In the oriental region, especially in Morocco, the extraordinary taste of preserved lemons is part of many dishes. Sugar and salt extract some of the juice from the fruit so that it is practically "in its own juice". In this way, the citrus fruits lose some of their acidity and they are easily preserved.

Salted lemons are hard to come by

pickle lemons

Pickled lemons are usually not commercially available, except in selected delicatessens. However, the salty lemons can be made by yourself without much effort and with simple means.
Only use fruit that is in perfect condition, preferably organic, as the skin is also processed. Amalfi lemons, for example, are very suitable fruits. These are lemons from the Italian Amalfi Coast. Their aroma is more intense than normal lemons and they have fewer bitter substances.

Recipe for pickled lemons

Ingredients:
2 organic lemons
2 tbsp salt
2 tbsp sugar
some olive oil

How to prepare the lemons:

  1. Wash the lemons in hot water.
  2. Thinly slice the lemons and remove the pits.
  3. Mix together the salt and sugar and sprinkle a layer of it in a bowl.
  4. Now put a layer of lemon slices on the sugar/salt mixture and sprinkle them again with sugar and salt.

Layer all the slices on top of each other in this way.

  1. Cover the bowl and leave in a sunny spot for three days. Make sure that the lemons are always in their own juice.
  2. After the waiting time, you can pour the lemons into a sterilized jam jar and seal them. The lemons must be covered by the liquid.
  3. Finally, pour some olive oil over the lemons. They are hermetically sealed and no germs can penetrate. The lemon slices stay fresh in the fridge for about 4 months and can be removed individually with a clean fork if required.

Use preserved lemons

Preserved lemons are part of oriental dishes, for example as a basic ingredient in a tajine. Diced or diced, they give the dish a slightly sour taste and thus create a balance to the hot oriental spices.
Salads, fish and poultry dishes, couscous or even sauces or marinades get a very special flavor from the preserved lemons. Desserts can also be refined with salted lemons that are blanched in sugar water.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

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Vegetable garden