This delicious, thick and tangy dairy free lemon curd is a great addition to dessert AND breakfast. Paleo and low cab as well!
Paleo Dairy Free Lemon Curd
I was on a roll this past weekend with creating lemon curd variations. I created this delicious paleo and dairy free lemon curd as well as a keto version.
I had to do some experimenting to get the paleo lemon curd just perfect. The maple syrup was the key. It adds the required sweetness without overwhelming the curd or taking any flavor away.
So, how do I use this delicious dairy free lemon curd you might ask? WELL….. I’m going to let you in on a fun breakfast that I used it with. Are you ready? Waffles! Yes, waffles with lemon curd and whipped cream. Crazy? Maybe. But it tasted SO good.
Other uses are in pies and as a topping for other desserts to just name a few.
Let’s get right to the fun part and learn how to make some lemon curd!
How to Make Dairy Free Lemon Curd
The first thing you want to do is to add the water to a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat until it reaches a soft boil. Start with 1/2 cup and add more if needed,
In a medium heat-proof bowl, add the egg yolks, lemon juice, maple syrup, lemon zest, vanilla, and salt. Whisk and let sit for a few minutes.
Place the bowl onto the saucepan and heat. The bowl should not be touching the water.
Gently whisk for 8-10 minutes or until it begins to thicken.
Add ghee and continue gently whisking for an additional 5-7 minutes. These times may vary depending on the heat, so don’t give up, it WILL thicken.
Remove from heat when the mixture lightly coats the back of a spoon.
Refrigerate until cool and it will continue thickening.
Do I Need to Use the Bowl for Cooking?
It isn’t a requirement, but it is quite helpful AND a little fun!
The reason we use this technique for lemon curd is quite simple. You really want to gently cook the yolks mainly.
If they get too hot, you’ll end up with scrambled eggs in your lemon curd and that is the last thing you want!
Using this cooking technique allows the steam from the boiling water to gently warm the yolks without overcooking them. Is also prevents the curd from getting otherwise chunky.
If you really want to just use a saucepan directly, then make sure the heat is VERY low and stir constantly!
Why Isn’t This Bright Yellow Like Regular Lemon Curd?
That’s an easy answer! If you were to compare this to my low carb keto lemon curd, for example, you’ll notice that this dairy free lemon curd isn’t quite as yellow. This is totally normal!
The rich yellow butter color in the regular version helps give it its color. Ghee is yellow but the color isn’t as strong.
Lastly, the maple syrup in the paleo version dulls out the yellow just a tad. So, never fear, the taste is just the same!
Color is not always the most vibrant when you are using real ingredients.
Do I Need to Use Fresh Lemon Juice
Fresh lemon juice is always the best. BUT if you are in a jam or simply don’t want to squeeze a bunch of lemons, you don’t have to.
I’ve made this with both fresh lemon juice and bottled lemon juice and it turns out beautifully for both.
With fresh lemons, you get a bit more of the tangy sourness, but just a tiny bit. So, you can go either way for this paleo lemon curd.
Other Paleo Recipes From The Paleo Option
Dairy Free Lemon Curd (Paleo)
Ingredients
- 1/2-1 cup water
- 5 egg yolks
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/3 cup real maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup ghee
Instructions
- Add water to a medium saucepan and heat over medium heat until it reaches a soft boil. Start with 1/2 cup and add more if needed,
- In a medium heat-proof bowl, add the egg yolks, lemon juice, maple syrup, lemon zest, vanilla, and salt. Whisk and let sit for a few minutes.
- Place the bowl onto the saucepan and heat. The bowl should not be touching the water (see post for How-To pictures).
- Gently whisk for 8-10 minutes or until it begins to thicken.
- Add ghee and continue gently whisking for an additional 5-7 minutes. These times may vary depending on the heat, so don't give up, it WILL thicken.
- Remove from heat when the mixture lightly coats the back of a spoon.
- Refrigerate until cool and it will continue thickening.
Nutrition
Trina Krug is a Holistic Nutritionist, Integrative Health Coach and host of the Carbless Conversations Podcast. With a Master’s Degree in Complementary and Alternative Medicine, her single mission in life is to facilitate self-healing in herself and those around her through awareness, lifestyle shifts and low-carb eating. As a current Doctor of Science student, she continues her studies in functional nutrition.