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Citrus-Infused Custard Sauce

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Citrus-Infused Custard SauceTim Hout
Cooks' Notes:

•Custard keeps, chilled, 3 days.
•If your sauce creeps up above 165°F and looks like it's beginning to curdle, quickly remove from heat and whisk in 2 tablespoons cold milk, then strain.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    10 minutes

  • Yield

    Makes about 2 cups

Ingredients

1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
4 (3- by 1-inch) strips orange zest removed with a vegetable peeler
4 (3- by 1/2-inch) strips lemon zest removed with a vegetable peeler
2 large eggs
1/3 cup sugar
pinch salt

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Bring milk and cream to a simmer with citrus zests in a 2-quart heavy saucepan over medium-low heat.

    Step 2

    Whisk together eggs, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl, then whisk in hot cream mixture.

    Step 3

    Return mixture to pan and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until custard is thick enough to coat back of spoon (160° to 165°F on an instant read thermometer), about 2 minutes.

    Step 4

    Immediately remove pan from heat and strain custard through a fine sieve into a bowl, discarding zests.

    Step 5

    Serve warm, or at room temperature, or chill to thicken.

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