I don’t add zest to the pie mixture, just as a garnish on top. I say 3 or 4 because although the lime zest is an ingredient to the filling, and it does elevate the citrusy and zesty flavor of the pie, you may choose to skip adding it to the filling and optionally add it as a topping instead. Lime zest (finely grated) – 2 teaspoons.

Key lime juice (or regular lime juice) – 1/3 cup.That’s how lime pie filling gets lush, thick and creamy – instead of curdled! The ingredients For the fillingįor the LikeHotKeto Key lime pie cheesecake filling, you just need 3 (or 4) ingredients: This process is used for making yogurt and cheese, and is also responsible for the thickening of the lime pie.Ĭondensed milk is different from fresh milk: instead of curdling in the presence of acid, it thickens. But, how?Īcid reacts with the proteins in fresh milk, and makes it curdle. This Key lime cheesecake pie gets super thick and creamy without baking, eggs, or any thickeners like gelatin or xanthan gum. That’s why I created this easy, 3 ingredient low-carb condensed milk recipe that tastes exactly like the canned version (and I am very demanding when it comes to condensed milk!) How do you thicken lime pie filling? Sadly, store bought sweetened condensed milk, a major ingredient in Key lime pie and bringer of happiness, is full of sugar and not appropriate for keto or low-carb ways of eating.Įven worse, a sugar-free condensed milk version seems to be impossible to find. And all the limes have the power to make the condensed milk thicken.įresh lime juice is always best, but if you really want to use Key lime juice, and can’t find Key limes (or don’t have the patience to juice them – understandable!) get a bottle of high quality, unsweetened and pure Key lime juice like this one. Sure you can! The pie will be deliciously tart and sweet not matter the type of lime you choose. Which means… we might actually be making a Mexican lime pie! Can I use regular limes instead of Key limes? Only about 10% of the Key limes you can find in stores are actually from Florida. Nowadays, most of the Key limes sold in America are actually imported from Mexico. After a huge hurricane in 1926 destroyed much of the crops, the farmers planted instead the easier to cultivate and sturdier Persian limes. The Key lime is known by this name because it used to be mass grown in the beautiful Florida Keys. That’s because they are a cross between a lemon and a (Key/Mexican) lime. These limes contain a lot more juice, nearly as much as a lemon of the same size. They have less seeds or no seeds at all, and their flavor is less complex and more acidic. Regular limes (Persian limes) are larger and heavier, with a rougher skin. They are sweeter, floral and more aromatic. Key limes (also known as Mexican limes) are smaller, rounder, have a thinner skin, more seeds and contain less juice. Storage What’s the difference between limes and Key limes?.Can I use regular limes instead of Key limes?.What’s the difference between limes and Key limes?.