Preserved Lemons

Lemons are indispensable in the kitchen. When you add the freshly grated yellow zest or the freshly squeezed juice of a lemon to foods, you add a bright, fresh citrus flavor and a healthful dose of vitamin C. There are countless ways to use lemons: in a dressing or a sauce, in a dip or a sandwich spread, in a fruit smoothie, or in a cupcake batter or frosting. And summers wouldn’t be the same without fresh lemonade, would they? Lemons have a subtle yet distinctive impact on so many foods.

But lemons have another side, too. They can be preserved in salt and take on a completely different flavor and texture. This method has been used in Moroccan and African cooking for hundreds of years. It’s so easy to preserve lemons and much less expensive than buying them already preserved. You simply salt washed lemons that have been cut into wedges and pack them into a clean jar. It takes about a month for the lemons to preserve, but once you preserve a jar, you can leave it in your refrigerator to use as needed, for up to 6 months.