Lemon Charlottes with Lemon Curd and Candied Lemon Peel
- 4 lemons
- 3 cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
- 1 1/4 cups chilled whipping cream
- 42 purchased soft ladyfingers (from two 3-ounce packages)
- Line small baking sheet with foil.
- Using vegetable peeler, remove peel from lemons in long strips (yellow part only).
- Place in small saucepan.
- Add enough cold water to cover generously; bring to boil.
- Drain.
- Repeat blanching 2 more times.
- Cut lemon peel into 1/8-inch-wide strips.
- Bring 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water to boil in medium saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves.
- Boil gently 5 minutes.
- Add lemon peel; simmer until peel is translucent, about 15 minutes.
- Using slotted spoon, transfer peel to prepared sheet; sprinkle 1 cup sugar over and toss to coat.
- Let dry at room temperature 2 hours.
- Transfer lemon peel mixture to airtight container.
- Pour syrup into bowl.
- (Candied lemon peel and syrup can be made 3 days ahead.
- Store peel at room temperature.
- Cover and chill syrup.)
- Whisk egg yolks, whole eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and salt to blend in top of double boiler over barely simmering water (do not allow bowl to touch water); whisk constantly until mixture thickens and instant-read thermometer registers 160F, about 6 minutes.
- Transfer to glass bowl; place plastic wrap directly on surface; refrigerate overnight.
- Finely chop enough candied lemon peel to measure 1/4 cup; place in small bowl.
- Mix in 1/2 cup lemon curd; cover and chill.
- Beat whipping cream in large bowl until peaks form.
- Fold 1 cup whipped cream into remaining lemon curd; cover and chill.
- Cover remaining whipped cream; chill.
- Line six 3/4-cup souffle dishes (3 inches in diameter with 1 1/2-inch-high sides) with plastic wrap, leaving 3-inch overhang.
- Cut ladyfingers into 2-inch lengths, reserving ends.
- Stand 7 ladyfinger pieces upright side by side, rounded side out, around inside rim of each dish.
- Place reserved end pieces of ladyfingers in bottom of each dish, covering completely.
- Brush ladyfingers lightly with lemon syrup.
- Spoon 1/4 cup lemon cream mixture into center of each dish.
- Gently spread generous 1 tablespoon lemon curd-peel mixture over top of each.
- Chill at least 2 hours.
- (Can be made 1 day ahead.
- Cover; keep chilled.)
- Using plastic wrap as aid, lift charlottes out of souffle dishes.
- Carefully peel off plastic wrap.
- Place on plates.
- Spoon reserved whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with medium star tip.
- Pipe whipped cream rosette atop each charlotte.
- Sprinkle each with candied lemon peel.
lemons, sugar, water, egg yolks, eggs, sugar, lemon juice, salt, chilled whipping cream, ladyfingers
Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/lemon-charlottes-with-lemon-curd-and-candied-lemon-peel-106432 (may not work)