preserved lemons

Preserved lemons recipe.  Many Moroccan and Middle Eastern recipes call for preserved lemons, lemons that have been pickled in salt and their own juices.

How to Make Preserved Lemons

8-10 lemons (Meyer if you have them)

cup to 1 cup of kosher salt

Extra fresh squeezed lemon juice, if needed

Sterilized quart canning jar

"Made it. So very easy to do. Enjoyed it and now making my second batch.\r\nThanks."

"I would like to know if you should use just smooth skin lemons.  I have the thicker skin lemons and not sure whether I can use these.  Please advise."

"By using quart size canning jars, do we need to buy new inserts for the lids?  Or can the inserts and lids be reused by sterilized in boiling water for 10 minutes?  Thx"

2 tablespoons of kosher salt at the bottom of your canning jar.

and scrub clean the lemons. With each lemon, cut off any stems. Cut off 1/4-inch from the tip of the lemons. Cut the lemons lengthwise in half, but keep the lemon attached at the base, do not cut all the way through. Then make another cut the same way, as if you were cutting the lemons into quarters, but not all the way through.

Gently pull open the lemons and sprinkle well with kosher salt, inside and out.

Put the prepared lemons in your canning jar and press them down so that their juices come out and rise to the top. Pack the jar with lemons, making sure that they are covered with juice. Add more juice if needed, and add a couple more tablespoons of kosher salt to the top.

Close the lid to the jar and let it sit at room temperature on the counter for a few days. Turn the jar upside down every so often. After a few days put the jar of lemons in the refrigerator for at least 3 weeks, until the rinds of the lemons soften. Turn the jar upside down occasionally while storing in the refrigerator.

To use preserved lemons in cooking, remove one from the jar and rinse it to remove the salt. Discard any seeds. Remove the pulp. Thinly slice or chop the preserved lemon rind to use in a recipe.
Preserved lemons can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.
Note:
Experiment with adding spices to the preserved lemons—cardamom, vanilla, cloves, coriander seeds, cinnamon stick, bay leaf, peppercorns.

"Keeps for an amazingly long time..\r\nLove the pulp as well as the rind.."

"Just made it...easy to make, got lemon tree.....waiting for result."

A traditional Moroccan dish of chicken pieces braised with spices, garlic, onion, olives, and preserved lemon.  Cooked in a tagine.

Moroccan Chicken with Lemon and Olives

paprika

cumin

ginger

turmeric

cinnamon

black pepper

extra virgin olive oil

chicken, 3-4 lbs,

Salt

garlic,

onion, chopped

green olives, pitted

raisins

water

cilantro

flat-leaf parsley

Marinate chicken in spice rub: Combine all the spices—paprika, cumin, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, black pepper—in a large bowl.
Pat dry the chicken pieces and put in the bowl, coat well with the spice mixture. Let the chicken stand for one hour in the spices.

Brown chicken pieces in tagine or skillet: If you are using a clay tagine (if you have one, you must soak the bottom in water overnight before using), place it on a heat diffuser on the heating element to prevent the tagine from cracking, and place the olive oil in the tagine and heat it on medium heat.
 
If you do not have a tagine, you can use a thick-bottomed, large skillet with a cover. Heat the olive oil in the skillet on medium high heat.
In either case, sprinkle the chicken pieces very lightly with salt (go easy on the salt, the olives and preserved lemons are salty) and place skin side down in the tagine or skillet for 5 minutes, until lightly browned.

Add garlic and onions, cover and cook: Lower the heat to medium-low, add the garlic and onions over the chicken. Cover and let cook for 15 minutes.

Add lemon, olives, raisins, water, then cover and simmer: Turn chicken pieces over. Add the lemon slices, olives, raisins, and 1/2 cup water.
Bring to a simmer on medium heat, then lower the heat to low, cover, and cook for an additional 30 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through and quite tender.

Stir in parsley, cilantro: Mix in fresh parsley and cilantro right before serving. Adjust seasonings to taste.
Serve with couscous, rice, or rice pilaf.

"Great success! I adapted slightly by using harissa paste.  Even my son, who is fussy loved the flavours. Used a skillet to brown everything off then transferred to tagine to slow cook on the oven. Meat falling from bones, and loads of lovely juice to soak into the couscous."

"This was so amazing!!!  Cooked it in a skillet using boneless, skinless chicken breasts (we don't like dark meat) and it still came out moist and delicious.  Picky hubby said I had to make this again.\r\nI also added some chopped up dried apricots along with the raisins because I had some that needed to be used up.\r\nI highly recommend using preserved lemon.  They are so easy to make and last for a long time."

"Quick, easy and yummy! Great recipe!Thanks!"

"This came out awesome! So flavourful and easy to prepare. I used dried cranberries as I didn’t haha was any raisins and the result was fantastic!"

"This is such a wonderful dish...the layers of flavors are like an explosion in your mouth.  I want to make this for a girlfriends birthday dinner and one of my guests does not eat meat.  I'm thinking of searing a piece of salmon for her...do you think that would work if I added it for the last 10 minutes or so of cooking?\r\nThanks for all of the good recipes over the years.  You're in my kitchen a lot with me and I'm never disappointed in anything I make for the first time!"

Super easy to make and the possibilities are endless! See the blog post for delicious ways to put these amazing preserved lemons to to use.

How To Make Preserved Lemons

Meyer lemons (,

salt

lemon

Water

You can make however many preserved lemons you like, but roughly 3 will fit per pint-sized jar.

Thoroughly clean the lemons. Organic is recommended. If you can't find organic, let the lemons sit in some vinegar water for a few minutes, then rinse.

Trim the nubs off both ends of each lemon. Quarter each lemon, slicing them down just over 3/4 of the way to leave the slices attached at the end.

Put one teaspoon of salt into the cavity of each lemon.

Place one teaspoon salt into the bottom of the jar. Put a lemon in the jar, cut-side down, pressing firmly to squish out the lemon juice. Put a teaspoon of salt on top of the lemon. Firmly press the second lemon down on top of the first lemon. Repeat with the third lemon, pressing down firmly. Add a teaspoon of salt on top of the lemon.

The jar should be halfway full with lemon juice. If needed, squeeze some additional lemon juice into the jar to bring it to the halfway point. Don't waste that lemon; slice it and stuff the slices into the jar. Pour the boiled/cooled water into the jar to fill it to the top.

Screw the lid on and let it sit at room temperature for 3 days, shaking it and rotating the jar upside-down/right-side up a few times per day. After 3 days transfer the jars to the refrigerator and let them sit for at least 3 weeks before using. Store in the fridge, will keep for at least 6 months (see Note).

How to Preserve Lemons! A simple easy step by step guide to making your own Preserved Lemons at home with only 15 minutes of hands-on time (plus 2 weeks preserving time). Use preserved lemons in dressings, marinades, Middle Eastern dishes, stews and salads!

How to Preserve Lemons

lemons

additions: bay leaves, peppercorns, other whole spices.

Clean a 2-3 cup jar with hot soapy water, dry.

Slice 2 lemons into 1/8-1/4 inch thick disks, about 8 slices each. (Use the ends for juicing)

Salt the bottom of the jar with 1/4 teaspoon salt and begin layering the lemons, salting each slice or layer with a scant 1/4 teaspoon salt leaving at least 1 inch of room at the top of the jar. You&#8217;ll need about 2 teaspoons sea salt, per 1 large ( 4-5 ounce) lemon.

Once the jar is filled with the salted sliced lemons, press them down either with your fingers or a muddler, compressing them, then squeeze the juice from the remaining 1-2 lemons to completely submerge the slices, again pressing down with your fingers. Weight the lemons down under the brine. You can use a fermentation weight, a sterilized river stone (boil first), or a small ziplock filled with water to keep them submerged. Cover.

Place this in a cool dry place for at least 1 week, feel free to shake the jar periodically, always making sure lemons are submerged under the lemony salty brine. After about a week they should start to look translucent and the peel should become very tender. I&#8217;ll often let them go 2- 3 weeks for extra tender. If you notice mold at the top, it is likely because lemons were exposed to air&#8211; not to worry. Just remove that top layer and make sure the remaining lemons are submerged under the brine.

Once translucent and tender, refrigerate! ( see photo above).

I have some preserved lemons that I’ve left for over 4 weeks, do I have to refrigerate or if they’re covered in brine is that ok to leave out? I’m excited to see your recipes with preserved lemons!

I love lemons and was so happy to find your recipe on how to preserve lemons.  So easy! Looking forward to your recipes involving preserved lemons. Kindly, Sissy

I am definitely doing this.  Have wanted to for a long time and really have no excuse now!!  Everything you do always looks so beautiful.   It's so important to have that beauty and also that Simplicity in our lives. Thank you for showing me how to do that XOXO.

Loved this recipe. I've always wanted to make these, but didn't want to take the time. These were a snap and I love having them handy in the fridge. I add them to anything that could use a pop of lemony goodness. As my supply becomes used up I am now wondering if you can add to them or do you need to make a whole new bunch?

Can we use Himalayan salt instead of sea salt?

Made these a couple of weeks ago. Look beautiful in jars stored in fridge! Used so far - in drinks, with salmon dishes and added to a lentil salad.  

Simple but delicious- thanks Sylvia x

I made the preserved lemons a few weeks ago, and followed your recipe. I did find that in order to completely submerge the two sliced lemons I needed to squeeze more lemons to completely cover them. I think I squeezed about 4 lemons (and they were large juicy lemons) instead of the two you suggested in the recipe.  I used a weighted plastic bag with water to keep the lemons submerged. After they were pickled, I did make a salad dressing; it was tasty, but found it to be a bit bitter. I am looking forward to trying these additional recipes to use the preserved lemons. Thanks for all your fun and creative ideas.

I made this because I thought of how pretty it would look sitting on my counter.  After a week I opened it and tasted a lemon slice.  I'm hooked!  These are so delicious.  I've eaten a 1/4 of the jar and have yet to use them in a recipe.  They are so tart and salty, my favorite.  We had a Meyer Lemon tree in our backyard growing up in Southern California and we used to eat raw lemons sprinkled with salt all the time.  Takes me back.  Now I will try them in some recipes -- if I don't eat them all beforehand. Great recipe!

I love this recipe. It is so easy and I love that the lemons are sliced rather than whole or half. They are easy to do and easier to clean and use. I find myself adding the lemon in lots of recipes and have even given jars as gifts.

Hi! Thank you for the recipe. Can you please let me know if I need to cover them with something when I weigh them down with a plastic bag with water? I can't quite picture it - do they stay without the lid or the time (when with the weight) or how? Thanks!

I am so glad that I found your recipe!  I wanted to try making preserved lemons for a particular recipe, but I didn't want lemon wedges.  I was just going to try slicing the lemon to see if it would work and then I found your recipe.  Now that I know it will work, I look forward to trying your recipe.  Thanks.

In the Middle East these are served on falafel is some areas. Delish!

I have been making preserved lemons for over a year (3 batches so far!) and your recipe is slightly different. We love everything you make so I thought why not give yours a try!

I have a couple of questions: Do you use the pulp in your recipes? I also see the one comment about not rinsing them. Every recipe I've used them in states to rinse well. How is your recipe different?

https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/Of6hfZJR.mp4

How to make Preserved Lemons at home with only 2 ingredients and 15 minutes of hands-on time! Use preserved lemons in dressings, marinades, Moroccan and North African dishes, stews and salads! Video. 

Preserved Lemons Video

Homemade preserved lemons will take 20 minutes of active work time and about 1 month of pickling time in the fridge. You can use them to add brightness, tang, and flavor to everything from your lunch sandwiches to stews, tagines, and may other Mediterranean dinners you make! Check out the full post for tips.

Preserved Lemons Recipe

sugar

pepper corns

dry bay leaves

lemon juice of 7 to 8 lemons, ((about 2 1/2 cups of fresh lemon juice)

Cut about 1/4 -inch of the top and bottom of the lemons. Cut each lemon into quarters part-way through so that they remain connected at the bottom

Transfer the lemons to a large bowl and toss well with the salt and sugar. Open up the lemons some and stuff them with the kosher salt and sugar mixture. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight and up to 24 hours, the lemons will release some juice.

The next day, transfer the lemons and their juices to a large sterilized canning jar. Press them down firmly into the jar. Add the pepper corns and bay leaves. Top with fresh lemon juice (your goal is to submerge the lemons in the juice).

Seal the jar shut and store in the fridge for 3 weeks to 1 month before consuming.

https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/IBVennWm.mp4

This easy step-by-step tutorial is all you need to make the best preserved lemons at home! You can use them to add brightness, tang, and flavor to everything from your lunch sandwiches to stews, tagines, and more!

This briny, tart, lemony flavor bomb can be incorporated into numerous dishes, from salads to sauces to sandwiches. 

coarse kosher salt (such

bay leaf (optional)

red pepper flakes (optional)

nigella seeds (optional)

Sterilize the jar and lid.  Fill a large stockpot with enough water to completely submerge a pint-sized canning jar. Add the jar and canning lid (in separate pieces) and do your best to submerge them in the water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then boil for 10 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the jar and lid to a wire rack and position the jar so it is upside down. Let drain and cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes. 

Wash and cut the lemons. Wash and dry 3 medium lemons. Partially cut the lemons in half lengthwise through the base of the lemon, keeping the lemons intact at the stem end by about 1/2-inch. Turn the lemon a quarter turn. Repeat making a second cut perpendicular to the first, keeping the lemons intact at the stem end by about 1/2-inch.

Rub the lemons with salt. Working over the cutting board, with 1 lemon at a time, spread the 4 wedges open. Rub 1 tablespoon of the kosher salt into the cut flesh of the lemon, pressing it into the crevices. Pick up any salt that may have fallen out and add back to the lemon. Press the lemon back into shape. Repeat with the remaining 2 lemons.

Place the salted lemons in the jar.  Press the lemons into the jar cut-side down. Use a wide wooden spoon to press them in to fit snugly. Seal the jar tightly and shake.

Preserve the lemons for 1 week.  Place the jar in a cool, dark place for 1 week. Shake the jar once a day.

Press the lemons down. Open the jar and press the lemons down with a wooden spoon. They should feel much more tender and pliable at this point. 

Juice more lemons. Juice the remaining 2 medium lemons until you have 1/4 cup juice.

Add the juice and aromatics. Add the following optional seasonings to the jar if desired: 1 bay leaf, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and 1/2 teaspoon nigella seeds. Add enough lemon juice until the lemons are submerged and the juices come to about 1/4-inch from the rim of the jar. Seal tightly and shake to distribute the spices.

Preserve for another month. Store in a dark, cool place for 1 month, gently shaking the jar every few days. After 1 month, the liquid will have thickened and darkened a bit. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. 

Got lemons? Don’t waste the peels! Instead, turn them into a delicious, zesty, sweet dried lemon powder. Lemon powder is easy to make, and can be used in more ways than you’d imagine! Season your salad dressing, dips, vegetables, meat, fish, tea, baked goods, yogurt, and more. Use dehydrated lemon peel powder as a replacement for fresh lemon zest in any recipe - 1 tsp of lemon powder for every tablespoon of called-for zest.

Homemade Dried Lemon Peel Powder

Lemon peels

Wash and peel your lemons. If using thin-skinned sweet lemons (like Meyer lemons) peel them whole like an orange. For thicker-skinned lemons (such as Eureka lemons) use a vegetable peeler to remove the outer part of the rind, leaving behind most of the white bitter pith.

Lay out the lemon peels in a single layer on your food dehydrator racks (or on a baking sheet, if drying in the oven).

Dry the lemon peels in the dehydrator at 95-105°F, or in the oven on the lowest heat setting possible.

The time it takes for them to fully dry will vary depending on your individual machine and the thickness of the peels, which may be several hours to a couple of days.

Dehydrate the lemon peels until they are completely dry. The lemon peels are finished drying when they easily crack and snap in half, rather than bending.

Use a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder to churn the dried lemon peels into powder.

Optional: Pour the ground lemon powder through a fine mesh strainer poised over a bowl and sift it. Take the collected leftover hard bits and run them back through the Vitamix/blender another time to pulverize them into powder.

Store the finished lemon powder in a glass air-tight container, such as in a mason jar with tight-fitting lid.

Keep the container in a dry, cool place - such as the pantry. When properly dried and stored, your homemade lemon peel powder should last for over a year.

Preserved lemon vinaigrette is like adding a ray of sunshine to your salad. You&#x27;ll love how easy it is to make and also versatile in use and flexible with ingredients.

Preserved Lemon Vinaigrette

½ medium sized preserved lemon, seeds removed, rinsed

lemon liquid

lemon juice

orange juice

thyme

parsley

pepper

Place all ingredients in a food processor to...

Place all ingredients in a food processor to emulsify.

Alternatively, if you don't have a mini food...

Alternatively, if you don't have a mini food processor, mince the preserved lemon into small pieces and chop your herbs. Then place all ingredients—except oil—in a bowl. Slowly whisk in oils to emulsify.

Taste for seasoning, adjust if necessary to your...

Taste for seasoning, adjust if necessary to your liking.

Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator....

Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator. But if using within a few hours of when you make it, leave it out so the oil doesn’t congeal. If it does congeal in the refrigerator, just let it come to room temp or add a touch of lemon juice and whisk and it will come back to a smoother consistency quickly.

https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/video/upload/tkyby9sgsocbj31nyrzw.mp4

Preserved lemon vinaigrette is like adding a ray of sunshine to your salad. This dressing recipe is so easy to make, very flexible and a perfect way to use your preserved lemons.

How to Preserve Lemons! A simple easy step-by-step guide to making your own Preserved Lemons at home with only 15 minutes of hands-on time (plus 2 weeks preserving time). Use preserved lemons in dressings, marinades, Middle Eastern dishes, stews, and salads!

Once the jar is filled with the salted sliced lemons, press them down either with your fingers or a muddler, compressing them, then squeeze the juice from the remaining 1-2 lemons to completely submerge the slices, again pressing down with your fingers. Weight the lemons down under the brine. You can use a fermentation weight,  or a small ziplock filled with water to keep them submerged. Cover.

Hello from New Zealand! 👋
We have an abundance of lemons right now (spring) and I have just made my first ever preserved lemons - can't wait to taste the results 💛
Thank you!

I like the idea of using slices--I I love the idea of using sliced lemons.  I have made preserved lemons with whole lemons (cut into quarters that remain attached at the base) but they don't fit well in jars--this is better!  Thx

Once you taste this umami-rich citrusy condiment called preserved lemons, you&#039;ll wonder why you waited this long to start cooking with them.

Ottolenghi Preserved Lemons

lemons (Meyer, Eureka, Lisbon)

rosemary (optional)

thyme (optional)

peppercorns (optional)

spicy red pepper (optional)

olive oil

Sterilize jar

Sterilize your 1 qt glass jar canning jar (run through dishwasher, run under very hot water, use your instant pot) - just make sure it is clean.

Cut lemons

Cut 2 slits in each lemon to create a well to put the salt in, being careful not to slice all the way through. If you do, no big deal, many people preserve quartered lemons. It will work too.&nbsp;

Add salt

Add about 1 tablespoon of kosher salt to each lemon.&nbsp;

Place in jar

Place the lemons in the glass jar fitting them in as tightly packed as you can.

Close and store

Close the jar and let them sit in a cool dry place for about a week. You'll notice juice beginning to accumulate in the jar.&nbsp;

Add additional juice

After a week, open the jar, add your aromatics of choice - thyme, rosemary, peppercorns, coriander, cardamom, star anise, cinnamon, a whole pepper - your taste buds can be your guide. Then cover the lemons and aromatics with enough lemon juice to cover them all and close it up. Let it sit out in that cool dry place for 3 or 4 more weeks. You can occasionally shake it about if you&#39;d like. Right before you refrigerate, top with a seal of olive oil, then place in the refrigerator and start experimenting!

https://mediavine-res.cloudinary.com/video/upload/t_original/v1586283261/oxh1c80z6nflkgpa1a3t.mp4

Preserved Lemons are so easy to make and a long-lasting refrigerated kitchen staple. Originally used in Middle Eastern and Moroccan cooking, they are ideal for dips, salad dressings, marinades, roasted vegetables, fish, chicken and so much more!

Preserved Lemons

Learn how to store lemons for an entire year with this fermented lemon recipe. You can use the lemons just like fresh lemons and the taste is incredible!

Fermented Lemons (How to Store Lemons for a Year)

salt (I recommend Redmond Real Salt)

Wash and thoroughly rinse all lemons.

Create a saltwater brine by following the ratios in the notes section below. The amount of liquid needed to fully submerge the lemons in your jar will vary. This depends on the size of your jar and the number of lemons you&#39;re fermenting.

Fill jar with lemons. Really squeeze them in. The tighter they are packed, the less likely they will rise above the surface of the brine.

Add a weight, if needed, to keep lemons submerged below the brine.

Let ferment at room temperature for 3 days.

Transfer to a cool location (or cold storage) and use as needed. Pro Tip: Use a clean utensil every time you need to get a lemon out of the brine. This helps to avoid introducing bacteria to the jar.

This is a flavorful and authentic Moroccan Lemon Chicken recipe passed down from my family. The chicken is incredibly tender and this dish freezes great for leftovers and meal planning.

Moroccan Lemon Chicken Recipe Instant Pot or Slow Cooker

Chicken Thighs (skinless and boneless)

Chicken stock (organic)

Carrots (diced into large pieces)

peas (frozen organic)

green olives (large whole)

lemon (2 slices diced)

cilantro (for garnish)

tbsp Olive Oil

lemon juice (fresh squeezed)

sweet onion (finely chopped)

tbsp ginger (use only fresh grated ginger)

garlic (chopped)

Paprika

tsp Cinammon

tsp Cumin

tsp Tumeric

Cayenne Pepper

tsp Black Pepper

(pink

First cut off access fat on your chicken thighs and add them to a medium bowl along with the spices, onions, ginger, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or overnight.

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The most viewed preserved lemons recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

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The most viewed preserved lemons recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 6,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine