into a freezer-safe container by leaving a little space at the top for expansion while freezing.
- Label the container with the date to keep track of the freshness.
- You can freeze the container for up to 3 months.
Conclusion
In conclusion, orange curd is a delicious and flexible treat that offers a zesty flavour to a lot of dishes. With just easy steps and ordinary ingredients, you can prepare the curd that is way better than any of the store-bought versions.
Remember that the secret of perfect orange curd is balancing the sweetness with the right amount of tanginess and cook slowly until smooth. So, go ahead, grab the ingredients and start preparing the orange curd to take your breakfasts and desserts to the next level.
Read More:- Raspberry Tart Recipe
Orange Curd Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh orange juice about 2-3 oranges
- 1 tablespoon grated orange zest from 1 orange
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter cut into small pieces
Instructions
- First of all, juice and zest the oranges. In a bowl, add sugar and eggs until thoroughly combined.
- In a pan, mix the orange juice and zest. Now, heat the pan over medium flame until warm, avoid boiling it.
- Slowly, mix the got orange juice into the egg mixture, then pour the mixture back into the pan.
- Cook it over low-medium flame by mixing constantly using a silicon spatula or wooden spoon, it may take around 5-10 minutes. Avoid boiling it.
- Remove the pan from the heat. Mix in the butter pieces and melt until turn smooth. Now, pour the curd using a sieve into a bowl to avoid lumps.
- Let the curd cool at room temperature. You can transfer it into a container or a jar and put it in the refrigerator.
