Ingredients
5 large egg yolks
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup lemon juice (from 3 lemons)
5 teaspoons finely grated zest (from 2 lemons)
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
Vegetable-oil cooking spray
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 1/2 ounces lightly toasted pistachios (1/2 cup)
1/4 teaspoon coarse salt
Vanilla Ice Cream for Lemon Curd-Pistachio Sundaes(or store-bought)
1 cup heavy cream, whipped
Preparation
Make the lemon curd: Cook egg yolks, sugar, and lemon juice and zest in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, whisking constantly, until bubbling in center, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat, and whisk in butter, a few tablespoons at a time.
Immediately pass through a fine sieve into a bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on surface of curd to prevent skin from forming. Let cool; refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 3 days.
Make the pistachios: Coat a rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray. Bring sugar and water to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Cook until a candy thermometer registers 238 degrees, about 6 minutes. Add nuts and salt, then cook, stirring, until sugar crystallizes, about 1 1/2 minutes. Pour mixture onto baking sheet, and let cool 30 minutes. Roughly chop nuts. Nuts can be stored up to 1 week.
To serve: Scoop ice cream into dishes. Top with curd and whipped cream, then sprinkle with nuts.
