Preserved Lemons
RecipeTips.com

Ingredients
- lemons, preferably organic
- 1 cup salt, preferably kosher, canning or sea salt 
 
Preserved lemon adds an exotic flavor to North African tagines but it can also contribute a tasty
and interesting element to many other cuisines. Experiment. Remember to reduce the usual amount of
salt in a recipe to allow for the saltiness of the lemon.
 
Directions
  • Clean and have ready 2 pint (or 4 half-pint) jars with screw or clamp lids. Use plastic
    or glass lids if possible; metal lids tend to corrode from the salt and can be difficult to remove.
  • Wash lemons to remove any wax. Trim off any serious blemishes and remove the hard stem
    area.
  • Cut each lemon length-wise into 8 wedges and remove seeds.
  • Cover the
    bottom of each jar with a thin layer of salt. Spread about 1/4 cup of salt on a plate. Press each
    lemon wedge into the salt, turning to coat all sides. Pack a layer of wedges into a jat and press
    down hard to release juice. Sprinkle salt over the lemons and continue to layer in lemon wedges,
    pressing down firmly and sprinkling in extra salt to fill any gaps.
  • Fill the jar all the
    way to the top, pressing down so juice completely covers the lemon pieces.
  • Close covers
    securely and leave to cure at room temperature for about 2 weeks. If there seem to be air pockets,
    invert the jars for a day or two. If the lid seems frozen on when you try to open it, invert the
    jar in in a pan of hot water to dissolve the salt around the lid.
  • Refrigerate after opening.


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