Preserved lemons are one of our favorite ingredients as they are the perfect combination of tangy and sweet. We are lucky enough to have a friend in California that sends them to us in their prime - just picked off her trees.
Ingredients
- 6 Meyer lemons plus 1 for juicing or 5-6 small conventional lemons
- 6 tablespoons coarse kosher salt, plus more for filling your jar
Instructions
Wash and dry lemons. Using a sharp knife, quarter the lemons lengthwise, leaving the bottom tip intact so that lemon holds together despite the cuts.
Fill the inside of each lemon with 1 tablespoon coarse kosher salt. Sprinkle salt to cover the bottom of a large, clean jar. Begin packing the lemons in the jar, sprinkling salt between each layer. Push the lemons down as needed to fit them all in and release some of their juice.
If the released juices don’t come halfway up the jar, add the juice of 1-2 lemons, as needed. Seal and leave on the counter for a week, shaking the jar daily to continually re-distribute the juice and salt. Place in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. Lemons will be ready for use after 1 month.
To use, use clean fingers or a fork to pull out a lemon. Rinse the salt off and use as required. The rind is the best part.
Check out this how-to video:
Here are our top five ways to use preserved lemons:
1. Salad Dressing
Mix one preserved lemon with 1/2 cup of olive oil in a food processor or blender for a delicious salad dressing. Add 2 tsp. of sugar if you are looking for extra sweetness.
2. Over Vegetables & Rice
Chop up appropriate amount of preserved lemons and serve over sautéed mixed vegetables and rice.
3. As a Relish
Mix dates and chopped preserved lemons as a relish for any pork dish. We suggest a nice pork tenderloin.
4. On Fish
Cut the rind of the lemons up and toss with herbs to top your favorite fish - a white fish is ideal.
5. Spread on a Crostini
Dice up finely to use as a topping on a toasted crostini with cream cheese and smoked salmon.
