This is an easy preserved lemon recipe for Middle Eastern food cooking. This is a very easy way to preserve your lemon just with some salt. I am a big fan of Middle Eastern food. Before I stayed in Saudi Arabia, I didn’t have much idea what or how to cook delicious Middle Eastern food. Before went there I thought middle eastern food may tough to make. But now I know every food recipes belong to this cuisine are full of flavours and so easy to make. At least, its ingredients are more simple than Indian food cuisine.
There I learned many Tips and tricks to make delicious Arab food and even I learned how to make own food ingredients at home. One of the most use Ingredient in Arab cuisine is Lemons. I saw many times they use lemons in two ways. One Is Dry Black lemons and one is Preserved lemon with salt only. They use preserved lemon like to add flavours to any dish. And they use black lemons as a strong flavour spice. Both lemons taste different from each other. I found black dry lemons actually never tastes like lemons. This black lemon flavour is so strong and different And it is not like normal spice we know.
Uses of This Preserved Lemon In Middle Eastern Recipes
This preserved lemon uses in many Middle Eastern cuisines. But it’s mostly used in Moroccan Cuisine. They use this salted Preserved lemon in Salads, Tagine Dishes, as Side dish pickles sometimes with a Full meal dish or to decorate any dish. Even they use the salted Juice of the preserved lemons in salad dressings. And other times they use this on their meat or vegetable stews. As the flavours of the lemons are quite fruity and not so strong it makes Morrocan food tastes so unique from other Middle Eastern food recipes. The salty-ness of this always balance the sweet and salty taste in every dishes.
Personally, I love this salty lemon and I used them in so many dishes even in Non-Morrocan food recipes as an experiment. And the experiment never fails and make all the experimental dishes tastier. One day I will share those recipes with you. One thing I always do with this preserved lemons is, wash those before use to remove extra salt from it.
Why am I making this Preserved lemon recipe At home?
There are two reasons to make this recipe at home. One is, This is not available in Indian stores and even this lemons are Quite Impossible to find in Indian vegetable markets. I found this one in the supermarket and believe me It was too expensive. And the second reason is these preserved lemon forms are very expensive in online stores and even I tried them already. But those are not tastes like authentic Moroccan preserved lemons. and I guess those jars have some preservatives to preserve them for a long time.
As I told before I was in a Middle Eastern country and love to cook their food. It is so Important to available all the Middle Eastern Ingredients in my Kitchen. I used to with is recipe when I was there. This kind of Preserved lemons are common in their store but it was also quite expensive. For this, I make this my self for my recipes. And It lasts longer if you store them in the fridge after making. If you do not find this lemon in your nearby vegetable market or supermarkets you can use local small yellow Indian lime for this preserved lemon recipe. Indian limes are too sour than lemons. Hence my suggestion is if you are using limes for this recipe then use salt with half quantity of sugar to get the fruity lemon tastes. Today I am making with only two lemons which are enough for at least four delicious Moroccan recipes. If you like the recipe make it your self. It’s easy and Inexpensive and Healthy for your family.
If You have any Recipe Request.Or any suggestion Please let me know in the comment box. Your every comment is valuable to me. And It Inspires me to cook and share more delicious recipes.
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 4People | 10Minutes | 10Minutes |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4People | 10Minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 10Minutes |
- 2 Big Lemons Or Lime if you don't have Lemons
- 1/2 Cup Of Sea salt or Iodized Salt
- 1 250 ml Airtight Glass Jar Sterilized and Dry(Jar glass should not Be warm when you will put the lemons into it)
- 1 Shap Knife for cutting
Ingredients
Servings: People Units: |
- Take a cutting bord.P lace one lemon on it.
- Now slite the lemons from the four sides. But never Do not separate lemons in four-part. The lemon Must be attached from the middle.
- Now fill the salt in the middle of every slit part of the lemon with the help of fingers.
- once all the four sides of lemon are filled with salts repeat the same process with the other lemon.
- When all lemon is overfilled with salts just put that into the airtight jar and close the lid Tight.
- Once you close the lid place the jar into a dark warm place for 24 hours.
- After 24 hours put the jar into the fridge for at last 4 weeks/! months before use to get the perfect texture and taste to preserve lemons.